Vote: Which Tagline Do You Like Best?

I think as a Christian Publisher..it is our responsibility to place the tools for “inspiriation” in the hands of others..so that they may go out and change their world. The first leaves no note of our mission statement at all…it’s very none inspiring..no pun intended. The third one just denotes what most churches are struggling w/ right now…bringing in lost souls…saving them and no discipleship…hence “inspiring lives” but not training them to “Go ye, therefore”…Almost a “sit and soak” mentality. The Next one is much the same as the the third. I like the the last but it really is the the second one that embodies what our mission says, I believe.

Sherrie

I guess I do have an alternative suggestion. I woke up one night and this is what exactly what was on my mind. Just these words: “One Heart, One Faith, One Home.”
Honestly, I don’t get these ‘revelations’ so to speak. But it was so imprinted on my mind I sat up, grabbed a paper, wrote it down, and put it in my purse. I didn’t think I’d be asked my opinion on the matter, so there it has been until I received your blog.

I also believe we should be mindful of what the “Since 1798″ tagline communicates in context. For example, we previously used it on book covers below the imprint’s logo:

J. Countryman
A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishers
Since 1798

Countryman has not been a division since 1798. I also believe we need to be careful that our logo does not say a book has been “Published by Thomas Nelson since 1798″ since we have not had any books in print that long (other than the Bible).

Since there’s no ballot option for “None” or “Other” or “Comments”, let me explain why I won’t be voting. I’m not sure a tagline helps us or our customers.

I voted last time against keeping “Since 1798″, on the general principle that in logo-ing, less is more. But mulling over this list of taglines I’d now vote to put the date BACK into our marketing iterations (or leave the space blank). The list of sample taglines didn’t include any “omnibus content” companies like record labels, movie studios or publishers. There could be a good reason why these folks avoid taglines.

Reading our list of nominees reminded me of the tagline used by Sally Field: “You like me! You really, really like me.” If you have to say you’re inspiring, it raises suspicion that you might not be. Doesn’t the content of our products define who we are? (Prov. 20:11)

I noticed something interesting with this list of famous slogans. Fourteen of them directly say “you/your” or imply it with an imperative statement. Many of those statements have transcended use as a company slogan to be incorporated into our speech patterns. How many of us have told someone to “Just do it”?

In Bibles, we are being challenged to become customer-focused, to think about what the customer wants and needs and to meet that need. That kind of thinking just makes sense in today’s world. We live in a culture that is all about “me” and “what have you done for me lately”.

As we seek to brand Thomas Nelson, I don’t think we can afford to become self-focused. We need to translate who we are and what we do into what the customer will gain from our organization and our products.

It’s not about us.

With that in mind, only two of the five options are customer focused: “Come in. Be Inspired.” and “Inspire your world.” They both speak to our purpose of inspiring people, but I’m not sure most people understand the concept of the “House”. That’s publisher-speak. But the desire to inspire, make life better for yourself or others, or create change is universal.

That’s why I voted for “Inspire your world.” No, I don’t think the claim is too bold. Great slogans make audacious claims. “When you care enough to send the very best” and “Be all you can be” come to mind.

Pete,

These are come good comments. I can see where that would be confusing—certainly not what we intended to communicate!

Mike

I agree with Russ. Not an employee, but avid reader of this blog. After the previous posts on author criteria, the culture and values of the company, and the fact that TN doesn’t publish ONLY inspirational (read: “devotional”) literature, it seems to me that the “many stories” line fits well.

You don’t seem to be constrained by a narrow worldview in the bad sense that some “Christian” publishers have, but based on what I’ve read on this blog you strive for a variety of creative, authentic and spiritually uplifiting works that challenge, inspire, and perhaps just “wholesomely entertain” your readers within the broader (and best) values of Christianity.

That said, I’m not sure “One House, Many Stories” conveys the faith-based values of TN as well as some other do, but I really think the “many stories” tag goes a long way to opening up your market (and your witness) to potential readers who might not otherwise buy titles from a “Christian” publisher.

Thanks for your helpful, thought-provoking, and inspiring posts. I feel I always learn something about being a better businessperson, citizen of the world, or Christian after reading them.

Actually I thought the “One House…” conveyed a sense of Christian identity since it sounded to me like an allusion to Christ’s promise that “in my Father’s house there are many rooms.” Admittedly this might be too obscure a reference for a good slogan (on the other hand, perhaps it is good for a publisher to have a multi-layered slogan). I’m put off by “inspiration” – it’s a good word that has been too often devalued to mean generic good feelings.

And I like the direction this blog has gone the last couple of months – it’s on the top of my list on my rss reader.