Picture Courtesy Wikipedia |
Like names, taglines stick. Crisp and clear ones are the most adhesive.When I christened my blog Freebird, my idea was to soar beyond the constraints of deadlines and word limits. However, the name Freebird was suggested by my son who had higher things on mind – like the song FreeBird by American Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, which is one of the most-requested songs in the history of rock music.
Thereafter, a friend chimed in with an interesting suggestion, 'Alkaline – The basics'. I quite loved the idea inspired by my name. But like most parents who obey their children, I went ahead with Freebird.
The second, more difficult step was to coin a unique tagline. A true sentence. Something that worked in conjunction with my blog. Something that was memorable and witty.
Unlike professional blogs, taglines are not mandatory for personal blogs. Many bloggers stick with their blog name. Their blog name tells the story. Nevertheless, a catchy tagline helps. Such is the power of a memorable tagline that it becomes synonymous with the product.
Utterly Butterly Delicious, Just Do It, Connecting People, Thanda Matlab – Yes, you guessed it right.
Since the idea was to write and recharge my brain dead slapstick cells, I contemplated on Freebird: A Loose Cannon. But 'Loose Cannon' is Manas Chakraborty’s column in The Hindustan Times. Moreover, the tagline was not in conjunction with Freebird. Sometimes I wonder if there is anything from domain names to taglines that is not taken. As it happened, my search to fish out a perfect tagline led me to some interesting ones on the net.
The second, more difficult step was to coin a unique tagline. A true sentence. Something that worked in conjunction with my blog. Something that was memorable and witty.
Unlike professional blogs, taglines are not mandatory for personal blogs. Many bloggers stick with their blog name. Their blog name tells the story. Nevertheless, a catchy tagline helps. Such is the power of a memorable tagline that it becomes synonymous with the product.
Utterly Butterly Delicious, Just Do It, Connecting People, Thanda Matlab – Yes, you guessed it right.
Since the idea was to write and recharge my brain dead slapstick cells, I contemplated on Freebird: A Loose Cannon. But 'Loose Cannon' is Manas Chakraborty’s column in The Hindustan Times. Moreover, the tagline was not in conjunction with Freebird. Sometimes I wonder if there is anything from domain names to taglines that is not taken. As it happened, my search to fish out a perfect tagline led me to some interesting ones on the net.
Crisp and Clear
If you blog about technology or design, a crisp and clear tagline works well. For example, simple phrases like Gadget Guru, Venture Specialist, Copy writing Tips or A Social Media Guide are short but substantial. However, photography, food and travel blogs allow you to play with words - Eyes Travel Emotions Live, Eyes Like Shutter Mind Like Lens, Love Bites, Zen Habits and Life is Beautiful are short and sweet.
Clever and Whacky
You are witty. You know it. And you show it. But there is a danger of being too clever. It can fall flat with a section of readers. However, it is your blog and you have every right to play around with whatever fascinates you. Peddling with humor works well if you are young and phunny. For example: News for Nerds, Almost Worth It, Everyone Is Entitled to my Opinion, Theater of the Absurd or Because you are Ugly (Doubt if I'll ever read this blog).
Loaded and Powerful
Taglines that display verbal pyrotechnics go well with reputed professionals and intellectuals. They are like modern art. The creator leaves the ‘figuring-out’ process on the reader's intellect. For example: Cacophony Colonnade, A Joyous Alchemy, Snatched Vignettes.
Despite my dogged search, I was unable to coin that perfect tagline. It isn’t easy. Try defining yourself. It is like biting your own teeth. So digressing from the task at hand, I began relating following product taglines with celebrities.
Rahul at Bedtime: Have I made it Large. (Royal Stag)
Modi Abroad: Think Big (IMaX)
Media: Gas and Beyond (Essar), Imagination at Work (GE)
Yogi A: Stop @ Nothing (A Star)
Irrfan Khan: High Performance Delivered (Accenture)
Arnab: Prepare to get assaulted (Euro Innerwear)
Ranveer Singh: Born to Perform (Jaguar)
Raghuram Rajan: Yeh to Bada Toing Hai (Amul Macho)
Finally, a tagline that sums the nation's current mood has to be - Overwhelmed by a Relentless God.
Is there any tagline that defines your current state of mind?
Life’s Good ?
Good.
Happy Holidays.
Hahahaha, all my comments on your blog start with this. Hmm! So taglines...my blogs tagline was 'Something I recommend you NOT to read"....then very recently I did a blog makeover and came face to face with the fact that it was as lame as the real me, so I changed it to "The Red Handed Blog"...Still lame I know. :(
ReplyDeleteWell I had once come across this line "A simple unconventional mind".....I am going to steal that line and use it to describe me!!
Keep smiling, keep laughing. Glad you liked it. So you agree that it is not easy to coin that perfect tag line.
DeleteLove your tag line...clear and crisp.
Hahaha...that was one hilarious post yet so expressive, you have one awesome blog Alka..I believe, I am gonna take a day off and read all your funny posts..!! :)
ReplyDelete-Amrit
Http://thoughtsaboveall.blogspot.in
Thank you Amrit. You are most welcome.
