Today I would like to take a time out from my usual rant about the fast food world and focus my attention on the different blogs that my classmates have posted. During this past week, I have had the opportunity to look at some of my peers blogs that have been posted throughout the past couple of weeks. It was really interesting to see the different perspectives that each individual had to offer. Everyone approached their topic in a different way which really helped make each blog unique. Also the topics of the blogs were all very different which really helped me expand my knowledge on the different issues associated with PR. Today, I would like to focus on two of my classmate’s blogs.
As a big contributor to this social network phenomena that exists today, Casey’s post about the article titled “Surviving a Social Networking Crisis” really caught my attention. As a member of networks such as Facebook and Twitter, I know that PR news can travel within minutes by a simple click of a button. If you feel that a company is not reputable all you have to do is post a excerpt on your status on Facebook or Tweet about it. Casey gives really great insight about how she would handle a situation like her client receiving bad PR. She says “I would address the situation right away. I would not want to let the negativeness linger for everyone else to read. I need to quickly get a response out there by being prepared with the best media contacts and keeping my cool.” Reading this was really interesting because it represents the exact approach that anyone should take when in a crisis. I really liked Casey’s blog because it focuses on a different PR articles each week which really helps you get a broad view of the updated PR news.
I also came across Kayla’s blog about Fashion PR and thought her post entitled “Fashion Research Results” was really interesting. In this post Kayla discusses the research efforts of the store Lovely Bridal Shop. She talks about how advertising towards the target you are trying to reach can really help raise awareness for your company. For example, Lovely Bridal Shop tries to reach women between the ages of 25-30. “By targeting these women they then must advertise accordingly: in certain magazines targeted toward women (especially bridal magazines) radio station ads, Facebook, and Twitter pages, and even a commercial aired during The Bachelor or Dancing with the Stars would suffice.” I think this was very insightful, especially the part of advertising during The Bachelor or Dancing with the Stars. When you think about these two shows you would assume that more woman are drawn to it than men are. Kayla makes a really good point about helpful tactics to raise awareness for a store.
Each and every one of my classmates blogs really have something unique about them that makes them very interesting. They are all well thought out and organized to fit the standards of a great read. Casey and Kayla's blogs are just two that have stood out in my mind. Good job guys!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Research in the Fast Food Industry
When you think of the word research, what pops out in your mind? Is it something you think you do every day when you go onto a search engine such as Google or Yahoo. Yes, that is of course a type of research that is definitely the most obvious. However, in the world of PR, research takes on a whole different level. Research is one of the most essential tools of the PR field. It is a necessary component to maintaining your company. If you haven‘t heard, research tactics help companies save money, adapt to change and have a gain on competitors. So when starting this week’s blog and doing my “Google research” one question came to mind. How do fast food chains contribute to the research world in order to keep their businesses afloat?
As I was perusing articles on a website called Fast Food News I came across something that actually made me laugh. This must have been the most hypocritical move that any of these fast food chains could have pulled, and of course it was the one and only, McDonalds. So instead of funding research that can help their own products prosper, McDonalds is taking the sympathetic approach towards research methods. This article probably will make you shake your head due to this ridiculous attempt for McDonalds to basically save their butts. For years McDonalds has been getting backlash for contributing to childhood obesity. HELLO! Of course you are, you are serving children foods that contain so much saturated and trans fat that kids walk in normal size and walk out obese in the matter of minutes! Okay exaggeration, but seriously this isn’t so absurd to think that McDonald’s and other fast food chains are getting the heat for this growing epidemic. So now the hero’s, also known as McDonalds, have been contributing money to scientific studies on the causes of childhood obesity. “McDonald’s has donated $2 million to the Scripps Institute for a collaboration regarding research and educational initiatives to drive progress toward a solution to childhood obesity and Type-2 diabetes.” What it really should say is “2 million dollars has been donated to get McDonald’s out of the spotlight of causing childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes.” If McDonalds really wanted to stop this epidemic they would stop advertising and marketing their fatty foods towards children. This funding is just a way for them to feel that they are off the hook.
So now that you heard that ridiculous story, let’s move on to another article I’ve come across that actually describes a food chain that researches their own products in a successful and helpful way. When the New Crunchwrap Supreme came out, Taco Bell tried to target the product toward America’s growing habit of eating on the go. So one of the main research studies that was conducted was to find out how convenient this product was compared to other competitor's quick and easy meals. The survey studied the rate of messiness, convenience and portability of these products at leading fast food restaurants. Participants were randomly selected at drive-thrus and surveyed after eating. 85% of the passengers agreed that they could eat the Crunchwrap Supreme with only one hand and that it was the perfect “on-the-go” meal. When fast food chains conduct studies like this they actually can gain results that can either show them they are on the right track or allow them to know what changes are needed. This study concluded that this product targets the perfect audience.
