So…my website isn’t quite ready and that’s okay. But with the website comes my new tagline.
If I’ve emailed you recently, you’ve seen it.
What is a tagline? It’s kind of a guarantee. It’s the “what and who” you are or what your product is all about.
In a few short words.
Less is better.
“Coke is it.”
“Just Do It.” Easy to remember and easy to associate with the product or person. “Have it Your Way.” “The Un-Cola.” All tags to products. I bet you recognized them didn’t you?
Now, many will say our name is our brand and I agree. I know names and don’t know all of their tags, if they even have one, but when I visit a site, especially one I’m not familiar with, in a few words, I want to know what it is I’m getting or who I’m getting. That’s a personal thing–that’s me. What I want. So a tagline is important for me because I look for them.
My tagline was romantic suspense…overflowing hope and thus the waterfall on this blog. I liked it. But I don’t just write romantic suspense. I’m not a steam-punk, historical fiction, paranormal YA cross-over or anything like that.
You will get romance in all of my novels, but they aren’t all suspenseful (50/50). So I had to think about me. Who am I? I’m not just a writer. I’m a speaker. I need a tag that fits both.
What can I promise to audiences and readers–whether a book, article, or blog post?
I prayed about it. Beat my head against the wall, trying to come up with something clever. Waiting on God, as usual. I’m always waiting around on Him. 😉
I didn’t want to lose my “overflowing hope.” I loved that line. And that’s when I realized what I give readers. What ALL writers want to give readers. An experience.
What is an experience? Webster’s dictionary says,”the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation.”
What can I guarantee people? What am I all about?
HOPE. “A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.”
So my new tagline:
Flashy, clever, witty? No. But it’s who I am. It’s what I say. And it’s what I write.
I will also have a melt down if someone tells me, “Oh so and so has had that for 10 years.”
Photo credit: freedigitalphotos
That is such a cool tagline, Jess! Short, yet powerful. Love it!
You already know I love your tag line, right? Right????!!
Although I'm still hoping you write a steam punk, YA paranormal crossover with a little scripture thrown in for good measure. You'd rock at that.
Tag lines freak me out. I think I'd rather write an entire novel.
At the newspaper, taglines were very important. They helped us make sure we were getting the right ad in the paper at the right time!
I don't have one, but I know I need one. Guess I'm going to have one of those "head banging against the wall" sessions soon!
I love it!
The topic of tag lines is so much fun. Honestly, I don't think I even have the one I created posted anywhere, but I still think it sums up my writing: "Sweet Romance for Fierce Hearts."
LOVE that, Jessica!
I've toyed with a few. They came naturally…one was Writing the World in a New Light & the other was Open Book, Open Mind, Open Conversation.
Still playing.
I simply love yours! Can't wait to see your site.
~ Wendy
Love that, Jessica! I don't have one, but I don't think I really need one at this point, since I don't yet have an agent or anything. Maybe at that point, I'll know even better what I'm trying to get across. For now, I'll just keep writing and being me!
I really DO love your tagline, Jess – punchy and concise.
Mine is "Traveling Rough Roads with God's Strength" – though I'm not 100% sold on it. Feels long – but it DOES fit everything I write.
I love it! And, seriously, if my boss saw it he'd totally want to steal it from you. (I work at Hope Ministries.) It's perfect. And I so agree – less is more. I'm not sure I've got a tagline yet…except that my blog is called Tag(g)lines…hehe…but I've got a few knocking around in my head. One of these days I'll settle on one. 🙂 Love yours!!
Suits you to a tee! 🙂
I blogged about this subject a few times. There are a lot of thoughts on taglines–some have them, some don't. It's up to an individual and what she's comfortable with. I heard some great perspectives on this at ACFW last year, and that's why I decided to go with one.
My original tagline was "Dishing Hearth and Home on Plates of Love."
After talking with my website design team, they suggested something simpler and shorter. They were right. Tagline now is "Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction." Sums up who I am and what I do.
"Experience Hope" totally tells me what you're about and what I'm going to get when I read your books! Kudos!!!!
I love it, and it fits perfectly.
I've been tossing around some taglines ideas to use. I think they are very important.
Your tagline rocks! I agree, it takes lots of thought and prayer for just the right tagline that incapsulates who you are as a writer. Mine? "Hydrated Living." Have an awesome weekend!
Great tagline, Jessica! I understand why a tagline is important in today's world. I have no ideas for one yet, and I confess, I'm indulging a little rebellion about coming up with a theme for my blog, much less my work, lol! I'm thinking about it, though. 🙂
I love it!! I think shorter is better.
Mine is "Fun, feel-good romantic fiction". That's pretty much what you'll get with me. LOL
PS. I just saved Downtown Abbey on my Netflix–haven't watched one episode yet. I feel so left out. 🙂
Love your tagline.
Love your explanation of taglines.
You, friend, have me mulling again.
And maybe beating my head on the wall some more.
;O)
You nailed it, Jessica! It's you! Love it. I did away with my tagline, but last night, while wiping my bathroom sink (such a profound place, you know!), one came to me out of the blue. Now I just have to redo my header. 🙂
Have a great weekend!
It is indeed a great tagline. Funny. My post was about novel's loglines as well. Have only success! Roland
Oh, I am only a cyborg with bad eyes! 🙂
wedioJu stock? Really some word verification. Sigh.
I work in public relations, so of course, I'm all about the tag line. 🙂 An ideal tag line sticks in someone's head, tells them what we're all about and what we're offering. I think most of us bang our heads against the wall over this particular topic. Summing our brand up in a few words is hard. But totally worth it.
Great line! I'm still batting mine around in my head…need to bring together all I love to do under one umbrella. So, I'll keep praying about it. But, like you, I like the shorter the better, even though I find I'm incredibly longwinded…hmmm…:)
I've been working on that too. And I just keep thinking how much easier it would be if I wrote paranormal romance. But I had to think of one that covered everything I write. So I looked at the core elements that are in all my stories. I came up with Spies, Murder, and Mystery. I'm still debating. It's not on my blog yet.
very concise and catchy too!
Jessica – I love your tagline! I have found that most people, readers included, are looking for a "pick me up," a way to experience hope. Great choice.
Love the new tagline, Jessica. I've worried before that mine is too short, but I like that it's two words like yours 🙂 Short and sweet!
Okay -just had to come back and share that this blog played in the back of my mind taunting me all weekend. You really gave me the push to ask WHY I write the stories I do, (which I knew) and put it into a short line. Every one of my answers boiled down to the same basic theme each time – I want to strip away lies and share God's truth. So in short – Sharing Truth. Thanks for the shove, Jessica:)