This is how McDonalds kidnapped me.

3 hours of on-off sleep,

My eyes barely open,

Raising the eyebrows high enough to make the wrinkles visible,

I woke up in a state of hustle and bustle.

"Wake up beta (son), go bring the car outside and fit all the bags in the Diggy (storage area for the car)"

Seeing a grand total of 9 BAGS, my jaw was left wide open.

And couldn't help but let out a frustrated sigh.

The beginning of the family trip wasn't exactly cheerful, I must say. 

Running my hand through the rough hairs, I started the needful.

Droplet of sweats racing down my body,

I somehow crunched in all the bags in the space available.

Finally bidding a goodbye to my mother,

Me, my father and my grandparents enrooted towards our native place 500 kms away.

As the 3 hour sleep wasn't sufficient enough,

The traffic across the narrow roads was starting to get on my nerves as well.

Just imagine:

A group full of two-wheelers, throttling motorcycles across the streets, left-right.

Autorickshaws covering up almost the entire space, Making it even more difficult to maintain a constant speed,

The left leg on the clutch was already about to give up.

My mind was going through a lot.

But finally,

233 kms away from the destination, we stopped in the middle of the highway to have some rest and recharge ourselves with food.

I straight away raced my feet towards McDonald's.

My soul demanding rest, my empty stomach demanding food,

I placed an order for a McSpicy Chicken Burger meal, plus a Chicken Kebab Burger.
(I eat a lot while traveling, don't judge me on that😤)

I became eligible for Blueberry Juice, but since I already had a Coke with my meal,

I initially dismissed the idea of having two drinks.

The offer was so tempting that by just adding 5 rupees,

I could get a drink originally priced at Rs. 200.

I ended up making the purchase.  

As I strolled towards the car with two glasses and a packet of food in my hands,

I let out a sigh of relief until I realized..

I WAS TRAPPED.

I began experiencing a sense of claustrophobia similar to a bee ensnared in a spider's web.

My mind acting as the body of that helpless bee,

Using their tiny limbs to desperately try to break free and take flight.

My brain felt trapped into the web McDonalds' marketers set up for me.

That's where I realized:

• The power of a brand

• The strength an irresistible offer holds.

Imagine a random local eat-out place,

With an offer board in front of their shop saying,

"Buy 1, Pay 5Rs extra and get another drink for ABSOLUTELY FREE!"

Don't you even dare if,

You lied to your soul if you say you'd take the deal, just after the seconds reading it.

A tiny bug of skepticism will eventually run across your mind, irritating the fuck out of you.

Thoughts for surety started were being irritated by this bug.

But I agree, some of you would make the purchase..

With. Zero. Fucks. Given

But Imagine,

If a big brand like McDonalds, Burger King comes up with an offer like this,

You'd swipe the card instantly 💳️ 

(At least most of the people would do so)

I know the comparison is completely vague, but can you grasp the essence of comparison?

And that's where I saw,

How the power of having credibility with your targeted audience feels like.

You mostly don't even tend to think the opposite.

A picture of a "perfectly-crafted-brilliantly-put-through" offer is already painted in your heads,

Which tempts your soul enough, to make the purchase with minimum resistance.

Regardless of the price you pay.

Haha so, the key Marketing 101 I learnt from this experience:

Don't rush to be the best.

Just don't be in the rat-race where's even the best and the worst competitors are fighting for your audience's attention,

Be as relatable and as transparent as possible.

Study deeply about the day-to-day problems, the struggles they face, the outcomes they secretly desire.

And also let me burst the bubble,

This is not any Marketing Tip!

It's all a play of human psychology.

Understand this and see yourself prosper.

That's it for the day folks.

Will see you soon,

V.