As I was perusing articles on a website called Fast Food News I came across something that actually made me laugh. This must have been the most hypocritical move that any of these fast food chains could have pulled, and of course it was the one and only, McDonalds. So instead of funding research that can help their own products prosper, McDonalds is taking the sympathetic approach towards research methods. This article probably will make you shake your head due to this ridiculous attempt for McDonalds to basically save their butts. For years McDonalds has been getting backlash for contributing to childhood obesity. HELLO! Of course you are, you are serving children foods that contain so much saturated and trans fat that kids walk in normal size and walk out obese in the matter of minutes! Okay exaggeration, but seriously this isn’t so absurd to think that McDonald’s and other fast food chains are getting the heat for this growing epidemic. So now the hero’s, also known as McDonalds, have been contributing money to scientific studies on the causes of childhood obesity. “McDonald’s has donated $2 million to the Scripps Institute for a collaboration regarding research and educational initiatives to drive progress toward a solution to childhood obesity and Type-2 diabetes.” What it really should say is “2 million dollars has been donated to get McDonald’s out of the spotlight of causing childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes.” If McDonalds really wanted to stop this epidemic they would stop advertising and marketing their fatty foods towards children. This funding is just a way for them to feel that they are off the hook.
So now that you heard that ridiculous story, let’s move on to another article I’ve come across that actually describes a food chain that researches their own products in a successful and helpful way. When the New Crunchwrap Supreme came out, Taco Bell tried to target the product toward America’s growing habit of eating on the go. So one of the main research studies that was conducted was to find out how convenient this product was compared to other competitor's quick and easy meals. The survey studied the rate of messiness, convenience and portability of these products at leading fast food restaurants. Participants were randomly selected at drive-thrus and surveyed after eating. 85% of the passengers agreed that they could eat the Crunchwrap Supreme with only one hand and that it was the perfect “on-the-go” meal. When fast food chains conduct studies like this they actually can gain results that can either show them they are on the right track or allow them to know what changes are needed. This study concluded that this product targets the perfect audience.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Give a Hand to Taco Bell!
Imagine this, you are sitting in your office on a normal work day and BAM, you receive a phone call and your day has now been turned upside down. A crisis in your industry has just been leaked and it is your responsibility as part of the public relations staff to act as quickly and as ethical as possible. Figuring out the best way to act on a situation that may or may not save the company you are working for is definitely a major obstacle in the public relations field. Being ethical and responsible for the actions of your company can really help a business maintain their legitimate and professional reputation.
In the fast food industry, one focus that came to my mind that represented a time of quick ethical action was the Taco Bell E.coli incident. In 2006, a E.coli outbreak was linked back to a Taco Bell restaurant in Philadelphia. Followed by that, at least 22 people tested positive for E.coli in New Jersey and then the outbreak continued on into Long Island. In this situation, I feel Taco Bell had two options here; either take full responsibility for the issue and find a solution as quickly and repairable as possible. Or deny that it had anything to do with Taco Bell’s product and go on with normal activity without making any kind of statement. This article discusses the actions that Taco Bell did in fact take after the E.coli outbreak. The company spokesman Rob Poetsch stated in the article, “We have taken every precaution, including temporarily closing the restaurant until the investigation is completed, as nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our customers and employees.” I personally think Taco Bell did exactly what they had to do here. The company took full responsibility for what had happened, and made sure the public knew that they cared. This is a great example of a ethical, quick action being made. Taco Bell was able to survive this E.coli crisis by coming out and being completely honest and aware of the issue to the public. Another article that I came upon describes what steps Taco Bell took after the incident had passed in order to ensure customers that this was not going to happen again. I believe this was another great PR tactic on Taco Bell‘s part. The President Greg Creed made a statement in a news release that stated “I want to reassure our customers that it is absolutely safe to eat at Taco Bell.” The company also planned to create a coalition of government regulators, competitors, suppliers and other experts to develop improved guidelines. I give a hand to Taco Bell for completely picking up the pieces of their own mess in this situation. Their ability to remain ethical in a time of stress really helps them maintain the reputation they have today.
On another completely different topic of ethics, I started to think about the whole fast food chain industry on a whole. Is this really a valuable service catering to consumer needs? Yes, McDonald's for example, does offer a service that is inexpensive and easy accessible for people who don’t have time to cook meals. And today, so many parents work all day and just don’t have the time to cook meals for their children at night. So what’s wrong with going to McDonald’s three times a week? A growing health issue is the problem that I’m not sure everyone realizes. For me, growing up, McDonald's had always been a once in a while treat for my brothers and I whenever we behaved well. I just don’t understand how people go to these fast food chains two, three times a week and don’t expect major health issues in the long run? I also think it’s clever how McDonald’s advertises more toward kids. Ethical, no but clever yes. You have the big goofy Ronald McDonald character and the commercials for Happy Meals and the toy that you receive if you just come to McDonald’s! These marketing skills result in eating habits that last a lifetime. So is it right for McDonald’s to draw in young children so that they grow a habit to the unhealthy eating trends? That is a question I guess no one can answer. It’s the same as saying is it right for cigarette adds to target more toward teens to draw them in? These are all issues of ethics that are left open for discussion.
