Mcdonalds uses traditional selling and advertising and sales promotion is more important than personal selling. Mcdonalds sells a good or service at a low price and has many customers. Consumers know what they will expect when they enter a McDonalds restaurant because they are aware of it due to their advertising on televisions and billboards. They are also global so almost everywhere you go you will see a McDonalds. They try to build a relationship with their customers and by doing so they give us more and more reasons as to why we should go back to their restaurant. Another sales promotion McDonalds uses is giving their customers free products called and this strategy is also considered a game called a monopoly. The more and more pieces you get to the puzzle is a higher chance you have of winning a greater prize. McDonalds gives customers the opportunity to win prizes, money or anything on the menu. Whenever you buy fries or a soda you get a coupon attached to it and when you tear it out you win a prize. 
While launching a premium coffee line smack in the middle of a recession may seem counterintuitive, the debut of McCafe helped drive McDonald's second quarter sales. The chain announced a comparable U.S. sales increase of 3.5 percent and a 4.8 percent spike globally. CEO Jim Skinner, in a statement, gave credit to the chain's "balanced focus" on favorites like the Big Mac, beverage value offerings and the McCafe launch. "This is the weakest the restaurant in 28 years," said NPD restaurant industry analyst Bonnie Riggs. "McDonald's is one of the few that is faring well. They have a lot of marketing initiatives. It's not just the value menu. They are introducing a lot of new products. McDONALD’S CONTRIBUTES TO DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS IN JAPAN
OAK BROOK, Ill. – McDonald’s Corporation today announced that it will contribute to the Japan disaster relief efforts with a donation of $2 million USD. The funds will channeled through the International Federation of the Red Cross.
“The devastation in Japan has stunned and saddened the global community, and we’re reaching out to help with this contribution,” said Jim Skinner, McDonald’s Chief Executive Officer. “We send our best to everyone affected by this disaster, including our employees and our customers.”
McDonald’s has 3,302 restaurants in Japan. As of this date, the vast majority of the restaurants are open; fewer than 300 remain closed due to damage or staffing issues.
Seventy-three percent of the most prestigious children’s hospitals in the world are supported by at least one of the RMHC core programs providing families and children much-needed access to health care.
McDonalds mostly uses institutional and product advertising. When they came out with Mccafe they advertised their coffee with product advertising. They focused on one specific product; which is coffee. They also have smoothies and that was a huge product because it’s healthy, enjoyable and inexpensive. McDonalds also uses institutional advertising where they show their fast- food restaurant as a place of comfort and family outings. Also a common advertising appeal is convenience. Consumers want food and drinks that are convenient for them and they don’t have to make a stop for it. This is why McDonalds has a drive thru option. Another common executional style for advertising is “slice-of-life”. That is an advertisement that depicts people in their everyday life. Whenever you want something fast or on the go you will get McDonalds. McDonalds also has the option of having birthday parties for children and the play area. This is convenient because you do not have to rent something expensive and buy a lot of food. Every child can have a happy meal and the adults can have Mccafe. 
McDonalds uses every form of advertising out there; Newspapers, magazines, radio, television, outdoor media and television. Everywhere you go you will hear or see a McDonalds advertisement. Whenever I put on my television I come across a McDonalds commercial. McDonalds also uses public relations. They have a charity called Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) that helps save children all over the world. They also offer scholarships to students. “Local Chapters of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), with support from RMHC Global offer scholarships to students from communities who face limited access to educational and career opportunities. These scholarships are part of RMHC's ongoing commitment to education.”
The consumer decision making process includes five steps when buying a good or service. First step is you Need recognition. Need recognition can be faced with wanting something. When you’re hungry and you see McDonalds advertised on television your first instinct is to go and eat at McDonalds. Second step is Information search. When you go to a Mccafe and experience good customer service or you’ve heard from a family or friend how good their service is you want to go back again. Mcdonalds' logo "I'm lovin' it" also makes consumers want to visit and see if that logo is actually true. Third step is Evaluation of alternatives. This is when a consumer figures out what it is that they want and then break down their search. If you’re looking for a delicious, nearby and affordable coffee drink then Mccafe is the place to go. Fourth step is Purchase. Purchasing comes to play when you decide whether to buy or when, where, what and how to pay. These are all easy decisions to make when you go to a Mccafe because the fact that there are so many restaurants available and affordable makes your decision much easier. Last step is Post- purchase behavior. When you purchase a good you expect to be satisfied with the product or good you purchased. Mccafe’s number one goal is customer satisfaction. So of course once you drink any of their many coffee beverages you will be satisfied and your money will be well spent. Of course there are many other factors that come into play when a consumer is making a decision on what they should purchase. Other factors are social class, culture, demography, and also Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. 
