McDonalds’ Blogger Learns Fast

Shel Isreal took McDonalds Senior Director, Bob Langert to the woodshed after his first post on his blog “Open For Discussion.”

A few days later, after some pretty rough criticism about the tone of his first post, Shel gave Bob 5 suggestions for making his blog better.

However, after Bob’s most recent post called “Listening and Learning Through Blogging,” Shel took a softer tone and congratulated Bob for well…listening and learning.

I wanted to blog about this a few weeks ago, but I must admit I have a soft spot for McDonalds because it was my first job. I worked there from the age of 15 until almost 18. Since Shel seemed to have it under control, and I have a bias, I let it be and went to comments instead.

I disagreed in comments with Shel that the first two topics Bob tackled, how they treat the animals and their social responsibility as they purchase materials and food, were pretty weighty topics. Obviously, these were not the only things that people are interested in when it comes to McDonalds, but certainly they were up there for some.

However, Bob has asked for advice from the blogosphere, and here are mine:

-Post more often, it is important to get things out there, if not every day, I understand, but two or three times a week is better.

-Break your writing up into smaller chunks, your newest post was better with that, posts one and two could have kept most bloggers busy for a few weeks.

-Build a tough skin. In the end it will benefit both you and McDonalds.

-Don’t shy away from the tough issues: obesity, workplace pay issues, etc.

-Can you humor me and tell me if it true that when McDonalds started serving apples it became the largest purchaser of apples in the world?

-Let us know interesting facts about McDonalds, this can also fill out your blogging schedule, since not every post has to be weighty.

-I concur with Shel on this one, what does your title mean, who or what do you direct?

Link to your biggest critics and fans. You have made a good start already.I still hold that the McDonalds site is a diamond in the rough and Bob is buffing it up to full shine pretty quickly. Good luck to him. I'll be watching my reader.

(Update: In response to this post Bob Langert asked me to write about what I learned working at McDonalds. I learned three important lessons that I carry with me in my PR career today)