The Media Literacy Paper : Coca Cola

By adding historical context into her writing, Rubin explains the attitudes and conditions that were present during the 1950s, and how Coke used these attitudes and conditions to promote their product and symbolize it with optimism and energy, as well as target their product towards the highest valued group of people at that time. For example, Rubin points out how the vast majority of people in the ad are white males dresses as service men, blue collar workers, and business men. Also, Rubin points out that because of the war this was the largest, and highest valued group of people in America. By including this information into her writing, it helps support her claims about how Coke uses the ad to effectively promote its product to the most profitable demographic in the

When thinking of what makes a successful advertisement, many would agree that the most successful brands adapt to the society and trends around them. Similar to everything else in our world, advertisements continue to change year after year and era after era. When thinking of common brands with impressive advertisements and campaigns, Coca-Cola is one that we are introduced to at a young age. Coke has been advertising their brand for over one hundred years. This brand continues to relate to many consumers by modifying and creating advertisement campaigns, which relate to current trends. Two advertisements in particular test the theory of how as era’s progress what was once seen as competitive relationship is now a budding romance and popular marketing strategy.

     PepsiCo. Incorporated and The Coca-Cola Company are the two largest and oldest archrivals in the carbonated soft drink (CSD) industry. Coca-Cola was invented and first marketed in 1886, followed by Pepsi Cola in 1898. Coca-Cola was named after the coca leaves and kola nuts John Pemberton used to make it, and Pepsi Cola after the beneficial effects its creator, Caleb Bradham, claimed it had on dyspepsia. The rivalry between the soda giants, also known as the "Cola Wars", began in the 1960’s when Coca-Cola's dominance was being increasingly challenged by Pepsi Cola. The competitive environment between the rivals was intense and well-publicized, forcing both companies to continuously establish and

What makes the Coca-Cola brand so successful is not simply the product, as by taste it is not superior to that of PepsiCo’s or even other competitors but it is the brand itself and the lifestyle associated with it. Coca-Cola does not simply sell a beverage in a bottle; it sells happiness in a bottle. The company is regularly at work on new graphic designs and packaging for many of their products to appeal to a different crowd (Warkentin, 2014b).

Coca-Cola is one of the most recognizable brands around the globe. The history of Coca-Cola began over a century ago since 1886. Today Coca-Cola sells products in over 300 countries world-wide, and has over 3,000 different beverages. The brand is familiar to people all around the world, and is available in many different varieties. The company takes pride in the development of unique marketing strategies, which have allowed growth and access to various places throughout the world. Their extremely recognizable branding is one of Coca-Cola 's greatest strengths and the simplicity of its bottling is a part of a great marketing strategy (Spring,2002). Coca-Cola makes money primarily from selling

There are a couple of groups that this type of ad seems to really connect with and sink in. The first being the young, the reckless and those longing for love. Then there are those who want to feel that way, again. An older person in their 70’s and has recently retired, sees this ad, days of their youth would flood back in. This image captures the present and the past for both parties.

The Coca Cola Company is a proud sponsor of the Boys and Girls Club, which is ironic given that Coke is one of the most unhealthiest drinks a person can consume. Alongside inactivity and sedentary lifestyles, eating habits are the leading causes of childhood obesity. Coke is known to produce sugary drinks that often advertise in a way that attracts kids to drinking it. It’s “evil” of the Boys and Girls Club to allow Coca Cola to sponsor them, considering what the brand stands for. Nevertheless, there is a lot of good the Club partnered with Coca Cola have accomplished. The good comes from their long-lasting partnership and the amount of donations Coca Cola has given to the Club. Since 1948, the two have been partnered and I see their continued

Coca-Cola is shifting its product strategy to develop healthy beverages. “Minnick’s ambitions, if they hold, would utterly redefine Coca-Cola’s image as a purveyor of sugar-laden junk that you should’ve give your kids” (Carvens & Piercy, 2009). Entering a healthy-beverage market segment can potentially improve as well as expand Coca-Cola image. The new market segment will reel in even more consumers for the company, only

