Jessica Escobar

English 113A
Professor Lawson
15 October 2014
Exercise 2: The Ethnography
Word Count: 752
Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi Ads
Many people often buy products because they are being convinced by the way they
are advertised. Some companies, like Coca-Cola like to extend their advertising ideas to get
more people to buy their product, especially because they are competing against another
popular company, which is Pepsi. They both have different ways of advertising and making
people want to buy their soda. There are many people who frequently buy sodas; some
have a hard time when it comes to choosing between Coke and Pepsi. Both are dark sodas,
but they do have their differences, which make us prefer one more than the other.
Throughout many years, Coca-Cola has made millions of commercials and ads that
catch peoples attention. Also, for example, when you go to a store, anywhere they sell food
or any type of groceries, at some point throughout the store, you will see a Coca-Cola sign.
In the restaurants coke is always a main drink. They have a variety: Coca-Cola, Coke zero,
diet coke. They use My Coke Rewards, which you get by entering a code online for a
chance to win prizes. That interests many people and they feel rewarded for buying the
soda. Also Ive seen if you buy the canned cokes they come with discounts to Amusement
Parks like Universal Studios or Six Flags if you take the can with you. They also recently

added names to the coke bottles, which is another way to get people excited and want to
buy one with their name on it.
Pepsi has also made millions of advertisements and therefore has been a big
competition for Coca-Cola. Pepsi uses different celebrities in their commercials, mainly top
artists of the time, and people who like those certain celebrities feel inspired to buy the
drink. Pepsi is probably ranked a bit below Coca-Cola.
In the advertisement I chose, it practically shows two sides, Pepsi vs. Coca-Cola. It
seem as if they are fighting, maybe to see which one is better. Or which one people prefer. It
tells us that they are rivals, there is competition between them and they are both trying to
prove theyre the most wanted.
Last week I was at Target, and my sister grabbed a pack of Coca-Cola. I asked her
what made her choose coke and she said, Coca-Cola is the best because I love the taste. Its
unique, and I love their commercials because the people who drink it always seem to be
happy and enjoying life, and thats how I see myself. When I went to check out the bottled
cokes I noticed a girl taking her time trying to find the right bottle because they recently
added names to the bottles of Coca-Cola, and everyone gets excited wanting to find their
name. I noticed that the Pepsi 12 pack was on sale, while Coca-Cola was at regular price.
They also have more varieties of Coca-Cola than Pepsi.
These soda companies all have their own ways of advertising and getting people to
buy their sodas and they each make different profit because of their different quality.
Overall sodas are not healthy and shouldnt be consumed too much, but the companies
make sure to persuade people to continue to buy them because of their taste and by just
mentioning the positives of the drink. In the commercials they just say, Now with fewer

calories, for people to think that they are not so bad for their health and or weight, but
there is not much of a difference.
These drinks are not needs, but wants or desires of people. People would be much
healthier if they would avoid too much calorie intake, but I also realized that there is people
who are addicted to these products, therefore they cant stop consuming them, and its
better for the companies now that they are only being benefited. All they worry about is
satisfying people so that they will continue buying more, disregarding the health factors.
Overall advertisements can be very convincing now that they only put out the
positive points of the product. They make it seem as if their product will change your life
for better and you will love it. These soda companies somehow bribe the buyers by giving
them a chance to win prizes or adding coupons to desired places where people might want
to go and know they can save money at the same time.