In the fast food industry, one focus that came to my mind that represented a time of quick ethical action was the Taco Bell E.coli incident. In 2006, a E.coli outbreak was linked back to a Taco Bell restaurant in Philadelphia. Followed by that, at least 22 people tested positive for E.coli in New Jersey and then the outbreak continued on into Long Island. In this situation, I feel Taco Bell had two options here; either take full responsibility for the issue and find a solution as quickly and repairable as possible. Or deny that it had anything to do with Taco Bell’s product and go on with normal activity without making any kind of statement. This article discusses the actions that Taco Bell did in fact take after the E.coli outbreak. The company spokesman Rob Poetsch stated in the article, “We have taken every precaution, including temporarily closing the restaurant until the investigation is completed, as nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our customers and employees.” I personally think Taco Bell did exactly what they had to do here. The company took full responsibility for what had happened, and made sure the public knew that they cared. This is a great example of a ethical, quick action being made. Taco Bell was able to survive this E.coli crisis by coming out and being completely honest and aware of the issue to the public. Another article that I came upon describes what steps Taco Bell took after the incident had passed in order to ensure customers that this was not going to happen again. I believe this was another great PR tactic on Taco Bell‘s part. The President Greg Creed made a statement in a news release that stated “I want to reassure our customers that it is absolutely safe to eat at Taco Bell.” The company also planned to create a coalition of government regulators, competitors, suppliers and other experts to develop improved guidelines. I give a hand to Taco Bell for completely picking up the pieces of their own mess in this situation. Their ability to remain ethical in a time of stress really helps them maintain the reputation they have today.
On another completely different topic of ethics, I started to think about the whole fast food chain industry on a whole. Is this really a valuable service catering to consumer needs? Yes, McDonald's for example, does offer a service that is inexpensive and easy accessible for people who don’t have time to cook meals. And today, so many parents work all day and just don’t have the time to cook meals for their children at night. So what’s wrong with going to McDonald’s three times a week? A growing health issue is the problem that I’m not sure everyone realizes. For me, growing up, McDonald's had always been a once in a while treat for my brothers and I whenever we behaved well. I just don’t understand how people go to these fast food chains two, three times a week and don’t expect major health issues in the long run? I also think it’s clever how McDonald’s advertises more toward kids. Ethical, no but clever yes. You have the big goofy Ronald McDonald character and the commercials for Happy Meals and the toy that you receive if you just come to McDonald’s! These marketing skills result in eating habits that last a lifetime. So is it right for McDonald’s to draw in young children so that they grow a habit to the unhealthy eating trends? That is a question I guess no one can answer. It’s the same as saying is it right for cigarette adds to target more toward teens to draw them in? These are all issues of ethics that are left open for discussion.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Fast Food Chains, What's the big deal?
Whether it be a crispy Crunch Wrap Supreme from Taco Bell or a juicy Big Mac from McDonald's, fast food throughout the United States has been everyone’s guilty pleasure at one time in their lives. As a college student myself, I know these trendy chains are very popular among my peers. Everyone wants to join in on the late night drive in to McDonald's, Wendy’s or Taco Bell. It’s cheap and fast! And after a long night of partying, this seems to be the thing to do. What else could a college kid want?
However, as the world’s growing obesity problem flourishes, how do these chains continue to successfully reach out to the public? It seems to me that places like McDonald’s have been able to keep a perception going on in consumer’s minds for years now. For example, I personally don’t even like McDonald’s hamburgers, but as anyone else, I’m guilty of eating them.
As I was browsing through the internet trying to come up with a focus for this blog, I perused upon a article I found on yahoo.com by consumer reports. This article,
http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/428/best-burgers/, asks the same question that has so often come to my mind? A online survey of 28,000 subscribers rated burgers at 18 fast food restaurants. Ironically McDonald’s was the biggest loser shortly followed by Wendy’s and Burger King. The number one winner was the In-and-Out burger. I personally never heard of the In-and-Out burger however, as I've learned, it‘s a West Coast chain. Still, McDonald's holds more of a sense of brand loyalty among consumers that continues to draw them in. For example, when you are driving along the highway, the number of McDonald's advertising that you see is almost unbearable.
If you haven't already caught the drift, my blog will help focus on the different research methods that fast food restaurants such as McDonald's, Burger King and Taco Bell use in order to keep their consumer rates high. I hope to explore these different topics and really get to expose the secrets behind fast food chains.
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