Strategy recommendation for how KFC should incorporate the reality of the Internet and social media into its business plan

Yum! Brands is a global company that operates in 41 different countries and territories with approximately 41,000 restaurants. The company was formed in 1997 as a spin-off of PepsiCo and has become a leader in international retail development, opening an average of five restaurants per day outside the U.S. Yum! Currently owns 3 different concepts: KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. Colonel Harland Sanders is the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken and is proven to be a great American success story. He began frying chicken in the early 1930’s at a travelers’ service station in Corbin, KY and after perfecting his 11 herbs and spices and frying technique that is still used today, the Colonel began franchising in 1955. 10 years later there were over 600 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada.

The Benefits of using social media and the internet
The benefits in using social media and the internet for any business is to increase exposure, gain traffic and connect with people. A business needs to create strategies that link the customer experience with the technologies and systems required to deliver the right content at the right time. (Hisaka, 2012, para. 1) KFC has to stay relevant to its customers and followers because it’s a brand that everyone knows and has been around since the 1950’s. Interacting with customers and asking for their opinion allows them to form a bond with the company and build trust with the brand. Using social media sites like instagram and pinterest lets KFC share pictures about what the company has been up to: i.e. new products being launched and what charities they are involved with. Social media can also help KFC preserve the reputation of the company by controlling the spread of rumors by responding to them