Sprite & Coke does not gel with mom or health or school
Moms and Sprite/Coke tied to Back-to-School does not seem like the right brand alignment for TwitterMoms.
Would ANY of you TwitterMoms give your child Sprite or Coke for any reason? Every healthcare professional on the planet is telling both moms and kids to stay away from soda. Most pediatricians talk about limiting juice because of the sugar!
Of course it works for Coke becuase most parents are doing everything they can to get those soda vending machines out of schools for the health and wellness of their children (obesity, cavities, hyperactivity!)
Wonder what everyone else thinks. I ABSOLUTELY appreciate the need for advertising sponsorships. That is the business I am in! But, I can think of so many brands trying to reach moms that would be more appropriate co-branding partners. - Marketingmom
Would ANY of you TwitterMoms give your child Sprite or Coke for any reason? Every healthcare professional on the planet is telling both moms and kids to stay away from soda. Most pediatricians talk about limiting juice because of the sugar!
Of course it works for Coke becuase most parents are doing everything they can to get those soda vending machines out of schools for the health and wellness of their children (obesity, cavities, hyperactivity!)
Wonder what everyone else thinks. I ABSOLUTELY appreciate the need for advertising sponsorships. That is the business I am in! But, I can think of so many brands trying to reach moms that would be more appropriate co-branding partners. - Marketingmom
Tags: #Coke, #Sprite, #back-to-school, #child, #co-branding, #healthy, #lunchboxes, #obesity, #soda, #spritebts
Views: 31
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by minnemom on -
I'd prefer to see these brands aimed at moms in a community like this than to see their advertisements directed toward kids.
And I do occasionally let my kids have Sprite as a treat. It's not every day or even every week, and I don't let them have anything caffeinated, but they get pop once in a while. I'm sure there are moms whose kids get a lot more or a lot less soda.
I agree that there might seem to be better sponsorship alignments, but this is what we have. It doesn't bother me to have the ads on the twittermoms site, and if I don't want to advertise those brands on my own blog, I won't add the widget to my blog. It's as simple as that for me.
Looking forward to seeing others' thoughts.
Linda
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Mitchell Hunt on -
Thanks for replying Linda.
minnemom said:I'd prefer to see these brands aimed at moms in a community like this than to see their advertisements directed toward kids.
And I do occasionally let my kids have Sprite as a treat. It's not every day or even every week, and I don't let them have anything caffeinated, but they get pop once in a while. I'm sure there are moms whose kids get a lot more or a lot less soda.
I agree that there might seem to be better sponsorship alignments, but this is what we have. It doesn't bother me to have the ads on the twittermoms site, and if I don't want to advertise those brands on my own blog, I won't add the widget to my blog. It's as simple as that for me.
Looking forward to seeing others' thoughts.
Linda
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Permalink Reply by Megan Calhoun on -
Hi Elizabeth,
The reason Sprite wanted to reach out to the mom community was to raise awareness for the My Coke Rewards for Schools program. You can now donate loyalty points (My Coke Rewards) to schools, which can use those points to buy books, supplies, athletic equipment, and much more to improve the quality of education in your local community. I live in California, where the challenges of funding schools is particularly acute, but many deserving schools throughout the country face financial challenges. I'm always supportive and happy to help get the word out when there are new ways we can make a positive impact in children's lives. Especially when it's as easy as collecting rewards points for products our families buy every day, donating them to our local schools, and encouraging our friends and neighbors to do the same.
I hope that helps clarify why Sprite chose to work with the moms in our community. It's also why you'll notice that the focus of discussion is around back to school tips and tricks, vs. traditional product reviews.
Megan
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Mitchell Hunt on
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Megan,
The My Coke Rewards program is about giving people incentives to drink or promote Coke products which have been proven so unhealthy. It bothers me to see drinking Coke tied to schools for any reason. I do understand your good intentions. Intelligent marketing strategy for Coke.
Elizabeth
Megan Calhoun said:Hi Elizabeth,
The reason Sprite wanted to reach out to the mom community was to raise awareness for the My Coke Rewards for Schools program. You can now donate loyalty points (My Coke Rewards) to schools, which can use those points to buy books, supplies, athletic equipment, and much more to improve the quality of education in your local community. I live in California, where the challenges of funding schools is particularly acute, but many deserving schools throughout the country face financial challenges. I'm always supportive and happy to help get the word out when there are new ways we can make a positive impact in children's lives. Especially when it's as easy as collecting rewards points for products our families buy every day, donating them to our local schools, and encouraging our friends and neighbors to do the same.
I hope that helps clarify why Sprite chose to work with the moms in our community. It's also why you'll notice that the focus of discussion is around back to school tips and tricks, vs. traditional product reviews.
