U.S. News has no objection to you issuing an accurate press release about your organization’s award; in fact, U.S. News offers press-release templates for most of its awards. It also has no objection to one-time organic (that is, unpaid) social-media posts, publishing a link to the usnews.com page showing your award, or posting a plain-text (no graphic elements or stylized lettering) announcement on your website.
U.S. News objects to any unlicensed use of its logo, award symbols, graphic elements that act as U.S. News award symbols, or any other uses that violate its trademarks or copyrights. It also objects to any unlicensed reference to U.S. News or its awards in advertisements or other paid promotions.
Only BrandConnex is authorized by U.S. News to provide permissions that allow use of U.S. News award symbols or the U.S. News name. A license from BrandConnex includes permission to display any U.S. News award symbols your organization earned, as well as to promote the awards in ways that do not include use of an award symbol.
Because of such well-known U.S. News rankings as Best Colleges and Best Hospitals, U.S. News badges and emblems are widely recognized as symbols of excellence that are awarded by a trusted, unbiased publisher.
For example surveys have shown that 94% of people are more likely to choose a hospital because it was ranked or rated highly by U.S. News & World Report versus a hospital that was not. 98% say they are likely to recommend U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings and ratings to their friends and family for their hospital search.
In addition, independent academic research has shown that people who see an ad with a visible badge from U.S. News versus one that did not were more likely to remember the ad with the badge, think of the organization more credibly, and were more likely to choose the organization that showed the badge.
Another study showed that even though consumers today are much more skeptical of advertisements than they were in the past, they actually view some types of advertising positively. Researchers found that mentioning a recent ranking by a third-party source like U.S. News & World Report received the most positive reactions from participants. Consumers described ads that reported a product’s position on a ranked list from a verifiable third-party source as “credible.”
There’s no need to abandon your current messaging in order to promote your award. Many of our clients use U.S. News badges in their posts and promotions without actually mentioning their rankings or ratings. A U.S. News badge provides validation that your organization provides an excellent service or product.
If your organization is not eligible for an award next year or does not license an award, you must remove the badges and emblems from your marketing materials when the new rankings or ratings are published. That said, most organizations continue to license their awards year after year, and many make it a cornerstone of their marketing plan because they find the value speaks for itself. They recognize that a U.S. News badge is a rare gem – a true differentiator in a crowded marketplace.
No. Purchasing a BrandConnex license will have no impact on your current or future U.S. News rankings, ratings, or award eligibility. U.S. News journalists create the rankings and ratings using objective data, without any input from BrandConnex, and they have no role in the licensing of badges or emblems.
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