Advertising jingles are short, catchy tunes that are used in commercials to help promote a product or service. They’re often designed to be memorable and stay in the listener’s head long after the commercial has ended. Radio jingles, audio jingles, and pop-up ads are all examples of advertising jingles.
When done right, jingles can be incredibly effective in terms of capturing customer attention and making a product or service stand out. In this article, we’ll go over some of the most famous jingles of all time and discuss why they’re so memorable and catchy.
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What is an Advertising Jingle?
A brand jingle is a short, catchy melody that is used to promote a product or company. Memorable jingles are often used in advertising campaigns and can help to create an emotional connection with the viewer or listener.
Advertising jingles can play on television, before movies, the radio, and digital streaming services. They are designed to make an emotional connection with the consumer, which will lead to brand recall and recognition. An advertising jingle is usually created by professional songwriters and composers and can be adapted to different styles and genres of music. They often become iconic and recognizable elements of popular culture.
Some well-known examples of advertising jingles are – “I’m Lovin’ It” by McDonald’s, “Like a Good Neighbor” by State Farm, and “Give Me a Break” by Kit Kat, etc.
Most advertising jingles are between 15 and 60 seconds long. While some brand jingles use original music, others will repurpose well-known songs and modify the lyrics to better fit the brand. Professional songwriters and composers create these jingles. The melody and lyrics are then recorded by professional singers and musicians. The jingle is then mixed and mastered by a sound engineer to create the final product.
Description of a Jingle
Ad jingles are short, catchy songs or slogans that are used in advertising campaigns. They are designed to create an emotional response in the viewer or listener and to increase brand awareness and recall.
For example, a radio jingle writer creates these short, catchy songs or slogans. They work with advertising agencies and businesses to come up with jingle ideas that will resonate with their target audience.
The insurance company uses many jingles in its advertising, as do other businesses in a wide range of industries. Ad blockers can be a problem for companies that rely on ads to get their message across, as they can prevent the ads from being shown, in such cases, brand jingles can be a way to get around this issue.
An advertising jingle is an important part of many advertising campaigns and can be a very effective way to increase brand awareness and recall. If you are working with an advertising agency or business, be sure to ask about the possibility of creating a brand jingle for your next campaign.
Advertising jingles are often created in different styles and genres of music to appeal to different audiences. For example, a brand targeting children might create a jingle with a faster tempo and more upbeat lyrics, while a brand targeting adults might create a jingle with a slower tempo and more mellow lyrics.
Why use an Advertising Jingle as a Marketing Tool?
Without a doubt, songs and jingles are effective marketing tools as they can help foster an emotional connection with potential customers. This emotional connection can lead to brand recall and recognition, which are both important in the world of marketing and advertising.
An advertising jingle, if done correctly, can become an icon that is recognizable by popular culture. Jingles that become part of pop culture can have a lasting effect on consumers and often stay in their heads long after the initial advertising campaign has ended.
Some of the reasons behind the importance of an advertising jingle are-
- Emotional connection with the audience: Advertising jingles can create an emotional connection with the audience, which can lead to brand recall and recognition.
- Increased engagement: Jingles can help to increase engagement with the audience by providing a catchy melody that is easy to remember.
- Longer Lasting Memory: They often can stay in the heads of consumers long after the initial advertising campaign has ended.
- Reach a wider audience: They can help to reach a wider audience by being aired on different platforms such as television, radio, and digital streaming services.
- Powerful Nostalgia: Jingles can evoke feelings of nostalgia in consumers, which can lead to increased brand loyalty.
- Easy to Recall: Jingles are often easy to recall due to their catchy melodies and lyrics.
What Makes an Advertising Jingle Popular?
There are a few key elements that often make jingles popular. Some of these elements include-
- Catchy melody: A catchy melody is often one of the most important elements of an advertising jingle. If the melody is not catchy, likely, the jingle will not be memorable or popular.
- Simple and short: Jingles that are simple and short are often more popular than those that are longer and more complicated. This is because shorter jingles are easier to remember and sing along to.
- Repeating chorus: Jingles that have a repeating chorus are often more popular than those without one. This is because the repeating chorus makes the jingle easier to remember and sing along to.