DeleteLove your blog name. Says it all.
Alka, I actually liked the tagline your header originally had under the blog title. "Sometimes contemplative, mostly refletive, but always tongue in cheek." I thought that was quite clever. And I kinda like Freebird more than Alkaline, it reflects the true nature of your posts that donot follow any norm or diktat neither they are concocted to bring about a revolution, they're just free words in a free world coming from a free spirit. I dont think you have any reason to feel otherwise. :)
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I am going to use that again. Thanks for the honest feedback.
DeleteI had also written a similar post about taglines.. this post reminded me tht i have to change mine.. :(.. nice post as usual.. :) :)
ReplyDeleteMessage me the link Arpitha.
Delete:)
I never thought of a tagline...either for my blog or the one that defines me...so, am I the undefinable? A wonderful post as usual.
ReplyDeleteA personal blog need not have a tag line. And yes, it is not easy to define oneself. It is like biting your own teeth.
DeleteThank you Janaki.
I liked Arnab's best-it clicks smartly.
ReplyDeleteThank you Indu. I loved it too.
Deletebhai, that tagline given to asaram is d best! :-D.......hilarious! :-D
ReplyDeleteThanks. Given the number of potency tests he is clearing it suits him .
DeleteHi Alka
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed every bit of this post! u write so well :)
I love that name for Rahul G, the royal stag! awesome !
Thank you Ankita.
DeleteThis was such a lovely post as usual, loved the concept of assigning our famous 'celebrities' with tag lines of their own :D
ReplyDeleteAs for my personal blog tagline, I think my url http://mahabore.wordpress.com is tag line in itself, don't you think :D
You are anything but a Mahabore. But I love the name. It registers.
DeleteFreebird is good but Alkaline is even better. But we Moms are destined to follow our progeny's wish.
ReplyDeleteI had coined the tagline for my blog a couple of months after I started blogging and haven't changed it since :-)
Nothing needs to change Purba. We love A-Musing.
DeleteIts just perfect the way it is.
Freebird is the best at least it does not need a litmus test like Alkaline:)
ReplyDeleteHa ha, Well said.
DeleteSuperb taglines those :)
ReplyDeleteI am no good either - but somehow my "Life is Like This" seems to hv found favor with people :)
Your blog name and blog content stands out. Nothing needs to change.
DeleteNo wonder readers love 'Life Is Like This'.
'Alkaline' is DEADLY! Kudos to your friend who suggested it. But, I completely empathize with your decision to go with Freebird which is great, too.
ReplyDeleteLoved your retrofitting of taglines on some of the celebrities we know and may or may not care much for! I am sure there is photo somewhere on the internet of Asaram Bapu riding (no pun intended) a Mahindra.
Asaram on a Bike - Mahindra Rise!
DeleteThey should contact him for endorsing the product. The son can pillion ride along with Daddy Cool.
Always Great(AG) is apt for your blog.
ReplyDeleteTalking of tagline I am reminded of a story of a fish seller putting up a board 'Fresh fish sold here'
Someone said why put 'here' when everyone sees your shop.He removed the word.
Who sells stale fish.Remove 'fresh' another pointed out
Remove 'sold' as fish is not given free was another's suggestion
The 'fish' smells from a distance.All will know fish is sold here.He removed 'fish' also
The board was now empty and taken out
An amazingly good (AG) and popular blog like yours doesn't need a tagline.Haha
I liked your post that was different and enjoyable
Love the story, but that is high praise.
DeleteThank you.
Another fantastic read, Alka. The taglines for the famous folk are so appropriate!
ReplyDeleteI love working with taglines - had fun working with some in my earlier work. Since I took to blogging, I tried out a few for my blog until I settled on the present one.
'Keeping Life Simple, Authentic and Holistic' is just perfect. It is in conjunction with what you wish to say on your blog.
DeleteI am still struggling, hence this post.
Thank you for the tweets.
Hahahaha! I for nuts don't know how to work taglines. This was such a fun read and so creative!
ReplyDeleteYour content is so powerful that names and taglines don't matter Bhavana.You are beyond such gimmicks.
DeleteI salute you for your dedication towards causes. It is easy to sit and write but how many can convert words into action?
haha U really made me smile broaaaad today specially at that Asaram's tag line
ReplyDeleteLMAO !
Interesting post as always. I still cant think of a great tag line for your blog but an intelligent one just struck me
Freebird - "Birds of my feather and from hither and thither flock here " :)
Not sure if u will like it ;)
but Alkaline is also a grt idea
hav fun
That is so sweet Afshu.I am still struggling to coin that perfect tagline, hence this post.
DeleteIt is too late to change the blog name.I don't wish to mess with the blog name.
Tag lines are tough to be coined for individual blogs as our contents evolve every day. So does our moods. But if we are sure of what we are and what we say, then yes, we could work on it. Enjoyed the tag lines of celebrities, esp Arnab and asaram's.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Vaishnavi. All blogposts cannot be defined by one tag line. But a catchy tag line gives a fair idea about what your blog is all about.
DeleteI hope you find a good one soon. Go by your gut feel and don't search the net. It is confusing.
