TOPIC 1: TWITTER/FACEBOOK AND ADVERTISING/PR -

Using Facebook, Twitter or another social media platform (e.g. Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube), do a search for a particular brand, product, service or cause and DESCRIBE IN DETAIL how the company or organization is using social media. Cite Examples.
I chose to look up Dr. Pepper because that's what I am drinking at this time. On Facebook you can like there page and they are using there page to advertise there product. They are advertising to unlock a Snapchat lens if you add them on Snapchat. I looked up Dr. Pepper on Instagram and they have the same ads and pictures as they do on Facebook.


Second, evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign. Who is the TARGET AUDIENCE (be specific)? Is it working? Tell why or why not.
The target audience would seem to be everyone using social media. They want everyone to buy and drink their product. They post on every social media site because not everyone has every site some people don't have Facebook and some people don't have Instagram. So they advertise on every site so that people will see their advertisements at least once and hopefully more so that people will go out and buy their product. I think that it is working because a lot of people buy and drink Dr. Pepper.
If you were the Product/Brand Manager, what else would you recommend to promote this product, service or cause?

This one is a hard one for me to answer because they already do a great job advertising. They could do different advertisements with different aged people to show all of their audience. Like show teenagers with the drink, then college kids, then working adults, retired adults, veterans, and so forth.

TOPIC 2: PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES

1. Briefly DESCRIBE the ad. Then discuss what stood out about the commercial or PR message. The add is advertising that you the person buying Dr. Pepper can chose any label they would like on their Dr. Pepper, that they are all not the same.
2. Who is the TARGET AUDIENCE? Be very specific here! It seems like to me that their target audience is teens to young adults with all of the bright colors but then with the picture they almost have an 80's vibe to it.
3. Which PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES are used in the messages (e.g. famous-person testimonial, snob-appeal, plain-folks approach, bandwagon effect, hidden-fear, irritation, association principle, emotional branding, integrated marketing, narrative, stereotypes)? Note how these techniques are used in the ad or campaign. This advertisement has the bandwagon effect because people tend to drink what everyone else is drinking. The labels look associates withe the 80's. Dr. Pepper also has loyal customers such as myself but the advertise to keep people drinking their product plus get new people to try their product.
4. Finally, explain why these techniques worked, or why they failed. I believe their advertisements work because they have a lot of customers.
5. Note: Go ahead and include a YouTube video of the ads or photos into your blog post!

• List 3 people/organizations you follow and WHY. 
  @ Heartland because I love the show and like to see pictures and such of behind the scenes and what the actors are up to when they are not filming.
  @ BrockObama because he was the president.
  @ dhnews because I like to keep up with what is going around me in my town and the towns around me.
  I also follow friends and family to keep in touch because I don't get to see them much.
• What's the best "tweet” or status update you've seen lately? In other words, what were you tempted to "retweet” or "like”? WHY did that stand out to you?
  
  All of my social media feeds have been related to the fourth of July. I like to see picture of my friends and family and what they were up to for the holidays. I also like to see posts from the news, so I can see what is going on in the world around me. 
• Some experts talk about social media empowering people and strengthening democracy. Others aren't so sure, given a tendency to create our own "echo chambers." With your connections on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Pinterest, Yahoo Fantasy Sports, Google+ or just through texting ... Do you feel social media has enhanced your ability to take action or participate in democracy, government or other activities? Discuss and give an EXAMPLE. Or spell out why you don't feel you need these social media, or even intentionally avoid them!
  
  I believe that social media has enhanced our ability to take part in democracy, government and other activities. When people are campaigning and make commercials, they put out the information they want you to see, but you can go on the internet and all the social media and see information about the person you're going to vote for. I know that there is a lot of lies and misinformation on the internet as well. Our current president on twitter posts different things and people are able to comment back to what he has to say, he can see people's thoughts and opinions on what is going on in our world. 

•  Sherry Turkle talks about us becoming more "connected" than ever before, and yet we may be setting ourselves up to become more isolated. Share your thoughts on Turkle's talk, including a few EXAMPLES. Have you, your family and others "reclaimed" areas of home, work or play for conversations -- or declared those spaces device-free zones? Have you taken steps to ensure that you are really listening to others?
  
  I agree with her when she was talking about how we want to be around people and wanting to be on our phones at the same time. She showed a picture of her daughter with her friends and they were together but all of them were on their phones and I see that around me all the time. I was at a birthday party and I took a picture and everyone was sitting around together but everyone was on their phones.
  
  I will admit I am on technology everyday, but when I invite people over, or if I go hang out with someone I give them my attention. If someone in my house starts talking to me, I put down my phone and listen to them. I will admit that I use my phone as a crutch. When I don't know anyone or I am in an uncomfortable situation I automatically go to my phone. We don't have a "phone free" zone but when we want to talk to someone who is on their phone we talk differently by making sure we get their attention first. Sometimes they will say hold on or you have to wait until I'm done doing what I am doing on my phone first. If you just start talking they will not hear you or pay attention. 

• When it comes to digital gaming ... How many games have you downloaded to your smartphone or computer? What games do you most enjoy playing (e.g. Fantasy baseball? Words with Friends? Candy Crush? League of Legends?) and WHY? 
  I have downloaded a lot of games to my phone and tablet over the years I have own them. I like to try new games so I download them, and if I do not like them, then I delete them and look for another game to play.
  
  Right now I like play sims free play and picture cross the most. I like Sims because I get to decorate different houses and put together different style of outfits and such. I like Picture cross because I like doing puzzles and figuring things out. 
  
  I also have games that my son likes to play on my phone, such as Pokemon go and red ball 4.
  
• How many hours a week do you think you spend on digital gaming and social networking? Do you feel like you are part of an online community? Discuss that "community" aspect of gaming. Or maybe you're too busy with other commitments/interests in your life ... and don't see the point of wasting so much time online or on the phone ... Say more about that ... 
  
  It depends on what is going on around me on how many hours a week I spend on my phone. When my roommate and my son are not home I spend more time on my phone then when my son is around. I also lay in bed by myself at night playing a game or on social media. I don't have a lot of people in my life so social media is one way I don't feel so alone. I would like to have more in person friends to hang out with and have fun with. My favorite part of my phone is my camera.