Advertising: Online and social media around chosen advert

Advertising: Online and social media around chosen advert

Understanding Online and Social Media Advertising

  • Online and social media advertising is a branch of promotion that utilises digital platforms to create awareness, engage the audience, or seek action from them.
  • Note that this type of advertising employs visuals, interactivity, and psychographics to tailor messages according to the audience’s needs and behaviour.
  • Understand that this form of advertising uses different formats such as video ads, banner ads, native advertising, and sponsored content.
  • Be aware that the effectiveness of online and social media advertising is measured through metrics such as reach, engagement, and conversion rates.

Examining Representation in Online and Social Media Ads

  • Grasp that representation in the context of online and social media advertising denotes how individuals, groups, issues, or events are depicted.
  • Note that these ads can target specific demographics, making representation incredibly influential.
  • Realise that representations can vary based on the purposes and goals of the online or social media ad, such as brand awareness, product showcasing, or attitude reinforcement.
  • The primary subjects of representation can include consumers, product or service, brands, and occasionally competitors.

Analysing Semiotics in Online and Social Media Advertising

  • Apprehend that semiotics is key in understanding the signs and symbols used in online and social media ads.
  • Elements such as images, colours, language, and layout can be significant signs laden with cultural and symbolic meanings.
  • Reflect on how these signs are used to construct a particular narrative or image of the product, service, brand, or customer.

Impact of Representation on Audiences

  • Become adept at evaluating how representation in online and social media advertising affects audiences and their understanding of the product or service.
  • Recognise that the representations used can shape people’s perceptions and attitudes towards the advertised product or brand.
  • Understand that accurate and relatable representations are more likely to elicit positive feedback and actions.

Interpreting Representations in Online and Social Media Advertising

  • To critically analyse an online or social media ad, consider its overall message, target demographic, use of signs, and the representations it creates.
  • Reflect on how the ad’s representations might affirm, dispute, or even establish public perceptions and stereotypes.
  • Always link the analysis of representations back to broader cultural or societal issues, pondering not just what is represented but why, and how this might affect real-life contexts.