How McDonald’s does promotional email campaigns

This email aims to drive app downloads by promoting a limited-time $0 delivery fee offer for first-time McDelivery® users who spend $15 or more, encouraging immediate action through convenience and savings.

McDonald’s brilliantly ties the $0 delivery fee to a minimum spend, making the offer feel exclusive and valuable while subtly encouraging larger orders that boost average ticket size.

The email uses visual storytelling with a moving bicycle and textured paper background to evoke speed and authenticity, reinforcing the delivery promise without needing extra copy.

Add a countdown timer near the CTA to create urgency around the 9/12–10/8 offer window, leveraging FOMO to increase immediate app downloads before the promotion expires. • Include a small map pin or store locator link in the footer to reassure users that delivery is available in their area, reducing hesitation for first-time users unfamiliar with McDelivery® coverage.

To drive app downloads and meal orders by promoting a limited-time 'As Featured In Meal' tied to Marvel’s Loki Season 2, encouraging customers to enjoy a movie night at home with iconic McDonald’s items and exclusive themed sauce.

McDonald’s brilliantly ties product promotion to pop culture by linking their limited-edition sauce to Loki’s return, making the meal feel like an exclusive cinematic experience rather than just fast food.

The email uses visual storytelling with bold imagery of the meal and sauce packaging to instantly communicate the campaign’s theme, reducing cognitive load and increasing emotional resonance with fans of the show.

Add a countdown timer near the CTA to emphasize the limited-time nature of the Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce and create urgency for both app downloads and meal orders. • Include a small testimonial or social proof snippet like 'Over 500K fans already ordered the Loki Meal' to reinforce popularity and reduce decision friction for new customers.

To encourage recipients to download the McDonald’s app by reminding them of the convenience and variety of McCafé® beverages available for afternoon pick-up, reinforcing daily coffee habits with a digital-first solution.

The email opens with a conversational, habit-triggering question, 'Have you had your coffee today?', which immediately personalizes the message and positions McCafé as a daily ritual rather than just a product.

By emphasizing 'afternoon pick-me-up' and listing specific drink options like Premium Roast Coffee and Frappé, the email creates a sense of immediacy and variety, subtly guiding users toward app-based ordering for convenience.

Add a subtle countdown or urgency element near the CTA (e.g., 'Download now and get your first McCafé drink 20% off this week') to increase conversion by leveraging time-sensitive motivation. • Include a small testimonial or social proof snippet (e.g., 'Over 1M customers order McCafé via the app daily') to build trust and reinforce the app’s popularity, making the download feel like a smart, mainstream choice.

To drive immediate app downloads and reward program sign-ups by offering a limited-time, ultra-low-priced Double Cheeseburger exclusively through the McDonald’s app on National Cheeseburger Day.

The email leverages a culturally relevant holiday to create urgency and emotional resonance, turning a routine product into a celebratory event that feels both timely and exclusive.

By gating the extreme discount behind app download and rewards enrollment, McDonald’s transforms a promotional offer into a strategic customer acquisition tool that builds long-term digital engagement.

Add a countdown timer or 'Today Only' badge near the CTA to visually reinforce urgency and reduce decision latency, especially since the offer expires within 24 hours. • Include a small testimonial or social proof element, like 'Over 1M burgers claimed already!', to validate the offer’s popularity and reduce perceived risk for new app users.