In coining names, slogans, mottos, brand promises, and other key messages, many marketers for independent business simply get it wrong. They key: Really understand the ideal client first, then use their own words for authentic key messages that work.
Key Messages Blunders Part 4: Getting It Wrong
Many people in business choose to present their products and services with key messages that reflect their knowledge of their company’s offerings and would appeal to themselves. This approach sometimes works. More often, a slogan or value proposition not tested on people who match the ideal client profile fails to generate results promising enough for wider continued use.
Typically, the basic problem is a lack of authenticity – the authenticity that can only come from truly understanding what’s important to the ideal client, expressed in their own words.
Consider these examples:
Example 1 commits the blunder of the presumptuous use of your. No matter how popular, this boat centre could never achieve a sense of belonging to every person who reads its window sign.
Rather than planting an intuitively acceptable idea into the mind of the reader – the mark of an effective key message – this claim inevitably alienates some people who do not regard the place as their own anything. Its value at evoking and maintaining a sense of belonging among actual customers is likely mild, overall.
Better to use something like California’s leading outboard experts, if it’s true.
Example 2 commits the blunder of promoting features that do not provide compelling benefits. The statement is purely about the graphic design studio, at most implying that its clients can get graphic design so good that it wins awards.
If that is the best promise this studio can make, then how many prospective clients for graphic design consider the chance for the designer to win an award as a compelling reason to purchase design from them? Chances are, the market’s values lie elsewhere. In that case, design awards had better be more important to the design studio than clients.
Better to use something like Leaders in stationery design since 1999.
Example 3 commits the blunder of not appealing to a specific market.
Generally, children are oblivious to clothing trends, only noticing and following them unconsciously. The concept of clothing trends is typically not a part of children’s conscious value-set.
As clothing is concerned, pre-teens tend either to function like children – oblivious to trends per se – or to make choices like teens.
Among teens, a trend is generally something to consciously avoid. Though clothing trends have been rampant among teens for decades, even the word trend carries a negative association.
Young adults generally either make clothing purchases like teens or choose to be deliberately oblivious to trends.
Hence, from children to young adults, the concept of being ahead of any clothing trend likely has little traction.
Among adults, only narrowly-focused niche markets seek to set or follow clothing trends. Therefore, this motto would turn off more clothing shoppers than it attracts.
Better to say something like Get noticed.
Really understand the market first
Marketers who do not understand and appreciate the values, concepts, and customary word choices of their target markets risk using key messages that do not generate much new or repeat business. In some cases, they even generate avoidance of their brand.
Overall, it is better to articulate an authentic, meaningful key message that reflects the thoughts and feelings shared by people who match the ideal client profile.
– Glenn R. Harrington, Articulate Consultants Inc.
Three Reasons Why Independent Businesses Need Authentic Key Messages To Succeed
If your company does not already distinguish itself as uniquely valuable to a niche of the global economy, then your company needs to identify itself and its value proposition in the same few words as the ideal client would use, and propagate that key message in renewed marketing and brand management.
Nine Reasons to Pay A Pro Editor to Review Documents for Publication
Many people find that a professional editor can make and suggest revisions more comprehensively, more constructively, and more contextually appropriate than software tools supplemented by a friend or colleague.
How to Distinguish A Conscientious Editor from An Insensitive Butcher
Anybody can edit, so use this article to help you distinguish an editor who can really help you and your readers from one who can only try.
