French Fries, Fast Food, Addiction... Pure Marketing?

25 replies
...It's been a while since I posted a thread like this.

Hey Warriors!

I'm not sure if any other Warriors have ever caught the fast-food bug, for lack of a better word.. fast food becomes an addiction to many people, and the reason for that is MARKETING.

Fast food giants use the EXACT same marketing techniques as we use, as Internet Marketers today... They use the "want syndrome". They convince you that you WANT exactly what they have to offer.

And then like we do in sales letters, they address "the misconceptions". Like for example, "I want my child to be healthy"... when people started discussing that, a major fast food brand came out with their "Apple Slices kids meal campaign"..

Getting to my point, if you look at traditional businesses, like big fast food giants, you can see the techniques that they use.... and take them, and use them in your internet business... you can LEARN A LOT from seeing how their big marketing honchos do thing.

Just a thought... hope that helps someone here.

Caleb
#addiction #fast #food #french #fries #marketing #pure
  • Profile picture of the author JamesColin
    Banned
    Good tasting food is easy to sale and rebill since those products are addictive.. :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Originally Posted by Caleb Spilchen View Post

    a major fast food brand came out with their "Apple Slices kids meal campaign"..

    That was actually dictated by the U.S. Federal Government...

    If they carried it to other countries... It was only to try to prevent more gov't interventions in other countries...
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  • Profile picture of the author Horny Devil
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    Originally Posted by Caleb Spilchen View Post


    I'm not sure if any other Warriors have ever caught the fast-food bug . . .
    I caught one once in the kitchen. Man, it was the biggest, fastest, ugliest looking critter I ever did see. I tell you it was one mean mother fukcer of a roach.
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  • Profile picture of the author glowworm
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    Originally Posted by Caleb Spilchen View Post


    Getting to my point, if you look at traditional businesses, like big fast food giants, you can see the techniques that they use.... and take them, and use them in your internet business... you can LEARN A LOT from seeing how their big marketing honchos do thing.

    Yeah, sure, you can learn a lot. But without the resources of their budgets you ain't going to implement a lot.



    Originally Posted by Horny Devil View Post

    I caught one once in the kitchen. Man, it was the biggest, fastest, ugliest looking critter I ever did see. I tell you it was one mean mother fukcer of a roach.
    lol. @hornydevil . . . wouldn't want to see that around my burger and fries
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  • Profile picture of the author Jessica Lynn
    I agree, they are amazing marketers. I notice how attractive food marketing is all the time. But as someone who kind of suffers from fast food addiciton, I can tell you that my particular case of addiciton has nothing to do with their marketing. It's because their food is delicious. I will physically crave it, possibly because of that damn MSG. Nothing to do with "healthy" apple slices or Big Mac Mondays
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  • Profile picture of the author William Maloney
    Of course it's marketing. Think about a better example: Coca-Cola. Studies shown that Coca-Cola contains something that creates addiction.
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  • Profile picture of the author mego818
    Hell yah one can learn a lot about marketing from McDonalds
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Curtis
    Originally Posted by Caleb Spilchen View Post


    I'm not sure if any other Warriors have ever caught the fast-food bug, for lack of a better word.. fast food becomes an addiction to many people, and the reason for that is MARKETING.

    Sorry to have to say this, but you couldn't be more wrong.

    Marketing is not the reason fast food is an addiction. Just think about it: If marketing could cause addiction, then you could corner the market on broccoli salad with some well-placed ads.

    The reason that people become addicted to fast food is that fast food is addicting. Ingesting greasy, salty and sugary foods -- particularly salt and sugar in the same item -- creates cravings. The more of this "food" that you eat the more likely you are to desire this kind of food. It is a vicious circle.

    This is all planned with malice aforethought by the food scientists. They know the formula, right down to the "beef" flavoring in McDonald's French fries, that guarantees maximal compulsive consumption.

    It's the food, not the advertising.
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    I was going to say almost exactly what Dan Curtis said. Marketing plays a small role -perhaps which type of toxic fast food you choose, but the addictive qualities are in the food (if we can even call it that) itself.
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    • Profile picture of the author LarryC
      Originally Posted by James Campbell View Post

      Some differen thoughts on addiction that may get you thinking...

      Addiction: New research suggests it's a choice - Health, The Interview - Macleans.ca
      I agree with this. Otherwise, everyone is just a victim. When I talk about fast food being addictive, that doesn't imply that people are helpless to stop themselves from eating it -only that it can be hard to stop if you don't exert your will power.
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      • Profile picture of the author Horny Devil
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        Originally Posted by Dan Curtis View Post

        Sorry to have to say this, but you couldn't be more wrong.

        Marketing is not the reason fast food is an addiction . . .

        It's the food, not the advertising.
        Agree entirely.


        Originally Posted by Dan Curtis View Post

        Ingesting greasy, salty and sugary foods -- particularly salt and sugar in the same item -- creates cravings. The more of this "food" that you eat the more likely you are to desire this kind of food . . .
        And that's why cockroaches love it
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  • Profile picture of the author mmntv
    I've never been a fan of fast food, I mean I don't find it appetizing, I'll eat it in a pinch but McDonald's, BK, Taco Bell, KFC - always makes me sick. Wendy's is the only one that doesn't make me sick but I don't particularly like the food. So for me imagining an "addiction" to it is hard to get my head around.

