Inside McDonald's Viral Marketing Strategy | Amanda Mulligan

Learn the McDonald's viral marketing strategy and the campaigns behind some of the brand's biggest cultural moments. Meet Amanda Mulligan, Head of Social Media and Creator Marketing at McDonald's, the mind behind the Chicken Big Mac launch with Kai Cenat, the Grimace Effect taking over Mets fans everywhere, and McNugget Caviar dominating Super Bowl weekend. If it went viral and had those big golden arches behind it, there's a good chance Amanda had something to do with it. With over a decade in the social media game, she has helped define what it means for a brand to truly become part of culture. We talk about the strategy behind viral campaigns, creator marketing, habits, instincts, hard-earned lessons, and what it really takes to run social for one of the world's most iconic brands.   Episode Chapters:  00:00:00 | Welcome "I Am Woo" 00:18:35 | The Accidental Social Native: NYC, Travelzoo & a 6-Month Detour 00:19:47 | Social Is the Future of Marketing 00:36:20 | Grimace: How a Forgotten Birthday Became a Comeback 00:41:00 | McNugget Caviar: The $0 Drop That Beat the Super Bowl 00:49:31 | Subcultures, Anime & Showing Up as a Fan 00:53:40 | Building a Brand's Social From Scratch 01:06:05 | Building Teams & the "Culture of Yes" 01:10:29 | The Oktoberfest Disaster 01:16:19 | The Big Arch: Leaning Into the Joke 01:19:15 | Fan Truths & Following Your Fans 01:29:49 | Give Us the Chai 01:34:34 | Manifestation, Moon Water & the McDonald's She Wrote Down 02:03:12 | Audience Q&A: Moving On, Burnout & New Leadership 02:07:49 | The Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People   Subscribe to Karan's Substack: https://karandang.substack.com/   Follow Karan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangkaran/  Follow Shruti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruti-dang/   Check out our website: https://www.dangworld.com/thelearningloungepodcast     Check out Amanda's book, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/     Get in touch with us on Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninglounge.podcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learninglounge.podcast  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@learninglounge.podcast    Threads: https://www.threads.com/@learninglounge.podcast  X: https://x.com/learning41807      Disclaimer: The content shared on The Learning Lounge is provided for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal experiences, opinions, and perspectives of the hosts and guests. It should not be considered or relied upon as medical, legal, financial, mental health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances before making decisions related to your health, finances, business, career, or personal situation. Discussions may include topics such as wellness, supplements, peptides, performance optimization, business strategy, investing, and personal development. Individual circumstances vary, and results are not guaranteed. The views, opinions, statements, and claims expressed by guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Learning Lounge, Dang World, its owners, employees, affiliates, sponsors, or partners. Dang World does not independently verify all guest statements and assumes no responsibility for decisions made or actions taken based on the information presented.   A DANG World Studios Production Our People: Karan Dang - Co-Host & Chief Creative Officer Shruti Dang - Co-Host & Chief Operating Officer Utsav Dang - VP Strategic Operations Missy Hauser - Podcast Producer  Sydney Dutton - Community and Operations Manager Josh Lara - Executive Assistant   Euan Pascual - Long Form Editor  Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Short Form Editor  Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer Mark Managan - Shortform Editor Keith Tan - Creative Producer John Mark Galamay - Social Writer Noah Kugell - Lead AV Technician Santiago Sanchez - AV Technician Will Mazzola - Original Lighting & Camera Design Estrella Trejo - Hair and Makeup Trina Duarte - Hair and Makeup German Belkin - Original Soundtrack Jassi Aunty - Head Chef   Special Thanks:  Late Sidharth Raj Dang, Amrita Dang, Shashi Shukla, Praveen Shukla , Aria Dang, Blue Vir Dang  \+ Advisors, Mentors, Friends & Family