- Familiar tune: Jingles that have a familiar tune are often more popular than those with original music.
- Timelessness: Jingles that are timeless often have lasting popularity. This is because they do not date themselves and can be sung for many years to come.
- Creative: Brand jingles that are creative and original are often more popular than those that are not. This is because people are drawn to new and interesting ideas.
How to Make an Advertising Jingle?
1. Write a Script
The first step to making a jingle is to write a script. This script should include the melody, lyrics, and any other elements that you want to include in the jingle.
- Words: The words of a jingle should be simple and easy to remember. Additionally, the lyrics should be relevant to the brand and its target audience.
- Language: The language of a jingle should be accessible to the target audience. This means that the language should be appropriate for the age group and should be easy to understand.
- Tone: The tone of an advertising jingle should be upbeat. This is because people are more likely to remember and sing along to an upbeat jingle.
- Rhythm: The rhythm of a jingle should be catchy and easy to follow. A memorable and catchy jingle is more likely to be remembered and sung along to.
2. Creating a Melody
The second step to making a jingle is to create a melody. The melody should be catchy and easy to remember. Additionally, the melody should be relevant to the brand and its target audience.
3. Recording the Jingle
The third step to making a jingle is to record the jingle. This can be done by hiring a professional recording studio or by recording the jingle at home.
4. Editing the Jingle
The fourth step to making a jingle is to edit the jingle. If you want to create a jingle that will be remembered, you can either hire a professional editor or edit it yourself at home.
5. Production
The fifth and final step to making a jingle is to produce the jingle. A jingle can be produced by either hiring a professional company or recording it yourself at home
Tips to Make Good Ad Jingles
1. Find Your Target Demographic
The first step to making a good jingle is to find your target demographic. This means that you need to identify the age group, gender, and interests of your target audience. Once you have identified your target demographic, you can tailor the jingle to appeal to them.
2. Make Your Jingle Brief and Memorable
A good jingle should be brief and memorable. This means that the jingle should be short and easy to remember. Additionally, the jingle should be relevant to the brand and its target audience.
3. Your Phrases Need a Hook
The phrases in your jingle need to be catchy and easy to remember. A catchy phrase is more likely to be remembered and sung along to. Furthermore, the saying should resonate with the target market.
4. Write Music that Fits Your Company’s Personality
The music of your jingle should match the personality of your company. This means that if your company is fun and energetic, the music should reflect that. Conversely, if your company is more serious, the music should be more subdued.
5. Phrases Need Action Verbs and Imagery
The phrases in your jingle should be concise and easy to remember. Additionally, the phrases should contain action verbs and imagery. This will make the jingle more memorable and easier to sing along to.
Top Advertising Jingles of All Time
Some of the famous jingles used by different brands around the world are
1. McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” (2003)
Although “I’m lovin’ it” was never explicitly stated to be a jingle, it’s become one of the most iconic and long-running slogans in history. This slogan received a boost in 2003 when Justin Timberlake lent his voice to the campaign.
The company’s marketing campaign was based on J.T.’s song of the same name, which eventually became one of Timberlake’s album tracks. The 2003 “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign led to a McDonald’s record-high advertising budget that resulted in optimized sales growth.
2. Subway “Five Dollar Foot Long” (2008)
The “Five Dollar Foot Long” jingle was first introduced in 2008 and instantly became one of the most recognizable and popular advertising jingles of all time. The catchy tune and low price point helped to increase Subway’s sales by 9% that year.
In addition to the original jingle, Subway has also released several remixes and parodies over the years. The most popular of these is the “Five Dollar Foot Long Christmas” remix, which was released in 2010.
3. Apple “Get a Mac” (2006)
The “Get a Mac” ad campaign was one of the most successful marketing campaigns of all time. It ran for four years and featured a series of commercials that pitted Apple’s Mac computers against PCs.
The ads were incredibly popular, and the jingle became one of the most recognizable tunes of the 2000s.
By the end of 2006, Apple’s sales had increased by a tremendous 39%, setting a new record by selling 1.6 million Macs in that year alone. This marked an increase throughout the entire four-year campaign, with their best quarter yet being the last one; during this time, more than 2.3 million Macs were sold.
