Week 13 Part A: Online Advertising - Analysis of the Marketplace

 My Thoughts on Social Media Advertising vs. Traditional Ads

    This week I paid closer attention to the ads I was seeing on Facebook, Instagram, and even YouTube—and it’s wild how much they’re tailored to what I’ve searched or interacted with. The ones that catch my eye the most usually include bold visuals, short video clips, or relatable, lifestyle-style photos. They often feel like regular posts until I notice the “Sponsored” tag. The most effective call-to-actions I saw were things like “Learn More,” “Sign Up,” or “Watch Now”—simple, clear, and action-based.

    One ad I clicked on had a cool aesthetic and was promoting a new fitness app. The vibe matched my interests perfectly. The ad led to a clean landing page with a video, testimonials, and a trial sign-up. That felt helpful and intentional. On the flip side, there were ads that felt random—like for car insurance or software tools I’ve never looked up. Those didn’t match my interests at all and felt more like traditional billboard ads just tossed into my feed.

    Comparing traditional advertising to social media ads, I definitely think social media is more effective, especially for small or personal brands like mine. Traditional media like magazines or billboards can be great for reach, but they’re expensive and way less targeted. Social media ads, even with a small budget, allow creators and businesses to reach people who are actually interested in what we offer—and track how well it’s working in real time.

    That said, sometimes it does get a little too dialed in. I’ve searched for something once and then had five ads chasing me across platforms for days. It’s kind of creepy and makes me more cautious about what I click. But on the other hand, if I’m researching something I actually need—like studio gear or camera equipment—those tailored ads can be super helpful.

    Overall, I think the key is balance. The ads that perform the best are the ones that feel natural, authentic, and visually engaging, not just digital versions of TV commercials. For Coco Shuffles, I can definitely see how paid ads could help if they’re done in a way that reflects the energy and style of my brand, while still offering real value to the viewer.

Week 12 Part A: Using Business Specific Online Tools

 Exploring Online Tools for Coco Shuffles

This week I explored a few online tools that could help me grow Coco Shuffles, and I found some that are definitely worth trying out. I looked into online collaboration tools, professional networking sites, and places where people can review or discover businesses like mine.

One tool that stood out is Canva for Teams, a free design tool perfect for content collaboration. It makes it super easy to create graphics for my dance brand, and I can see it being useful if I ever bring on someone to help with editing or marketing. I also checked out Slack and could see it being helpful if I work with a small content or brand collab team in the future.

On the networking side, I explored LinkedIn groups and found some communities for creators and small business owners. I also checked out MeetUp, and I’m considering joining a group for women entrepreneurs—connecting with others who understand this grind could be super helpful.

For rating tools, I looked at Yelp and Google Reviews. Even though I’m not a physical business, I think it’s still important to build credibility and manage my online presence wherever people might be searching. I plan to claim my Google Business profile and make sure it looks clean and current.

Lastly, I reviewed platforms like TikTok and SoundCloud. TikTok is already a major part of how I grow my brand, and now I’m thinking about adding behind-the-scenes or even live-streamed dance sessions to connect deeper with my audience. These tools are easy to access and could really level up my brand’s visibility if I stay consistent.

Week 11 Part B: Marketing with Other Social Media/Tools

    I left comments for Vanessa, who spoke about using AI for her dessert brand. I also left one for Colby's who explained how LinkedIn, AI, TikTok, and Shopify can be used together to generate leads, automate outreach, and drive product sales through influencer collaborations. Lastly, I left a comment on ASterling’s page, who talked about how AI can support service-based businesses like her future Pilates studio by enhancing personalization, automating tasks, and improving client engagement.

Week 11 Part A: Using AI, Social Influencers, LinkedIn, Conversation based Social Media and more

AI in Social Media Content Creation

For this blog post, I used AI to generate the background image, which shows just how useful AI tools can be in content creation. Artificial Intelligence is changing the way brands create content on social media, making it easier to produce high-quality visuals and captions quickly. Tools like DALL-E, Jasper, and Canva’s AI assistant can automate much of the creative process, freeing up time for other tasks.

AI tools can help businesses craft visuals and write posts without the need for a designer or copywriter. AI-generated imagery can be customized to reflect a brand’s unique style, and writing assistants like Jasper can create captions or even longer content that matches the brand's voice. This makes it easier to stay consistent with messaging and engage with followers.

Big brands are already using AI to enhance their marketing strategies. Companies like H&M have used AI to generate fresh design ideas, while musicians are using AI to create eye-catching promotional materials. These tools allow brands to produce creative content more efficiently, which is key in today’s fast-paced social media world.

That said, using AI for content creation does come with some concerns. There are debates over originality and intellectual property when AI generates content that might resemble existing works. Brands need to be mindful of these ethical issues and ensure their content remains original and fair to other creators.

In conclusion, AI is reshaping the way brands approach social media marketing. It’s making content creation faster and more personalized while also offering new creative possibilities. As AI continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how brands use it to stay ahead and engage their audiences in fresh ways.

Week 10 Part A: Researching Email Marketing

 How I’d Use Newsletters for My Brand

After watching the lecture, I’ve realized newsletters can be a powerful way to connect with my audience beyond social media. For Coco Shuffles, I think a monthly newsletter would be the right balance—enough to stay consistent without overwhelming my subscribers.

I’d use the newsletter to share exclusive dance tips, tutorial previews, behind-the-scenes moments, upcoming classes or drops, and personal notes about the journey of building my brand. I could also include feature spotlights on followers who tag me or share their progress using my tutorials—it builds community and shows appreciation.

Here are some content ideas I think my audience would enjoy:

• “Move of the Month” – A short breakdown of one shuffle move with tips

• Exclusive dance challenges or contests

• Mini motivational notes to keep people inspired

• First access to merch, events, or tutorials

• Curated playlists for dancing or working out

I’m on a few mailing lists now and I’ve noticed the best ones are simple, visual, and not too long. The ones I ignore are either too text-heavy or don’t feel personal. I’d want mine to feel like an inside look into Coco Shuffles—not just a sales pitch.

If I decide to go all in with email marketing, I’ll definitely subscribe to newsletters from other dance creators or small brands to see what they’re doing right—and how I can make mine stand out.