Is a home-based franchise right for you?
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Franchises need to employ multifaceted marketing strategies to increase brand awareness, strengthen their reputation and attract new franchisees. Even the biggest brands need to continually refresh their strategies to stay ahead of the competition. When effective marketing strategies are deployed in a cohesive manner, they can achieve great success.
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1. Social media
The modern consumer uses social media to research brands and products, so it makes sense to focus some attention on this area. Not only can businesses run paid ads targeting their particular demographic, but they can engage in two-way communications with their customer community and share their content more widely by using hashtags and partnering with influencers.
Franchises should create a social media plan that includes a mix of targeted ads and organic customer engagement.
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2. SEO
SEO can drive traffic to your website. You should use frequently searched keywords to direct potential customers to your business. Consumers rarely look beyond the first page of search engine results, so optimizing your SEO can help your business rank higher in common search engines.
To increase your SEO standing without spending a fortune, franchises should aim to regularly publish relevant content, keep their website up to date, and optimize it for smartphone use. Users often interact with brands from smartphones, and failing to optimize the website for use on these devices could result in lost sales and missed opportunities.
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3. Email marketing
Using email in your franchise marketing strategy allows you to engage directly with consumers, converting one-off purchasers into loyal customers. To prevent your emails from ending up in the trash, make sure that your messaging is consistent and relevant, and regularly review your performance metrics to ensure that your content is performing satisfactorily.
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4. Partner with influencers
Influencers are people who have an immense following. When your brand partners with an influential influencer, they can promote your products and services to their followers, raising your brand awareness and increasing your visibility among your target audience.
Although it will take effort to establish a mutually convenient relationship with a suitable influencer, the benefits of doing so can be significant. Make sure to only approach influencers who share your brand's values to avoid unintentionally discrediting your brand among your loyal customer community.
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5. Manage your reputation
Finally, make sure that you proactively manage your brand's online reputation. Respond to every review that mentions any one of your franchise's branches, whether they are positive or negative, and take the time to thank customers for providing their feedback.
Use the customer feedback gleaned to improve your operations, streamline processes and implement efficiencies. By being open to constructive criticism and learning from it, you will be able to reap the rewards in the long term.
