The Right Way to Eat a Burger

a.k.a The Power of Advertising



When I first saw this specific McDonalds advertisement, I was probably about 10. In this ad, two dads took their sons to McDonalds and the sons both watch as both of the men simultaneously open their burgers up, and put fries inside.

When I first saw this ad, I thought it was so weird. My logic: a cheeseburger from McDonalds is perfect the way it is. But it got me thinking...Would it be better with fries?

The next time I went to McDonalds, I ordered my usual cheeseburger meal (why change from perfection!) and opened up my burger. I placed a good amount of fries inside, and hesitantly bit into the fatty goodness that it a McDonalds cheeseburger. And chips. I chewed. I thought. I chewed. And I was sold. Never again would I eat a cheeseburger by itself! Why would I, when it tastes so much better with fries?!

But today I thought...what if it's all just part of a master plan to upsell? Because, if you think about it, if you're putting half of your packet of small fries onto a burger, then you only have half a packet left to eat by themselves. Technically, you're still eating the same amount, but it just looks like less. So the next time you might order a larger meal.

But on a serious note, the amount of people that add fries to their burger is actually amazing. My friends see me doing it at McDonalds, they try it, and they're hooked! I see people doing it all over the place! And then I realise that they're either really original, or they saw the same, 30 second commercial that I did. It's crazy the way an advertisement can change the way you act from when you're 10 years old!

But then, the weird flavour combinations get even better! For those of you who haven't tried a chocolate thickshake or vanilla soft serve with fries, you are missing out. And I'm pretty sure I saw both of them being tried together on McDonalds ads as well! I don't really remember where that came from, but whether it's by word of mouth or by advertising, it all benefits McDonalds with extra sales.

You have to admit, it's really clever. These flavour combinations make something which so many people already love even better. Which spices things up, and makes it so that people don't get bored and switch to a rival company like Hungry Jacks (or Burger King, for those in basically any other country except Australia)!

So I guess the thing that should be taken from all this is the fact that advertisements have to be crazy and innovative to get people to pay attention. And when they are, it works. Next time you're at McDonalds (or even Hungry Jacks, or Burger King, Red Rooster or KFC even!), try fries on your burger, or fries with your ice-cream. You'd be surprised!