Advertising 101:How Ad Slogans Work

According to Encyclopedia Britannica Online, advertising is “the techniques and practices used to bring products, services, opinions, or causes to public notice for the purpose of persuading the public to respond in a certain way toward what is advertised.”
In the ancient and medieval world, advertising as it existed was conducted by word of mouth. The first step toward modern advertising came with the development of printing in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the 17th century, weekly newspapers in
The great expansion of business in the 19th century was accompanied by the growth of an advertising industry. It was that century, primarily in the
The Basics
The purpose of the strapline or slogan in an advertisement is to leave the key brand message in the mind of the target (that’s you). It is the sign-off that accompanies the logo. Its goal is to stick: “If you get nothing else from this ad, get this..!” A few well-known examples of these slogans include:
* American Express: “Don’t leave home without it”
* Apple: “Think different”
* AT&T: “Reach out and touch someone”
* Timex: “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking”
* Wendy’s: “Where’s the beef?”
* Wheaties: “The breakfast of champions”
Unfortunately, ad slogans don’t always work, usually because they are generic, ready-to-wear, off-the-shelf lines that are taken out and shined up, ready to be used again and again when the creative juices have stopped flowing. Dozens of advertisers use them without blinking. Their ad agencies should be ashamed of themselves!
Slogans Around the World
Slogan nomenclature varies from place to place. So, what’s what, where? In many parts of the world, and generically, they are “slogans.” In the
A brand name can be a registered trademark, such as Kodak, Xerox, McDonald’s, 7Up, or Coke, but a line such as “your best bet yet!” or “better by a long shot!” can’t be protected for exclusive use. To avoid problems, and when in doubt, check with an intellectual property lawyer.









