McDonald’s Expands Interactive Participatory Marketing

 

Reaching out extending the brands relevance once again McDonald’s sets an example on just how consumer focused interactive participatory food marketing should work according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Gen Z and Millennials have come to know that the Saturday before Thanksgiving is ‘Friendsgiving’ day, this year that day happens to be November 20.  So, in an effort to reach out to both Millennials and Gen Z consumers McDonald’s is using a play on words to elevate the relevance of its new promotion.

McDonald’s focusing on a specific niche of consumers is giving gamers an alternative to Thanksgiving by teaming with the FaZe Clan, the game-focused media platform, to host a “Friendsgaming” day on Nov. 20.

McDonald’s is promoting its Crispy Chicken Sandwich for the Saturday event that precedes the Nov. 25 Thanksgiving Day. Partnering with FaZe Clan, a lifestyle and media platform that emphasizes gaming, to host the first Friendsgaming day will edify the brands relevance with a very important sector of consumers that will most likely not be watching football.

The interactive and participatory event was laid out this way in the press release, “Fans are invited to celebrate their online friendships with the epic combo of gaming and the official fuel of Friendsgaming: our Crispy Chicken Sandwiches,”.

What to jump in and join the fun? Is here is how, Friendsgaming will officially kick off at 8 p.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 20, with a live Twitch stream on FaZe Swagg’s channel, starring FaZe Swagg, FaZe JSmooth, FaZe Booya and FaZe Santana.

The press release put  it this way, “Grab your squad, order your Crispy Chicken Sandwiches, unbox your exclusive McDonald’s x FaZe Clan gaming gear and tune in to watch the legends have a Friendsgaming feast live from their living room, while reminiscing on their friendship and playing one of their favorite games,”.

You guessed it, both companies are merchandising the Friendsgaming with a “Crispy Chicken Sandwich Expansion Pack,” which includes a special DoorDash code for sandwich meals, a headset stand, a phone holder, FaZe Clan and McDonald’s decals for controllers and keyboards, and an insulated carrier bag. The limited-edition expansion packs will be available starting Nov. 4 at www.CCSFriendsgaming.com.

Success does leave clues. One clue that time and time again continues to resurface is “the consumer is dynamic not static”.  Regular readers of this blog know that is the common refrain of Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  Our Grocerant Guru® can help your company edify your brand with relevance.  Call 253-759-7869 for more information.