Battle of the Brands: Cola Wars

Summer has arrived, and we all know what that means. Satori’s summer blog series is here, and this year, we’re looking into some of the most famous company rivalries. Each week we’ll choose two companies who have been battling it out for your attention and see what makes them so successful. Still confused? Think Hulu vs. Netflix, Walmart vs. Target, Blue Bell vs. Ben & Jerrys. Okay, you get the point.  Now, welcome to the Battle of the Brands.

Battle of the Brands: Cola Wars

This week’s battle is for all the soda-drinkers out there. We’ve all heard it, and we all know it: you’re either a Pepsi person or a Coke person. If someone tells you they like both, they’re probably lying. Let’s go ahead and take a more in-depth look into this week’s competitors.

Coming in on this side: Coca-Cola!

This famous red-can brand can be spotted anywhere. After it was created in 1886, Coca-Cola was an instant hit. But what continues to make it so successful against other beverage companies? They are GENIUSES at marketing. Their campaigns and branding are so simple, yet so effective. Coca-Cola’s logo hasn’t changed much over the years and still uses the original font from the 1900s. Their ads pinpoint emotions. They commonly feature families, friends, and people coming together all because of the sweet taste of Coca-Cola (cue the tears). Check out the link below if you don’t believe us.

I don’t know about you, but we got a little emotional watching those.

Now let’s take a look at our next competitor. Coming in on this side: Pepsi Cola!

Pepsi-Cola was created a little over a decade later in direct competition of Coca-Cola. Their brand began to take shape after WWII when Pepsi started to incorporate patriotism into their logo. While their logo has been less consistent over the years, the nationalism is always there, and the product is instantly recognizable. So, let’s dive into Pepsi ‘s advertising tactics. Their biggest tool is celebrity endorsements. They try to speak to a younger audience and choose celebrities that will appeal best to them. We’ve seen Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Sofia Vergara, and Beyonce, just to name a few. Their latest Superbowl commercial featuring Steve Carrell, Lil John, and Cardi B, put a spin on the popular question, “Is Pepsi okay?”. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out. Don’t worry, we added it for you.

We want to know who you think this week’s winner is! Are you #teampepsi or #teamcoke?

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