"Friendly greetings!" The Power of Personal Catchphrases

1 of the nicest things you can do for other people is make yourself easy to remember. Instead of called-for their brains trying to recall who you lot are and what you stand for, a personal catchphrase is a elegant anchor to the residuum of you. It serves as a compact memory banana that melts mental blocks. You don't demand to be a celebrity, only you do need to take personality.

Always heard of Rodney Dangerfield? The human said:

"I don't get no respect!"

thousands of times (are you seeing him in your head as yous read this?), and he literally built a prosperous and durable comedy career based on that catchphrase. Allow's make no fault, he was a versatile performer who chillingly portrayed an abusive begetter in Natural Built-in Killers, but to many, his sheer lack of received respect coupled with mannerisms like tie-tugging helped him be recognized and succeed.

Whether you love, hate them — or otherwise — Donald Trump's "You're fired" and Paris Hilton'south "That's hot" are unlikely to leave your caput anytime soon. And you lot tin't become much briefer than 2 words. As a type of meme, catchphrases' brethren include LOLCATS and other Internet phenomena like the many parodies of 300's "This… is… Sparta!" which are immediately attainable, and thus, spread hands. As Cyberspace marketing guru Seth Godin (who's coined catchphrases) sez:

"Ideas that spread, win."

My catchphrase is "Friendly greetings!", and I use it to introduce mySecond Life video tutorials (with almost iii 1000000 views) and other public activities. If you google for it in quotation marks right now, you'll find I'g the #2 friction match with this image:

Without quotes, I'm all the same in the Top 10. This didn't happen all at once, only in waves. Here's my communication on popularizing yourself through a personal catchphrase so you tin reap the rewards:

Your catchphrase must be natural

Don't hunt for the obscure: just nearly all catchphrases consist of elementary words that are easy to recall . And even alien quips like "Klaatu barada nikto" have a singsong quality which is pleasant, specially if you lot've not just read, but heard the original. If you take an opportunity, record yourself saying your catchphrase. It adds a dimension that's impossible in text lonely, and near all catchphrases originated from existence said out loud.

I stress that being creative doesn't mean existence alien — by appropriating words already familiar to other people, you're well on your way. In fact, I'd hedge on "go for a catchphrase that sounds like information technology couldn't be any more than obvious". Most people psychologically make the mistake of thinking "obvious = bad" when it tin can conspicuously exist the opposite; my "Friendly greetings!" is certainly a fine example. And patently, y'all need a catchphrase y'all'd say without sounding forced and artificial. It should connect with the surrounding conversation. This is why "Friendly greetings!" is such a strong lead to the rest of a word.

Yous can't overuse your catchphrase

Family and friends may get tired of seeing your catchphrase, but the world has over 6.6 billion people and you'll never, e'er reach anybody who could perchance be interested in you and what y'all have to offer.

Note that I mentioned "personal catchphrases", because while there are a lot of similarities to ad slogans, your catchphrase is dependent on your delivery, non an inanimate object's. If someone else says it, they're probable either parodying or paying homage, thus spreading it further.

Also consider if others tin be proud of sharing your catchphrase with their friends, bringing them in on you. You lot, first and foremost, must be willing to commence that fun.

You must often hear your catchphrase being said back to you

I feel lamentable for Wayne Knight considering of how Seinfeld typecast him with "Newman!", but it's better to be known than forgotten.

One of the simplest means to tell if a catchphrase is working is if you lot put it out at that place and hear it echo back. I become awesome people maxim "Friendly greetings!" dorsum to me everyday, and 1 of the reasons information technology works so well is it's an icebreaker and information technology'south comfortable to say.

Target audition matters too: Beavis (Barrel-head's buddy) may have had an affinity for proclaiming "I am Cornholio", but it'southward unlikely buttoned-up academics will be chanting that phrase too (unless they take a wild, secret, subversive streak).

Take three-4 seconds and call back near whether your catchphrase is something the people you lot target (whether it'southward kinds of friends you lot desire to make or a market place niche you're aiming for) volition be able to relate to. If it works for you, it'll attract like-minded people, I guarantee.

And exist brave to throw abroad expressionless-terminate catchphrases (yes, you can have more than one — I'chiliad working on boosting "Yayzerama!"); information technology'southward pretty like shooting fish in a barrel to tell in weeks if they're starting to work or not, then drop the weight.

Your catchphrase must take a purpose

Even if your catchphrase doesn't country the purpose, it's pointless to take popularity without followup results. Is your catchphrase a claw to assist yous move product, become y'all gigs playing at parties (and hot dates afterwards), or simply to make yous grin?

They tin can sound nonsensical and stupid, but catchphrases absolutely must do something skillful for you lot, and desirably, your fellow humans. Otherwise, why bother?

Share your catchphrase just virtually everywhere

If you can put your catchphrase in a weblog post title and go far menstruum, more than power to yous — numerous SEO strategies observe that Google and other search engines weigh titles heavily. Flickr movie titles (equally the one I showed you) and other opportunities to go your catchphrase seen affair, likewise. From experience, I've found this to exist truthful.

If you're cocky-employed or otherwise have creative control,your catchphrase should be on your business cards. This gives you a fab opportunity to create rapport by maxim your catchphrase out loud as yous give your card to a fresh acquaintance. (Alas, if yous piece of work for a company that already has potent branding and isn't in the business of letting your personality aid boost them, your individuality can't smoothen as much.)

Remember the to a higher place steps and go on information technology terse nonetheless memorable. All the all-time being catchy, and permit me know your catchphrases in the comments!

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Source: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/friendly-greetings-the-power-of-personal-catchphrases.html

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