Getting the word out about your franchise location is essential for expanding your business. It is also a major factor in determining how successful your franchise location becomes. But with so many potential customers out there, how do you decide what marketing practices are worth your time and money?
1. Develop a Marketing Plan
The most important part of any marketing plan is thinking outside the box. By developing a plan that uses unconventional marketing tactics, you’ll have a better chance of finding quality customers and increasing your level of customer satisfaction. The marketing plan you develop should reflect the unique needs of your franchise in light of how you are going to communicate with customers. Your marketing plan should also include a detailed budget for marketing activities and a timeline for implementation.
2. Create an Efficient Website
An online presence gives your franchise location an instant opportunity to communicate with potential customers. A successful franchise website should be easy to navigate and have a great design, but the most important part of building a website is ensuring it reflects who you are and what you offer. For your website visitors to be comfortable, your site should have basic information about the franchise system you represent and a clear way for them to contact you directly. You should also include a yearly listing of newsletter articles, special information, and news that you’ve included on the franchise website.
3. Localize SEO
Search Engine Optimization involves improving your website’s positioning in search engines like Google. The more visitors you get to your site, the more people will see what you have to offer, and you’ll increase your chances of converting leads into paying customers. SEO is an ever-changing field, but, like marketing plans, the most important factor is figuring out what works best for your franchise location. Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a very popular form of SEO because it relies more on relationships and word of mouth to get information to potential customers. Unlike the more common Search Engine Optimization methods, this type of marketing relies on creating content that includes keywords that localize to your territory.
4. Engage People on Social Media
Social media tools like Facebook and Twitter are great for interacting with customers and giving your franchise location a human voice. One of the biggest hurdles in social media marketing has been developing a presence on the sites and getting people to use them. By using Facebook and Twitter to advertise your franchise location, you can increase your status and create a way for consumers to interact with you. Posting frequently, interacting with fans, and creating original content are essential components to increasing your exposure on social media sites. As part of your marketing plan, you should develop a social media strategy that matches your resources and existing customer base. The real point of your strategy isn’t just to use these tools but to leverage them to increase the number of people who find you online.
In conclusion, creating a marketing plan and putting all of your efforts into getting your message out there can help you build a successful franchise location. By reaching out to potential customers directly, you stand a much better chance of increasing your status in the market and developing a profitable business for years to come.