Donut Say Marketing Doesn’t Work

Check out this Google Trends for donuts (blue), doughnuts (red), and Dunkin’ Donuts (yellow). Nobody is searching for doughnuts. It’s all about donuts now! What’sreally great is that donutsis searched more frequently thank Dunkin’ Donuts which indicates that people just assume doughnuts are supposed to be spelled donuts.

This is an excellent example of a proprietary eponym. This is when a brand name becomes synonymous with a product or service due toit’s popularity or significance inits respected market.

Some famous examples include:Ziploc, Kleenex, Q-Tip, Band-Aid, and Google.

These are very common things that you ask for by name.Ziploc (plastic bag with plastic zipper closure), Kleenex (tissues), Q-Tip (cotton swabs), Band-Aid (Bandages), and Google (Search Engine).

So does this mean Dunkin’ Donuts has convinced us to change the spelling of doughnut to just donut?

Dunkin’ Donuts was founded in 1950 and by 1966 the franchise had opened over 100 stores in the United States.ThisNgram graph even shows the increase in the use of donut in publications that follows the same trend of the rise of the Dunkin Donuts franchise.

Can’t tell us that’s not from the marketing genius that is Dunkin’ Donuts. Here we are almost 70 yearslater and they continue to be leaders in donuts, design, and customer experience.

They created their own app in 2016 that allowed ordering up to 24 hours in advance at their desired pick-up location. This is something thatwas a digital innovation at the time.

Their websitehas a high contrast color option to increase easy navigation of the website for those who are visually impaired. This option makesthe designaesthetically pleasing but also delivers afunctionaluser experienceandreaches a wider range of thepopulation.

So what doy’all think? Donuts or doughnuts…but don’t go nuts trying to decide.

#NationalDonutDay

Amanda Prince, Social Media Manager | Americom Marketing