There’s nothing wrong with cutting through the clutter and getting your company noticed. In today’s world of “information overload”, it can be more difficult than ever to separate yourself from competition. In a typical day, my inbox and voicemail is inundated with e-marketers and telemarketers trying to get noticed. And, this trend shows no signs of slowing down; in fact, we’re only going to see it grow.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that marketers try new, cutting edge tactics to avoid the white noise and be heard. Street marketing (see picture below), funny billboards and teaser commercials (see GoDaddy.com’s inaugural Super Bowl spot) can grab somebody’s attention. But where do you go from there?

If not supported by anything of real substance, creative campaigns can quickly lose their legs. Did you capture the attention of the right people? If so, what’s the payoff? Does memorability always translate to success? Not necessarily.

Get noticed.

Creativity can never substitute for the value of a product or service. I always joke that I have the easiest job in the world because the fans speak for themselves, but the truth of the matter is we put some creative thought into our campaigns, too. Engaging the customer should never be disregarded, but make sure you have something to tell them once they’re hooked!

Big Ass Fans isn’t the only company that pushes the envelope. While we still think we have the catchiest, most relevant brand name, check out some of these irreverent company names.

Fat Ass Tequila

Fat Ass Tequila: I’m not quite sure how a hefty mule ties into a tequila brand, but you have to admit that it’s attention-grabbing. Let’s just hope it doesn’t describe the taste! (Blogger’s note – The Fat Ass pictured above is not related to Fanny, the beloved Big Ass Fans mascot). http://www.fatasstequila.com

Unlimited Erections

Unlimited Erections: If there was ever an award for most unintentional web traffic, it’d most certainly go to this structural steel company. Each day, thousands of men must visit the website only to be disappointed that they didn’t find a solution to their…. ahem…. problem. But hey, maybe they’ll laugh it off when they notice the company slogan: “We GET IT Up……It STAYS Up!!!” http://unlimitederections.com

Tightwad Bank

Tightwad Bank: Penny pinchers can finally enjoy a bank with a business model designed for them! There’s no question about the bank’s target audience – cheapskates everywhere are being urged to dig wads of cash from shoe boxes and deposit it into low-yield savings accounts. https://www.tightwadbank.net

We have received many comments on our name over the years, good and bad. Read some of our Kudos and complaints at our website. While a quirky name can certainly help garner attention, the responsibility of holding that attention falls on the quality and value of the product. You may look once but if it isn’t worth looking at you won’t be back. This is the reason for our sustained success. You may look at us first because of our name, but it’s the obvious state-of-the-art technology, high quality craftsmanship and attention to detail that holds your attention. Of course we do acknowledge the benefit of a name like ours. And it seems others have as well. Check out the Shoestring Branding Blog; a blog centered on entrepreneurs on a budget. They found our name as a good example of using attention grabbing marketing to get that first look.