Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: brencarpetman on October 31, 2008, 03:28:24 pm
-
Hi all,
Just a quick question. Im having a little trouble about a phrase I have on my website. It says as most of them does "The most thorough cleaning ever or its free".
I would like to know firstly if anybody knows where this phrase came from and to the best of my knoledge I did'nt think you could have a copyright on a slogan.
Also I did a search on google with that particular phrase and got a return of 5,300.000 hits, so according to me a lotta people in trouble. ;D
Bren
-
Bren,
As far as I know, the headline was written by Jim Wolverton in the USA. I think (in theory) that only licensed Piranha Marketing members can legaly use it AS A HEADLINE.
If you use it as a headline you are leaving yourself open to action. Not only that, it's pretty poor marketing to steal a headline word for word. The trouble here is that it has been stolen so many times that it may not be cost effective for the copyright holder to chase people. You will have no defence if someone does send a "Cease and desist" letter or claims damages.
As a sentence in body copy it would be harder to deal with.
You can "model" the phrase eg. "The most throrough car service or it's free", would be acceptable. There was a court case recently where the writer of "A dog is for life.. not just for Christmas" took an action for breach of copyright. I cannot remember who modelled that phrase, or what the product / service was but the court ruled that it was not breach of copyright.
Best course of action is find an original, compelling headline.
Garry
-
how about "The deepest, most amazing cleaning ever, or il commit suicide"
lol, could work, will definately show commitment (the insane kind) ;D ;D ;D
-
Ta Gary!
Thanks for the info
Food for thought!
Russell sounds like something Johnathan Ross would say.
Bren
-
not at the bbc he wont ;D
-
Not until at least January anyway!
Friday nights wont be the same.
You do the crime.....
Bren
-
£6 million a year :o
wish I could opt out of the Licence Fee >:(
-
id rather see adverts than pay 130 odd quid a year, already pay 40 quid odd a month for sky
-
Apologies for going off thread - BBC & licence fee get me wound up.
-
its all free on the net now, so why pay for sky.
football live streaming from iraq, quality.
derek
-
My advice is 'Just Do It'
Everybody borrows from everybody else in marketing. all JP stuff is from someone else, who got it from someone else.
You probably have to go back to the days of Barnham to find anything truly original.
So long as you don't take bodies of copy you will be fine and even then who's going to bother with a little old CC company.
-
Same here mike :)
They have made plenty out of there out of date marketing ;)
-
OK I take back what I said. :-X
Rather than just do it because you can, because no one is going to hunt you down and sue you is not a good reason.
Now I like that type of headline cos it's got risk reversal built in, but what could be a USP for you in your locality depends on your competition and what their message is.
Say you have a well known CC in your area who uses that stock FT/JP line, how does that make your company unique?
If no one is using it start using it today but with your own unique twist on it.
-
I can never quite work out why alot of the adverts you see, are basicly the same :-\
you open the y/p and there they are,
The best clean you will ever see, Guaranteed
the most thourough or its free
we will make your carpets like new
Guaranteed to be the deepest clean you will ever have.
What a load of crap, How the hell can anybody make carpets like new, how can you say it will be the best clean they will ever have etc, etc, etc.
As already stated leaves you wide open, and lets be honest how many porty owners can say they are doing a better job than a t/m , yet the claims are their.. ( Lets not go down that road agai, I know they are capable ) in the right hands ;)
I guess its alot to do with the marketing that people have purchased ;) :-\
Personaly , I prefer to use in my advertising " Results you expect from a professional"
Geoff
-
I use a portable, perfectly good results, and nearly always get tips and recommended, although do get to a few quotes where a truckmount cleaner has also quoted & basically said a portable is crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
good job im a good salesman really or there would be no business for us poor portable owners would there!!!!
-
Russel,
I never said portys were crap, never said they didnt get good results,
I am reffering to the adverts some people put out.
What I did say was "Lets not go down that road again" Could I make it clearer.
Geoff
-
two l's in Russell!
-
Only one in this Rustle ;)
geof
-
Very true :-*
-
Geof
I know what you are saying but who are these things aimed at, other carpet cleaners or potential customers?
-
Mike,
yes I can understand the thinking behind these claims, and yes I know they are aimed at custy.
what I cant understand is How such claims can be made?
when there are a great many c/cmaking the same claim, even side bye side in the same y/p .
now are you telling me a custy is stupid? because i dont think so, based on what I think and what custys have said to me ie. " I looked in y/p, but they are nearly all saying the same thing "
Obviously , I am wrong of course :-\ because all the marketing guru,s preach it, and lots of c/c use it.
Not for me though, I do the job to the best of my ability, I charge a reasonable price. I,m happy and hopefuly custy,s happy . and as I am realistic :D I know I am far from the best, and I know I dont make their carpets like new :)
Geoff
-
Two seperate things Geoff.
Differentiation is very important, hence needing a USP.
Unfortunately, while not stupid, people do tend to take what is said at face value especially when there is no specific criteria set.
While we are on this type of thing, when you see 'Award winning carpet cleaner' I often wonder how many they were up against and whether it was bought with membership to a particular network or something. At the end of the day it's all perception and marketing, can't see why it bothers anybody, unless you do a brill job but your phone ain't ringing.
-
Hi all,
Just a quick question. Im having a little trouble about a phrase I have on my website. It says as most of them does "The most thorough cleaning ever or its free".
I would like to know firstly if anybody knows where this phrase came from and to the best of my knoledge I did'nt think you could have a copyright on a slogan.
Also I did a search on google with that particular phrase and got a return of 5,300.000 hits, so according to me a lotta people in trouble. ;D
Bren
Have you been sued, have you had a warning if so from where?
-
I see you use a similar phrase ian, also, how do you manage to give £300 worth of free gifts to people who use your premium package?? ;D
-
What about something a bit more subtle,
"Imagine your carpets clean and fresh again"
Power of suggestion maybe?
-
Theres a guy in Dunfermline that uses "The most thorough cleaning ever or its free".
he has never been on a altec course or signed up to it ........... ??? ???
-
There is many of those set ups here in cheshire/manchester all the same :o
Would never put that on my van or cards etc myself.
-
Hi James. How ya doin?
Feel free to give me a bell sometime your in Edinburgh ;)
-
when did you do your NCCA course Rabby, just wondering if you were on mine, was a guy from edinburgh there
-
Hi Russell, It was November 2005 ::) maybe. I`m sure Bob will correct me.
I was hiding up the back, as usual. 8)
-
Rab end of September 2005 ;). All the ugly guys sat at the back. You, Chris Straker and Spencer ;D
Bob
-
>:(
-
I see you use a similar phrase ian, also, how do you manage to give £300 worth of free gifts to people who use your premium package?? ;D
I am waiting for my wb master to change the site. Unfortuantleyfor me he has been finishing is Phd .
I am very proud to anounce he has and we kow have Dr Matt GourlayMsc. hons on our team as a consultant. Along with Sophie the Cat ;D ;D