The Power of a Great Tagline: Making Your Small Business Memorable

What do Nike, McDonald’s, and L’Oréal have in common? Other than being corporate overlords of our dystopian society that probably don’t need to check their bank balances, they all have killer taglines. “Just Do It.” “I’m Lovin’ It.” “Because You’re Worth It.” They’re not just words; they’re little chunks of marketing know-how that burrow into your brain like Macarena did in the mid-’90s. With only a few well-chosen words you can give your small business that extra punch to nest your brand even deeper in the minds of your customers.

In this week’s blog we’ll get into how taglines can positively impact your small business, the process of crafting them, and why they’re basically the marketing equivalent of a perfect pair of low-rise jeans: timeless, versatile, and undeniably effective.

Small but Mighty

"Here I come to save the daaaay!"

A good tagline acts like the synopsis on the back of a novel you’re thinking about buying. It’s concise, memorable, and gives your customers an idea about your small business without unnecessary fluff. Think of it as your elevator pitch on steroids - a quick, catchy way to tell people who you are and why they should give a crap.

It’s not really just that simple. We wish. You want something that doesn’t just describe your products or services; you’re trying to capture a whole vibe, a feeling, maybe even an entire lifestyle. Look at BMW as a prime example: “The Ultimate Driving Machine.” It does so much more than tell you they sell cars, it says, “Hey, bozo, this is THE car if you’re not just trying to get from Point-A to Point B while crying on your drive home from your crappy job so you can write those alimony checks to your ex. Live a little!”

Maybe we took that a little too far, but you get the idea. 😉

For small businesses, a tagline can do the same and then some. It’s your first impression, your handshake, your pickup line to seduce customers into doing business with you. Get it right, and it’s the kind of thing customers will tell their grandkids about, or maybe just something they’ll remember a long after they’ve lost your business card.

Make Your Tagline Shine Bright Like a Diamond

Taglines aren’t rocket science, but they’re not something you should throw together on a lunch break right before your next big presentation either. Imbue yours with plenty of thought, creativity, and maybe crank up your favorite playlist to get started. Here’s one way to go about the process, step by step:

Ask yourself some hard questions: What makes your small business unique? Are you the fastest, the friendliest, the quirkiest? Figure out what makes you different and laser in on it.

Think about your audience. This is where knowing your demographics comes in beautifully. Are they more likely to laugh at a “Seinfeld” reference or swoon over something poetic and heartfelt? Get on their level! If your customers love dad jokes, lean into that. If they’re all about sophistication and raising their pinkies when they drink, maybe skip the puns.

Get tested. And by test, we don’t mean shouting it into the void like you’re auditioning for a Broadway musical. Run it by friends, family, or your most honest customers. If it makes them smile, pause, or say, “That’s clever,” you’re heading into the right territory.

Bonus Tips

K.I.S.S.: Keep It Simple, Silly! Short and simple is the name of the game. A tagline should be a bite-sized snippet, not a Jerry Maguire style manifesto. But we sure do like “SHOW ME THE MONEY!” JG Wentworth missed out on that one.

Alliteration adds appeal and attention-grabbing aura to all. You don’t have to use alliteration, but it works at making things memorable. Other tricks you might consider are rhyme or unexpected word pairings. A laundromat might go for “Where Dirty Meets Delightful” or “Chaos Laundered; Zen Delivered.”

Keep it evergreen. You might be tempted to sneak something in from the latest trend, but don’t do it. You want your tagline to make sense YEARS down the road. Your plumbing business is better off with “Flush Your Troubles Away” than “The Skibidi-est Toilet Fixer”. Trust us.

Avoid being too generic. “Quality You Can Trust” might sound cool and all, but it’s about as exciting as a helping your grandma clip her toenails. On the flip side, don’t be so clever that nobody knows what you’re selling. If your tagline requires a Little Orphan Annie decoder ring or a 10-minute explanation, it ain’t it, bro.

Your Tagline: Small Words, Big Impact

Like we’ve been saying, a great tagline will make you stand out from the competition and stick in your customer’s minds. Like that mixtape you made for your crush in middle-school, it’s personal, impactful, and leaves a lasting impression. For your small business, it’s also a way to punch above your weight class, standing out even when you’re competing against bigger players. We might say something about Jake Paul and Mike Tyson here, but everyone knows that was rigged. But, you get the idea.

So, get out there and create that tagline masterpiece. Make it funny, make it heartfelt, make it unforgettable. And if you need a little help, that’s where TAWC Multimedia comes in. We don’t just write taglines; we create mic-drop moments. C’mon, Let’s tawc about it. Hey, that's kinda catchy...