Coca-Cola argues many points in support of its marketing and image. Especially in the years following WWII, Coke has worked hard to present an image associated with having a good time. Since the late 1800s, Coke’s advertising has shown people in beautiful places and in beautiful clothes, having a beautiful time and enjoying their beautiful lives--even in times of war and economic recession. While wars, riots and scandals rage in this country, Coke has been “holding forth to the world a picture of itself as pleasant and rewarding--the kind of place most people would like for it to be” (Watters 216). In Coke’s more recent advertising, Coke continues its image of fun and beauty, showing teens enjoying a sunrise and at a rave dance party in the woods. However, these more current commercials were in response to two other adds that were considered “not funny” and “mean spirited” by public opinion polls (Sampey par 1-4). Those ads showed family members and friends physically fighting with each other because someone had forgotten to bring Coke.

Coca-Cola has often been seen as an escape during the hardships of America. They provided a sense of hope; a false reality in which America was still the land of opportunity. The advertisements helped Americans ignore the harsh “ realities of depression” and embrace the “idealized reality of America”, the America they came to with hope (Coca-cola at home). Coca-Cola was there in the worst of times for Americans to enjoy and pretend nothing was wrong. Some people might say it made Americans ignorant during a time of destruction, but in reality it helped Americans cope with the crushing feeling of economic depression.

Coca-Cola also wants their consumers to know that they have partnered with Boys and Girls Club of America, to help promote a healthier and more active lifestyle as a way to help combat childhood obesity. In addition to partnering with Boys and Girls Club of America, the Coca-Cola Company has also partnered with doctors and nutritionists to discover ways that they can offer healthier options within their product line. Coca-Cola’s advertisement also lets their American consumers know that by partnering with doctors and nutritionists, they have discovered natural and healthy alternatives to sugar that they have now implemented as a way to reduce

The drastic change in society’s eating patterns from the 70’s to today amount to the introduction of multinational food corporations such as Coca-Cola. This is because people nowadays drink Coca-Cola products in place of a meal or snack. These drinks contain an average of 9 teaspoons of sugar per can of drink. This impacts an individual’s physical wellbeing as the drink has no nutritional value, it makes people feel sluggish and fatigued. Furthermore, this affects ones mental and emotional wellbeing as they won’t feel that good after consuming it. People chose to purchase Coca-Cola products over other drink choices such as milk, because it’s a lot cheaper and you get value for your money. Therefore, if parents have the attitude of valuing convenience

Coca Cola’s first main weakness is that it is highly susceptible to any kind of negative publicity. Every kind of negative publicity can hurt the brand badly. Some years ago after traces of pesticides were found in the products of Coca Cola, it had hurt the brand really hard. Sales had dipped in various corners of the world apart from the criticism that flowed. Any such thing can hurt the popularity and sales of coca cola. However, Coca cola can overcome this weakness by being more transparent regarding the ingredients it uses in the production of its brands.

Coca-Cola is the result of a patent medicine formulated in a small southern pharmacy over a hundred years ago. It has grown into a multibillion dollar international company. It also owns one of the most valuable brands in the world. Their Coca-Cola banner has won the world’s top brand 13 times on brand c-consulting firm Interbrand’s annual list (Fraser, 2012). In addition to its main product, Coke, the company owns over 3500 beverages. One of its core competencies is brand building. They have built their brand to have respectability and dependability. Their brand and logo are recognized all around the globe. It has actually become a new known on almost all households worldwide (RNWILKIN, 2009).

Coca-Cola has been around for generations with the same iconic taste, logo and symbolism. Its brand has represented family and the memories of good times, celebrations and comfort of being with those we love. Unfortunately, the company has not made good marketing decisions in the recent past and has lost relevancy. The purpose of this essay is to assess the conditions that created Coca-Colas marketing problems, evaluate the future of healthy beverages and non-carb drink brand extensions, and provide recommendations to the management.