For the A-Z Blog challenge, I will be addressing some of life's big questions.
Perhaps together we can find the answers to many heretofore unsolvable mysteries.
To start off, I'd like some help understanding advertising.
Here is my question: How are any of these useful slogans?
"Clean is not an option."
Is that really what they want to say?
Here's one I heard a lot during the Super Bowl:
"Together we R."
Are what? Pirates? The 18th letter of the alphabet?
Is there a way to be killed that's not dead. Have they finally developed a way to ensure bugs do not become undead. Perhaps this is protection against zombie bugs.
One more.
"Travel should take you places."
Indeed. I believe that's why they call it travel.
Any advertising slogans that baffle you?
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| Tomorrow's Question: Why are old books never new? |
Slogans are so studied and focus grouped - it's interesing that the ones above slipped through. I was in a focus group for a slogan for a large national financial organization and they were toying with a slogan "Let's Get It Done" (which I think they adopted.) I said it reminded me of Larry the Cable Guy saying, "Git 'er done!" and received a frown from the group moderator. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z kickoff. Good start!
"Let's Get It Done" does sounds like it was taken from Larry the Cable Guy. They should have listened to you!
DeleteA good start to the challenge, I haven't saw TIDE on the shelves here in the UK for years.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the challenge.
Yvonne.
Hi Ynonne, thanks for stopping by. We'll be over in the UK in the first of June! I love it there.
DeleteI'm afraid I'm woefully oblivious to advertising. No television and I most listen to NPR on the radio. But yours are funny, especially your logical thought behind them.
ReplyDeleteMy dad love NPR too. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSome the things we say, and some of the things advertisers say, make no sense at all.
ReplyDeleteSounds like theatre of the absurd. But an interesting post.
Nice to meet you. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteHaha I never even knew about these slogans. Sounds like it's going to be a great series this month!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a busy month to me! But I've already got most of them written.
DeleteI think the problem is that slogans are less about meaning than about the sound and catchiness of the words. The two can't always coexist.
ReplyDeleteI think you're probably right. A slogan has to have a nice ring, and maybe sometimes they put too much focus on that and not enough of the meaning.
DeletePerhaps. But I respectfully disagree with Stu. Memes and meaning can certainly coexist.
DeleteFun post, Julie.
How about..."Where's the beef?" Between the buns maybe? This is going to be a really interesting month and if I'm not careful I might actually learn a thing or two. :) What a great start! You might want to consider dropping the word verification though...you'll get more traffic and comments. :)
ReplyDeleteOh thanks! I thought it was already turned off, so thanks for pointing that out.
DeleteI think they get worse and worse. "It kills bugs dead"? That doesn't even make sense! There is absolutely no need for the word "dead" in that sentence! It makes me wonder what kind of people they have coming up with things like this! Great post, and I love your Questions theme, I can't wait to see what else you have in store for us :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's going to be an interesting and blog-filled month.
DeleteWhat a fun post! Advertising works in mysterious ways...
ReplyDeleteHadn't heard that Tide one.
Looking forward to your daily posts!
I think the Tide one is actually a few years old.
DeleteThis is so true. What are those people thinking? I don't have actual television or listen to the radio anymore, so I am mostly ad-free in my life, but when I do see commercials I am usually left scratching my head and half the time I wonder what the ad was even supposed to be selling. Good luck with the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shell. I don't watch much commercial TV either, but these slogans made me laugh.
DeleteHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Hilarious post! I don't have any to add but I sure enjoyed yours!
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z!
Zombie bugs, hehehe...but why am I laughing? That would be so scary. Very funny post!
ReplyDeleteWhen I see them, they always make me scrunch my eyebrows and wonder who was asleep at the wheel - a disgruntled employee, maybe?
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun post to read - "kill bugs dead" reminds me of how difficult it is to kill ants -- very often I think I've killed them but they aren't really dead -- or is that just the zombies walking after me?
Unread bugs? Sounds like a story idea to me! There is a local add for a company that fixes windshields. The billboard asks in large letters, "Do you have a crack?" I giggle everytime.
ReplyDeleteThat does sound like something from one of your stories!
DeleteI can't stop laughing. This is a great start to the challenge. Everyone of the ad slogans you used are hilarious (with your commentary). I have always been baffled by, "Got Milk". I mean either your answer is yes or no and then what? Verizon's "Can you hear me now?" does not make me want to use Verizon for fear of having the same problem. What about, "I use L'Oreal, because I'm worth it", what all seven bucks and you are a celebrity??? My favorite is Milky Way's "light and fluffy so it won't fill you up", well then what's the point of the dang snack? I sure don't want to waste any of my calories on chocolate that won't make me feel any less hungry than before I ate it.
ReplyDeleteI love your theme and you are off to a perfect start. I am eager to read more of life's big questions from you this month.
lovely A
ReplyDeletedo check out my B now posted at GAC a-z
Made me smile:-)
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing
looking forward to more answers
martine