This is a thought-provoking piece by my colleague, Elizabeth Ireland. I encourage you to read and comment:

A lesson about messaging from the homeless

I think about the homeless when it comes to messaging. At the four corners of a busy intersection, four people might be competing for cash. That reminds me of what we do to help our clients and what it takes to truly stand out. I drove and walked around with a camera for a few days to study what messaging looks like, especially when it determines whether or not you eat that day.

Pam is pretty direct and makes an offer. The problem is a lot of people want and need jobs right now, especially in California. Her message might get lost in the shuffle.

This man is self-deprecating and uses humor. That approach probably works as people tend to root for the underdog. It didn’t hurt that he hammed it up for the camera.

Dan uses more of a call to action. I like his interactive message, but it might be better suited for the web.

This woman tugs at the heartstrings. She might only have one dollar in her pink bucket, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it fill up by the end of the day.

I like Dan’s pop culture reference, although puns make me cringe. Many can relate to this message and it’s probably pretty popular with the younger crowd.

I like how James starts off with “From Texas.” He’s communicating that he’s someone brand new, typically helping a cause, product or service.

If we give the homeless the benefit of the doubt, these lines are a matter of survival. Same goes for businesses. At Stalwart Communications we strive to build messages that are engaging, intriguing and useful. What would your sign say?