Words Mean Things - Pay Attention or Perish (like that Sea World Trainer)

Did you hear about the trainer who was killed at Sea World by a Killer Whale? They said they were   shocked because the whale and his female trainer got along really well. Don’t you think the name “Killer Whale” would have been enough of a hint to her that this animal might possibly be dangerous? I mean, if it was called like a “Play Quietly in The Corner Whale” or a “Cuddly Whale” then yeah, I would have  been surprised,  too. But it was a “Killer Whale.”  And not in a "Lady Killer" sort of way. More in a "Kill Other Creatures" sort of way. After all, it had actually killed before! Twice! This of course, made it a much more dreaded  denizen of the deep - "The Serial-Killer Whale!"

What does this have to do with advertising and marketing? Words mean things. How you name your products and services should be done carefully. Of course, a great name still cannot overcome the tendency of people to ignore the inherent value, promise or danger the name is meant to communicate. So advertise, advertise, advertise.

Comments

[Steeb]

Good post Greg,
Ever since this tragedy happened I was thinking that it was like a headline from The Onion,-"Freak Accident, Killer Whale Kills Human."

[Russ]

Hooorah Greg! I am so sick of media coverage when wild PREDATORS taken out of their natural habit hurt their handlers. These critters eat things for a living. They are not cute little kitties. I feel bad for the woamn who was killed, but as a professional, you know that the possibility was in the back of her mind. There is no way the animal is at fault. If we take 12,000 pound predators out of their natural environment and throw them in a swimming pool expecting them to be nothing more than cute circus performers, we are severely kidding ourselves. "Killer Whale"... yes. Pay attention to the words!