Over the past few years, social media has evolved from something that franchises viewed as helpful to an essential part of marketing. This is true for franchise owners who want to reach more customers. It’s also true for franchisors looking for potential franchisees. There are several reasons why social media has grown into such a powerful marketing channel. Not only can social media deliver an impressive ROI when managed correctly, but it also offers a level of targeting that’s simply not possible through other channels. Add to that just how much time people from all walks of life spend on social media platforms, and it’s easy to understand why social media as a marketing channel is here to stay.
With all that being said, the fact that social media can be a very effective marketing tool for franchises doesn’t mean it’s easy. Whether social media is being used with the intention of reaching consumers or potential owners, plenty of organizations struggle to make it work. Since competition for attention on social media platforms is only going to continue to increase, we want to share a few helpful tips for franchises to successfully use social media:
Using Social Media Effectively for Franchises
1. Try It All, Then Focus In
Franchises often wonder where they should start with their social media efforts. The best answer to that question is everywhere. Because there are multiple platforms with a large number of active users, it’s important to establish a presence on all of them. Then over time, you can see which platform(s) drive the most results and shift more resources accordingly.
2. Review and Adjust
There are a lot of different ways to execute a social media strategy. Although it can be helpful to have an initial idea when starting out, chances are some or all aspects of the strategy will change over time. The good news is social media platforms provide more analytics than ever to businesses, which means it’s easy to see which content is performing well and then focus on sharing more of the same kind.
3. Don’t Forget to Engage
While social media is a great way for a franchise to broadcast their message, it’s important to remember that this channel is a two-way street. So if you want to find real success with social media, making a point of engaging with customers or potential owners is a must.
4. Be Consistent
It takes a little time to really get the ball rolling with social media. Unfortunately, many franchises give up on social media too early. If you want to avoid this pitfall, having a little patience and being consistent with your posting activity is a must.
If you want to learn more about how to use social media effectively for franchise marketing, our social media magnet books are a great resource.
If you want expert help creating the right Social Media plan, be sure to take a look at how Web Strategy Plus can help.
Michelle Hummel is CEO of Web Strategy Plus a full-service digital marketing agency focused on Franchise Marketing. She was recently nominated for the Woman-Owned Business of the Year! She’s a passionate Social Media Trainer with 15+ years of successful online business development, sales, and marketing experience. She also holds a valuable Internet Marketing Degree however with the ever-changing world of web marketing she strives to learn something new every day.
She travels Nationwide visiting her 22 Social Media Enthusiasts Chapters she developed Nationwide delivering in-depth social media training. She also provides Social Media Certifications through founding Web Media University. A current contributing editor to The Franchise Dictionary Magazine and she has written 3 books in her series called, “The Social Media Magnet: Everything You Need to Know to Attract Customers with Social Media”, where she shares her best-kept secrets to success. She also specializes in helping Franchisors and Franchisees develop an integrated web marketing program to drive leads. She’s available for interviews via email, telephone, Skype video, news segments on location and more. Just let her know how she can help!