The Art of Upselling at Fast Food Chains: A Comparative Study Between McDonald’s and Burger King

r r

The documentary Super Size Me, released in 2004, brought heightened attention to the practices of fast food chains, particularly McDonald's, in influencing consumer behavior. In this article, we will explore the current state of upselling techniques at two popular fast food chains—McDonald’s and Burger King—from an SEO perspective to determine if a similar experiment could attract attention.

r r

Introduction to Up-Selling Tactics

r r

Upselling, the practice of encouraging customers to purchase additional items or larger quantities, is a critical revenue generator for fast food chains. This technique is often performed through suggestive selling, which involves prompting the customer to choose a more expensive option. In the fast food industry, this is frequently done by asking if the customer wants their meal upsized or if they would like to add any items to their order.

r r

McDonald’s Protocol and Super Size Me

r r

During the filming of Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock would always accept the 'Supersize' option at every order, leading to the documentary's critical reception and lasting impact. If a similar experiment were to be conducted today, it's likely that it would not attract the same level of attention. The reason is multifaceted: the practice of upselling has become normalized, and other fast food chains have adapted similar methods.

r r

Burger King’s Approach to Upselling

r r

Compared to McDonald's, Burger King’s upselling tactics and policies are slightly different. According to current procedures at Burger King, customers are regularly asked if they would like to upsize their meal during the ordering process. This approach is driven by the company's strategy to increase revenue through suggestive selling.

r r

The practice of up-selling at Burger King is deeply rooted in company policy and adherence to corporate standards. Employees are trained to follow a set protocol to ensure each service interaction is optimized for higher sales. Failure to adhere to this protocol can result in reprimand, as management is under pressure to meet revenue targets set by the corporate office.

r r

Corporate Oversight and Management Pressure

r r

Corporate oversight plays a significant role in the up-selling process. At McDonald’s and Burger King, corporate representatives regularly visit franchise locations and evaluate the performance of staff. During these visits, employees are observed to ensure they are adhering to up-selling guidelines. Any non-compliance can result in negative repercussions for the management team, and employees are often aware of these expectations.

r r

For example, at Burger King, a corporate office employee conducting an evaluation may order a meal and intentionally refuse to upsize it. If this happens, the management is on notice and will face scrutiny. The company takes these interactions very seriously because of the direct correlation between up-selling performance and overall financial success.

r r

Final Thoughts and SEO Considerations

r r

While a modern Super Size Me-type study might not receive the same level of public interest as before, it is still a valuable exercise for SEO and marketing professionals. Understanding the current practices and policies of fast food chains can help businesses optimize their own campaigns and customer interactions for better results.

r r

Keyword Optimization: When writing about upselling, it's crucial to use keywords strategically. In this context, the main keywords could be 'up-selling', 'McDonald’s', and 'Burger King'. These terms should be included naturally and appropriately in the content to improve search engine rankings.

r r

SEO Tips: Utilize headings (H1, H2, H3) to break up the content and make it easier for readers to navigate. Include subheadings to highlight different aspects of the topic. Internal linking to other relevant articles can also help improve SEO. Additionally, ensure the content is rich with high-quality, relevant information to engage readers and provide value.