McDonald’s once gave away millions of free Big Macs and it almost destroyed them. In 1984, an Olympic promotion that looked brilliant on paper turned into a nightmare when the winning streak was far bigger than expected. Suddenly, “free” wasn’t a strategy anymore, it was a massive liability. It’s the perfect reminder that marketing isn’t just creativity, it’s risk management. What’s the biggest marketing fail you can think of? #Strategy #BrandStory #BusinessGrowth #Branding #MarketingGenius #Bra

362K views · 2.8K reactions | How to get Free McDonald’s anywhere...  #mcdonalds #free #food #hack | Simon Wilson | Facebook

McDonald's leaves Olympics

Sometimes, patriotism-driven marketing can cost millions. In 1984, McDonald’s ran a campaign where people got free burgers, fries, or Coke if Team USA won medals in specific Olympic games. But McD didn’t anticipate how dominant the U.S. would be — Especially since USSR boycotted the Olympics that year. As a result, people kept winning… and McDonald’s kept losing money. A big reminder for brands: Never bet against data. Emotions don’t pay — analytics do. #Mcdonalds #marketing #failedmarketing #bu