Megan
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Permalink Reply by Meagan Francis on -
Elizabeth, I had similar feelings when I was approached about taking part in this campaign. My kids aren't allowed to drink Coke, though I do let them have Sprite on occasion (at parties or other special events). Like other "not good for you" food items, I consider soda a treat.
However, I changed my mind and decided to take part in the campaign for two reasons:
First of all, this ad campaign is not geared towards children, but moms. The ad doesn't feature kids, but a woman. I figure moms have earned the right to decide what kind of beverages they will drink. And as a Coke drinker (not daily, but when we go out to eat? You betcha) it felt hypocritical of me to snub an ad for a product I myself use.
Second, my blog is not geared toward kids, but moms. Back-to-school affects everyone, not just children. My "Happiest Mom Back-to-School Survival Guide" posts are aimed at the mom who wants to make her life just a little bit easier and have a little more fun during the back-to-school season. And if that means she wants to have a Coke or Sprite while doing it, well, that's her choice! :)
I do hear your concern, but there are many products out there that I'd never let my kids use, but that I use myself and don't mind seeing ads for as long as those ads are targeted at me, not my kids. I might change my mind if my boys start reading mom blogs, though!
-Meagan Francis
www.thehappiestmom.com
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Mitchell Hunt on
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Thanks Megan. I like your blog! I actually printed it out last week. It's on my desk. My first reaction was actually as a marketer. It just seemed like a mismatch. And, then as a mom, I don't like it being tied to back-to-school. That said I respect everyone's opinion.
My kids are 2 and 4, so they don't drink soda. We didn't have it in our house when I was growing up and we only have it in our house for adults at parties.
However, if it's about moms having fun, I recommend this to share with a friend when the kids are asleep or with a babysitter:
Pear Tropical Fizz
1oz Mathilde Pear liqueur (any pear liqueur)
1oz Rum
4oz Sprite
Orange Fizz
1oz Vodka Orange
4oz Sprite
Cheers. Have a great night. Tying it to school is one thing, to moms having fun another. :)
Elizabeth
Meagan Francis said:Elizabeth, I had similar feelings when I was approached about taking part in this campaign. My kids aren't allowed to drink Coke, though I do let them have Sprite on occasion (at parties or other special events). Like other "not good for you" food items, I consider soda a treat.
However, I changed my mind and decided to take part in the campaign for two reasons:
First of all, this ad campaign is not geared towards children, but moms. The ad doesn't feature kids, but a woman. I figure moms have earned the right to decide what kind of beverages they will drink. And as a Coke drinker (not daily, but when we go out to eat? You betcha) it felt hypocritical of me to snub an ad for a product I myself use.
Second, my blog is not geared toward kids, but moms. Back-to-school affects everyone, not just children. My "Happiest Mom Back-to-School Survival Guide" posts are aimed at the mom who wants to make her life just a little bit easier and have a little more fun during the back-to-school season. And if that means she wants to have a Coke or Sprite while doing it, well, that's her choice! :)
I do hear your concern, but there are many products out there that I'd never let my kids use, but that I use myself and don't mind seeing ads for as long as those ads are targeted at me, not my kids. I might change my mind if my boys start reading mom blogs, though!
-Meagan Francis
www.thehappiestmom.com
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Permalink Reply by Kim Grenon on -
Meagan;
I was offline the last 2 days on vacation. I was going to write a comment defending my choice to participate in this campaign, but you did so very eloquently. I ditto your exact reasons. Thanks :) Ashlie- Mommycosm
Meagan Francis said:Elizabeth, I had similar feelings when I was approached about taking part in this campaign. My kids aren't allowed to drink Coke, though I do let them have Sprite on occasion (at parties or other special events). Like other "not good for you" food items, I consider soda a treat.
However, I changed my mind and decided to take part in the campaign for two reasons:
First of all, this ad campaign is not geared towards children, but moms. The ad doesn't feature kids, but a woman. I figure moms have earned the right to decide what kind of beverages they will drink. And as a Coke drinker (not daily, but when we go out to eat? You betcha) it felt hypocritical of me to snub an ad for a product I myself use.
Second, my blog is not geared toward kids, but moms. Back-to-school affects everyone, not just children. My "Happiest Mom Back-to-School Survival Guide" posts are aimed at the mom who wants to make her life just a little bit easier and have a little more fun during the back-to-school season. And if that means she wants to have a Coke or Sprite while doing it, well, that's her choice! :)
I do hear your concern, but there are many products out there that I'd never let my kids use, but that I use myself and don't mind seeing ads for as long as those ads are targeted at me, not my kids. I might change my mind if my boys start reading mom blogs, though!
-Meagan Francis
www.thehappiestmom.com
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Permalink Reply by Meagan Francis on
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Elizabeth, so glad you like the blog! And thanks so much for the recipes--the second one sounds really yummy. Maybe that'll be my celebratory "Wow, I actually managed to finish all this back-to-school shopping" beverage.
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