Jingle Monster

Traditional jingles generally fall into two different categories – name jingles and product jingles.

Name jingles:

With this type of jingle, the focus is on the name of the company, or business, or brand etc. For example, a business that sells party equipment (let’s call it Parties R Us) might sell a range of products, but the main focus of the jingle is on the name of the business (Paries R Us). While the lyrical content of the jingle might include products and services available, the main repetitive ‘hook’ would be centred around the name of the business. These type of jingles are great branding tools, especially when it is already very clear in the minds of listeners as to what the business does.

Product jingles:

Product jingles are the other type of jingles. With this type of jingle, the focus is on a particular product, rather than the actual name of the company or store(s) that sell the product. Obviously this is ideal for products which are being sold by a range of different vendors. For example, Apple might release a jingle for their range of iPads. The focus of the jingle in this case would be on the iPad, which is being sold by different stores around the world, and the purpose of the jingle would be to promote that one particular product. Of course, jingles for products aren’t limited to mass produced products. In our earlier example, Parties R Us might be selling a unique, exclusive product that they wish to advertise using a jingle that promotes that particular product.

Sometimes, the line between name jingles and product jingles can be a little blurry. If a company exists that produces only one product and the name of their business is derived from that one product or service that they sell, then a jingle for their name or product will pretty much be the same thing.

A great place to use a jingle these days is in YouTube videos. YouTube and other video sharing networks have become so popular that the line between television and online video is blurring more and more. The sheer amount of online video content available is amazing. 2 billion videos are watched everyday by users around the world. Every minute, 24 hours of new video content is uploaded to YouTube.

With networks such as YouTube playing such a significant role in the way that customers access information, it is important to be aware of how much opportunity this presents to your business.

There are a number of ways that your business can add material to YouTube in order to increase your online presence. Here are just a few:

• Create a video ad: Just as you can create text ads and image ads that run online, you can also create video ads that play automatically when someone visits a certain page. They can also be placed at the beginning of other videos that target audiences relevant to your niche.
• Create a promotional video: This is similar to a video ad, although the purpose of the promotional video is not necessarily to be placed into advertisement spots for money. A promotional video could be an interesting or entertaining video about your business that people are drawn to without you having to pay for.
• Create a tutorial: Tutorials and videos that provide information can be a great way to establish your brand while helping people solve problems at the same time. When you post a video that helps people solve their problems, you are seen as an expert in your field.

These are just some of the ways in which online video can increase your customer base. Whatever approach you take, a unique jingle can really set you apart from the crowd and give you an identity. You are probably already aware of the benefits of a jingle or theme song in traditional television. Jingles are just as effective with online video and should be used to full effect.