McDonald’s is currently ranked the 6th most important brand in the world and is one of the most visited restaurants, but how does it maintain its branding success internationally?
Need world class branding experts? Come to blur’s Marketplace
With a product that’s served in over 117 countries, feeding millions of customers every day, McDonald’s branding success is undeniable. The key to McDonald’s branding and marketing success is segmentation and experimentation.
But with such a customer base, how does McDonald’s maintain its ability to adapt its marketing and advertising to different countries and cultures?
The marketing strategy of McDonald’s is based on uniformity, no matter what McDonald’s you are in in the world, you will always have the most iconic items.
To gain an insight into how McDonald’s does this we decided to look at how marketing in the US, the home of McDonald’s, differs with that in Japan, whose market is worth 15 percent of McDonald’s empire.
Segmentation
McDonald’s main focus is the US, where they spend most of their budget and trial more new products and innovations. The American audience is their largest – Americans spend more money at McDonald’s than any other fast food restaurant in the country.
In the US, advertising normally targets children. Did you know that American kids see more than 250 McDonald’s advertisements per year?
In Japan, the advertising campaigns are more varied when approaching the demographics, sometimes they focus on children but they also target adults. One advertisement used McDonald´s as a fetish object with sexy girls promoting the burgers, something you would never see in the US.
McDonalds a brand that’s been built through strategic marketing segmentation. The questions you have to ask are:
What are the wants/needs and tastes of the customers?
Is the marketing up to date, reflecting the changing customer needs and demands?
Although a multinational giant, McDonald’s adapts its business and menu to the different countries they operate in. They respect cultural differences and every country has its own policy of developing menu items.
Testing
Experimentation is vital, and it is often carried out by adding or deleting food from menus according to latest consumer trends and local popularity.
In Japan, apart from the traditional menu you can find seasonal and limited-time items such as “The Teri Tama Burger”, served during spring or “The Tsukimi Burger”, served during Tsukimi season (in the autumn). In the US there are the popular “McRibs”, just available for a short time each year.
This is a good example of adapting to customers’ tastes, vital when talking about marketing.
Experimentation is vital, and it is often carried out by adding or deleting food from menus according to latest consumer trends and local popularity.
The Secret Sauce
It is true that the marketing and branding strategy of McDonald’s is based on uniformity, no matter where in the world, you will always be able to order the most iconic menu items such as the Big Mac.
The same kind of atmosphere and experience mean that your expectations will be fulfilled, because you know what you can expect from the restaurant.
Despite its geographic variety the brand is actually very consistent, with a lot of attention to detail to ensure the values are applied globally.
Global Product Marketing
When we look at the strategic differences between US McDonald’s and the Japanese version, we can appreciate the localized marketing strategies.
For example, the name of the restaurant is adjusted for the katakana, the appropriate Japanese script for foreign words. In Japan, they call it ‘Makudonarudo’, (マクドナルド), a more appropriate and attractive sound in Japanese.
Drink sizes and fries are much smaller than the ones in the US, and burgers are a bit smaller too, to suit eating habits. McDonald’s ensures the correct sizes before exporting for international target markets.
Although McDonald’s offers its products everywhere in the world, being the most popular restaurant on the planet, the brand keeps recognizable with its original meaning and identity whilst catering to local tastes.
For top quality Product Marketing delivered faster, come to blur
Innovation and Collaboration
For McDonalds, globalization has meant embracing and engaging different cultures while at the same time retaining a strong enough brand to be immediately identifiable.
But how can you ensure your brand transcends cultures and regional approaches to marketing? This is where online innovations really come into their own by bridging the cultural and physical gaps that can inhibit connection with a global audience.
Make Your Branding Exceptional
blur has helped hundreds of brands source the talent they need to go global. With our sophisticated and effective online platform, you can source marketing and branding talent from across the world, and project manage everything online. Simple, effective and brilliant. You’ll enjoy greater choice, better value and faster delivery. Globally.
Take a look at how it all works.
Or simply fill in your details below and we’ll be in touch to discuss how we can supercharge your branding.
Get your Project started on blur's Marketplace
We want to find out more about you and your Project. First some details about yourself, rest assured, we take your privacy very seriously.
First Name *
Last Name *
Company *
Company size, No. employees *
Email *
Phone Number *
Project description *
Get Started Short on time? Request a call back
Got any questions? Just email or call us
hello@blurgroup.com US: 1(855) 702-8794 INT: +44(0) 800 048 8664
* Mandatory Fields
Ana Pomposo Carreras More blogs by Ana Pomposo Carreras
35Share to LinkedIn
3Share to Google Plus
34Share to Twitter
80Share to Facebook
3 Comments
Great article. On the international marketing projects I have worked, customizing the elements to the target market was definitely key.Comment by Michelle — February 26, 2014 @ 5:57 pm
[…] he needed, and what other designers need, is a high level of cultural understanding which extends beyond knowing the basic details about how their customers […]Pingback by Cross Cultural Design: Getting It Right the First Time | Blog — March 7, 2014 @ 11:03 am
I am typically to blogging and i really respect your information. The posting has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and hold checking for brand new information. Thank http://www.blurgroup.comComment by Moxi — October 29, 2014 @ 12:09 am
You might also like
Top 5 outsourcing myths
Top 5 outsourcing myths
Innovate To Make The World A Better Place
Innovate To Make The World A Better Place
Human Resource Solutions and Size Zero
Human Resource Solutions and Size Zero
Friday5: A New Kind Of Consultancy
Friday5: A New Kind Of Consultancy
Recommended by
Shop at blur
Most Popular
What is the Secret to McDonald’s Global Branding Success?
What is the Secret to McDonald’s Global Branding…
The Basics of Crisis Management in Marketing
The Basics of Crisis Management in Marketing
The Impact of Color in Advertising, Marketing, and Design
The Impact of Color in Advertising, Marketing, and Design
5 Global B2B Marketplaces That Can Help You Grow Your Business
5 Global B2B Marketplaces That Can Help You Grow Your…
blur is a Size Zero Enterprise
blur is a Size Zero Enterprise