4. Nike “Just Do It” (1988)
Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan is one of the most iconic and popular slogans of all time. The slogan was first introduced in 1988, and it has been used in a variety of Nike ad campaigns over the years.
The most famous use of the “Just Do It” slogan is in Nike’s “You Don’t Win Silver, You Lose Gold” ad campaign, which ran during the 1996 Summer Olympics. The ads featured athletes who had lost in their respective events.
5. KMart “Ship My Pants” (2013)
KMart’s “Ship My Pants” commercial became an instant viral sensation when it was released in 2013. The commercial features several customers who are surprised and delighted to learn that they can ship their pants from KMart.
The commercial was so popular that it spawned many parody videos and remixes. Just after 5 days after the jingle, it got more than 9.7 million views.
6. Budweiser “Wassup” (1999)
Budweiser’s “Wassup” ad campaign was one of the most popular and iconic campaigns of the late 1990s. The ads featured a group of friends who would greet each other by saying “wassup.”
The campaign was so popular that it won several awards, including the Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. It also helped to increase Budweiser’s sales in the United States exponentially.
7. Geico “Hump Day” (2013)
Geico’s “Hump Day” commercial became an instant viral sensation when it was released in 2013. The commercial features a camel who walks into an office on a Wednesday and greets his co-workers by saying “hump day.”
More than 3.7 million people have shared the video, making it officially the most viral Geico commercial of all time.
The data makes it clear that a day-of-the-week trigger is to thank for the video’s success. Every seven days, there’s a drastic sharing peak. And this day just so happens to be Wednesday – or, as some call it, “hump day.” The pattern is exceedingly apparent; during all the other days of the week, sharing dissipates close to 0%.
8. Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” (2010)
Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” ad campaign was one of the most popular and iconic campaigns of the early 2010s. The ads featured actor Isaiah Mustafa as the Old Spice Guy, a suave and handsome man who promoted Old Spice’s line of men’s products.
The ad was first shown online on February 4, 2010. In the United States, it aired four days later during commercial breaks for new episodes of American Idol and Lost, as well as during coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics. By airing the ad after the Super Bowl, we predicted that there would be increased interest in advertising.
The Man Your Man Could Smell Like release was well-received in the United States, with features and interviews in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Daily News. Mustafa was also invited to appear on several television talk shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show. Ultimately, The Man Your Man Could Smell Like turned out to be popular, positively reviewed by critics and a success.
By June end in 2010, it had gathered over 11 mil views online and gotten multiple honors from the television and advertising industries–like the Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival (the most well-known award ceremony for marketers). There was even a point where, in mid-July of 2010, 8 out of YouTube’s top 11 videos were from this series.
9. Volkswagen “The Force” (2011)
Volkswagen’s “The Force” commercial was released in 2011 and quickly became one of the most popular car commercials of all time. The ad features a young boy who is dressed as Darth Vader and trying to use the Force to start his parents’ Volkswagen.
The Passat ad aired on YouTube the week before it made its TV debut on February 6, 2011. In less than 24 hours, the video had racked up one million views; by the time the commercial finally appeared on TV, that number had reached 8 million.
The sixty-second online version was considered by those connected with the ad to be better than the thirty-second broadcast version, despite it being “too long to play during the game”. The longer version stuck out more in people’s memories.
Here is a video by Marketing91 on Brand Jingle.
Conclusion!
An advertising jingle is a short melody or phrase that is used to identify a company, product, or service. Brand recognition is important for any business, and a catchy jingle can help customers remember your brand. Insurance companies, for example, often use jingles in their advertising.
Ad jingles are also a great way to show off your company’s personality. For example, the jingle for Lucky Charms cereal (Frosted Lucky Charms, They’re magically delicious!) is both catchy and memorable. It also conveys the fun and playful personality of the Lucky Charms brand.
Advertising jingles are a great way to make your company stand out from the competition. So if you’re looking for a way to improve your brand recognition, consider creating a catchy advertising jingle.
What do you think? Advertising jingles – yay or nay? Let us know in the comments below!
