Topic > Coca-Cola and the Use of Digital Media - 861

The organization-related website I chose for my Module 6 critical thinking assignment is from the ever-popular Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola organization is a global company that uses digital media throughout its business model. As required by the assignment, I identified and located the following two examples of Coca-Cola's use of digital media. The first example is the use of “digital media in advertising” and the second is the use of “digital media in its sustainability program”. The first example I identified on the Coca-Cola website was the marketing and advertising program initiated by Coca-Cola called Expedition 206. In this campaign Coca-Cola, through an online selection process, would send three young people to 206 countries where Coca-Cola Cola is sold. This group known as ambassadors will attend different functions in each country and interview people throughout the year. The interviews will focus on what makes people happy in these countries and promote the Coca-Cola product. Coca-Cola's website had a link that took me to an Ad Age Digital article. (2009). Which stated that “Coca-Cola is preparing for its largest social media project yet, one that will test its internal flexibility and force a number of its global markets into the digital and social media space” ( par. 1). This expedition was documented by the three young people or ambassadors and also allowed staff from all over the world to interact with the expedition members and influence their decisions about destinations to visit and people to interview. An advertising campaign typically focuses on the written word, television commercials, or online spam messages. In this case, Coca-Cola used several social media programs… half of the document… evaluated the sustainability report and rated the Coca-Cola Company as B+. The implications for the future regarding the sustainability program for the Coca-Cola Company appear to be bright with no negative aspects or concerns identified. This strategy would be an excellent model for other companies to follow in terms of sustainability, transparency and the ability to keep their shareholders involved in the process. References to Age Digital. (2009). Behind Coca-Cola's biggest social media push ever. Retrieved from http://adage.com/article/digital/digital-coca-cola-s-biggest-social-media-push/140591/The Coca-Cola Company. (2012). The Coca-Cola Company takes a digital approach to sustainability reporting and publishes its first GRI report. Retrieved from http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/dynamic/press_center/2012/01/sustainability-and-first-ever-gri-report.html