ReplyDeletehehe I absolutely loved the taglines you shared. On another note, I think not the catchiest blog names or taglines can make one read a bad blog. Hey and Alkaline is a really cool name! I just wish Goutam hadn't come up with another one :). And surprisingly, it was never difficult for me to coin taglines for both my blogs.
ReplyDeleteYou are right right Rachna. Content is the back bone of any popular blog. Everything else is secondary. I am often tempted to change it to Alkaline but I guess it is too late. Meanwhile the tag line search continues. Imagination at work.:) :)
ReplyDeleteLove Alkaline. Maybe, apart from your blog, you can have an online newspaper called' Alka-line', much like NewsLine, etc. If this article is anything to go by, it will be the best thing that happened to the world of media, and the readers! :)
ReplyDeleteMost readers love Alkaline. But it is too late to change!
DeleteBig time confusion.
Thank you for reading.
You know you should use Alkaline :)
ReplyDeleteHas anyone changed their blog name after 3 years?
DeleteI am in a dilemma Ruch.
Alkaline?
ReplyDeleteI have always maintained.....it is the content and not the number of comments
Nothing can overrule content.
DeleteThe first and the last take the cake!
ReplyDeleteI think Freebird is self sufficient, and every post exemplifies it.
Mine is still, like my tagline, 'A million little things'
Cheers,
Blasphemous Aesthete
Thank You.
DeleteYour blog name stands out Anshul. It is unique and different.
Love the tagline too.
Hmmm....."Alkaline: Neither Acidic, Nor Basic" would have worked but there is this flaw - If I am not wrong then all alkali are basic but the corollary may not be true....ok I shall shut up now.
ReplyDeleteBut interesting....imagine everyone having a personal tagline on their Aadhar/UID Cards. And since I am looking for an advertising/branding related agencies as my first preference for job after completing the MBA degree...I guess you might be using my jingle in your post a couple of years from today. :D
Hmm...I should keep Alkaline but coin a new tagline. Any suggestions from a soon to be MBA in advertising?
DeleteAnd you don't need to shut up. A growling cub is more endearing than a quiet one!
Good luck for a bright future Prateek.Thank you for stopping by.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFreebird is way better than Alkaline. It sums up your topics, treatment and themes. Absolutely unshackled by constraints. Pure, unadulterated delight in every sentence :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Rachna. Coming from you, it is very reassuring. Moreover, content matters at the end of the day.
DeleteWhen I created my blog, my tagline came easy to me. Not sure not it turns out to be difficult.. and, yes, Alkaline was surely a good option.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diwakar. I guess, it is too late to make any changes in the blog name.
Deletehaha :D what a funtastic tagline attack! I loved Alkaline too mainly because it includes your name and at the same time snappy :)
ReplyDeleteMy head is spinning. Great confusion but no conclusion.
Delete:) Thanks Jas!
Haha. Tell me a good tag line and I will change...........
ReplyDeleteArrey, I am the one who is looking for that perfect phrase. You are supposed to help me out here.
Deletehahahaha... superb!!
ReplyDeleteYours is a win win blog Alka!!
When it comes from you, I am winner. Thanks Deepak.
DeleteLove your blog and this post. The celebrity taglines were bang on! My blog's not so tangy tagline is "Simplifying Parenting:From Toys to Trends". Thought it fits what I do. :)
ReplyDeleteHow beautifully it sums your blog Swapna. It is just right.
DeleteThank you for stopping by.
hilarious post, and very impressive!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it Rachna. Thanks for stopping by.
Deletehaha...it was fun reading your post Alka...perfect tags! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you Priti.
Delete:)
Great post Alka.Enjoyed reading it. I like freebird more:-)
ReplyDeleteYour first time here, I guess. Thank you. Freebird stays.
Delete:) Loved the post!
ReplyDeleteHappy Diwali, Alka. There is a surprise for you on my blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rachna. Means a lot.
DeleteHa ha, Awesome post Alka. You-know-who and Asaram had me in giggles! Too good.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it Jaish.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this taggy post tons..hwz bout making Pappu and Feku taglines for 2014? I took almost one year to come up with a name for ma blog, newkidontheblock, though I am not a new kid but pretending to be one neither I'm standing on a block. I love Free Bird:)
ReplyDeleteFirst, Thank you Alka for sharing this. It's perfect for the kind of "inspiration" I was looking for. You have a way with words and humour and satire is - YOU ! I also love the ALKALINE name , that's awesome. On a separate note, suddenly I am feeling a bit conscious about my blog's tagline :) Once again, great post. Enjoyed it
ReplyDeleteYour your blog is so popular now that a tag line is inconsequential. Glad you liked this.
DeleteI think just make Alkaline your tagline. That way you have best of both worlds. :D
ReplyDeleteToo Good Alka. Loved the 'tang' of it, refreshing yet chatpata! Sets you thinking about all the taglines you ever heard, and if you havent, you will after this one. Happy Diwali!
ReplyDeleteToo Good Alka. Loved the 'tang' of it, refreshing yet chatpata! Sets you thinking about all the taglines you ever heard, and if you havent, you will after this one. Happy Diwali!
ReplyDelete