Since writing the 25 meaningless tag lines post, and tag lines need to help people we’ve been getting numerous tips for tag lines that are worse, and I’ve been spying bad ones all over my marketing-savvy city of Toronto. So, here’s round two of meaningless taglines. Pat yourselves on the back – most of them came from you!

The signage of Toronto

Welcome to Toronto: We’ve been expecting you
Either this is a meaningless tag line, or Toronto is claiming to be the city that knows where you are and where you’re going! Creepy! Oh, and the garbage is cleaned up by now… I have to admit I didn’t snap this one, it came from Vice Magazine, but they seem to be on every garbage can and bus shelter.

Flowers on Bay: Express in colors, whisper with fragrance
I’ll do the whispering, you do the flowers. And please, at least spell ‘colours’ correctly.

Brad J. Lamb Realty: Miles above the competition
Okay Brad, you can either be a Lamb or an astronaut, not both. Pop quiz: which tag / brand is worse? The lamb in space or the guy in a kilt?

A few from the world of spinning rubber

Did I mix up the company names? How would you ever know? Sure, you’re stuck with your father’s father’s grandfather’s name as a brand, but at least make an attempt to DIFFER!

Bridgestone: Passion for excellence.

Firestone: A tradition of innovation.

Michelin: A better way forward.

Goodyear: Get there.

Energy companies…

…that think they are hospital foundations. These are courtesy of Nancy Friedman – please check her blog for the full list!

Miles of experience. Miles of opportunity.

We work with care.

More citybrands

Bad, yes, but they are at least specific to their locations. The first is an ever-so-subtle allusion to Ottawa’s technology backbone, and the other, well, the other says Toronto right in the name, silly! Thanks to Justin Young for these.

Ottawa: Technically beautiful.

Toronto: Toronto unlimited.

Sports teams

NHL teams are not very good at marketing themselves. They are lucky to have a product that people want regardless of how it is sold. “A rose by any other name…” See the NHL tagline quiz here: match your team with your team’s tag!

Carolina Hurricanes: Our team. Our tradition.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Spirit is everything.