McDonalds Has Moms Blogging About Food
21 September 2008
Most people are well aware of the growing influence of bloggers, and of course the “power of mom” has been well documented for decades – combine the two and a powerful force is created. The folks at McDonald’s a few years ago decided to go head-on with a variety of myths and misconceptions and urban legends with regard to the quality of their food. I read about their latest chapter in this week’s Advertisign Age, which highlighted McDonald’s Moms’ Quality Correspondents – a group of moms that McDonald’s invites to check out where their food is made, ask questions to their nutrionists, see the ingredients and much more.
Its a great example of a company that identified a crucial challenge to their success – opinions of moms who visit their restaurants every day – and decided to open the door wide open and invite them in to have a look. And bonus points of course for McDonald’s to embrace the blogging community and provide an example of transparency that others could definitely learn from for their own efforts.
MountainRunner
21 September 2008
11:31 pm
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One in a series of quick posts compiled from the plane, in other words, a quick run through the ‘to review / comment’ pile…  From Hill and Knowlton, the essential link on any good public diplomacist, strategic communicator, and IO’er’s…
MountainRunner
23 September 2008
1:52 pm
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Interesting read. A good old press trip, but then for bloggers. Simple but (probably) effective…
Gabriel C. Lajeunesse
28 September 2008
1:46 am
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Hill and Knowlton and Mountainrunner Blogs posts this week highlight the power of one: As we get one on board with our cause, they tell two more. This is how we will really win hearts and minds. In a many ways we are in a generational struggle that will be won individual at a time. At a recent CFR event on faith and foreign policy, there was a great conversation about how educational exchanges have moved a discourse in the Muslim world in some circles towards a discussion of separation of faith and State. Though such programs are small and impact on only a few of the elite, the residual effect is great. The idea that we win over one person at a time helps us to appreciate that there is no effort too small. In fact individuals engaged in this debate over agency, liberty and human rights may be more effective than large government programs designed to reach broad audiences. A conversation between two individuals will often have far greater impact than anything that can be broadcast via the traditional media. We each should understand the power of one in this battle for hearts and minds. Lets take courage and get to work.
Emanuela Myers
1 October 2008
12:53 am
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Having a blog like this will benefit McDonald’s because it provides product information, however, from the perspectives of the trusted consumers, our mothers. Through McDonald’s allowing mothers to question the quality of their food, as well as, discussing the concerns of their product will only generate positive results. Having blogs included in established organizations allows companies to remain updated on the most current methods of communication.