    That said, marketing is marketing to some degree, just different channels.
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  • Profile picture of the author hypr
    one thing I noticed is the colors they use in fast food red and yellow and white, and sit down places I believe its more green, and earth tones
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  • Profile picture of the author Weedy92
    That's how marketing works.. Same thing with car sales, we put out "killer" prices to draw in customers. They are getting a deal either way so the sale doesn't really matter to be honest.. New model years encourage buying new products before the years up, etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ryan David
    Yeah, I'm not totally sure where you're going with this comparison. The marketing isn't addicting at all, the food is. From a marketing standpoint, here is what I would look at:

    -Cross sells
    -Pricing of high margin products (99 cents for large drink)
    -Becoming a destination (playground for kids, McCafe for Moms, etc)
    -Testing, gathering of data, & rolling out. I don't know about your area, but virtually all the McDonalds got a facelift in the last 2-3 years. No doubt a national campaign to turn their stores into the layout that brings in maximum revenue.
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  • Profile picture of the author Walter Parrish
    Originally Posted by Caleb Spilchen View Post

    ...It's been a while since I posted a thread like this.

    Hey Warriors!

    I'm not sure if any other Warriors have ever caught the fast-food bug, for lack of a better word.. fast food becomes an addiction to many people, and the reason for that is MARKETING.

    Fast food giants use the EXACT same marketing techniques as we use, as Internet Marketers today... They use the "want syndrome". They convince you that you WANT exactly what they have to offer.

    And then like we do in sales letters, they address "the misconceptions". Like for example, "I want my child to be healthy"... when people started discussing that, a major fast food brand came out with their "Apple Slices kids meal campaign"..

    Getting to my point, if you look at traditional businesses, like big fast food giants, you can see the techniques that they use.... and take them, and use them in your internet business... you can LEARN A LOT from seeing how their big marketing honchos do thing.

    Just a thought... hope that helps someone here.

    Caleb
    I agree and disagree, major businesses use way more than most of us use. They use colors, psychology, subliminals, etc.

    Try this on, wear a yellow shirt a few days, when you are hanging out with friends and associates. Pay attention to the little thing's they say. I can almost guarantee you that many will mention they are hungry or talk about food or eating.
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    • Profile picture of the author Walter Parrish
      I won't even talk about nanochips in the foods, but put it this way. If you are addicted to fastfood you can literally be wired and each fastfood chain has their own chips.
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  • Profile picture of the author RPaige
    I agree about the marketing strategies that are used, but particularly with fast food, I think it is more about the taste of the food and the addictive ingredients. If you had never eaten a BigMac for example, and didn't already know what it tasted like and how you felt when you ate it for the first time, would you salivate at the ad on tv? Or is this just a biological response to the memory of the food eaten in your past?
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  • Profile picture of the author nasuryono
    Yes, we can learn a lot from McDonald's

    After all, they are the biggest "Marketing Organism" on earth.
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  • Profile picture of the author shane_k
    Originally Posted by Caleb Spilchen View Post


    Fast food giants use the EXACT same marketing techniques as we use, as Internet Marketers today... They use the "want syndrome". They convince you that you WANT exactly what they have to offer.

    The reason that they are so powerful is NOT because they are convincing people to want exactly what they have to offer.

    It's because they are providing what people want!

    There is a big difference.

    A big part of their success comes from being able to provide a very quick meal for those who are in a rush and don't have the time or desire to spend 30 - 60 minutes slaving over their oven.

    I remember this report a friend and I done when I was like in grade 9 for school

    We spent about 4 hours at a McDonald's and were timing them on how quick people received their order. And the average time was something like 6 minutes.

    And yes the combination of the food itself, the fat, sugar, and salt all have an effect also.

    I think if you really want to focus on fast food companies, look at the way they have their pricing and sizes.

    Also, they are masters at the Upsell.

    And they are not pushy about it either, they just ask every single time, "Do you want to upsize your order?"

    I bet they know if you ask pretty much every single person that 4,5, or 6 out of 10 will say yes every single time you ask them.

    lol, could you imagine if you went to a McDonald's and they tried using Upsells, and Downsells, like IMer's do
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  • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
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    • Profile picture of the author Fraggler
      Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

      Personally, I think McDonalds marketing efforts are fairly average - there's something far more important we can learn from them though.
      I think their marketing is great. The kids playgrounds, the kids toys, the fun mascots. Make it desirable and memorable to children while they are young and impressionable - even if their parents keep them away from the food.

      The healthy options which removes the guilt from buying - so much so that they buy the unhealthy option anyway.

      The cafes to give mum something to do while the kids play.

      I'm a big believer of personal responsibility but I enjoy Maccas and they don't force it down my throat.

      I fully agree with you that they also know how to run back-of-house better than their competition.
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  • Profile picture of the author Caleb Spilchen
    I love how the latest trend is to find a month old thread and bump it, then get Bill Platt confused and responding...

    Caleb
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by Caleb Spilchen View Post

      I love how the latest trend is to find a month old thread and bump it, then get Bill Platt confused and responding...

      Caleb

      Dude...

      It is getting easier to confuse me... I am getting older every year...
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      Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author kencalhn
    now I'm hungry... must get taco bell...

    note their crossovers, with dorito taco shells, and lots of new innovative menu items all the time, at great pricing... and even 'fresco' healthy style food. taco bell. they do it right.

    mcd's: softserve cones
    wendys: baked potato
    taco bell: everything
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