Did you just start a franchise business?
You’ve made a good move. Although there are over 700,000 franchise businesses in the United States compared to the tens of millions of traditional small businesses, franchising offers significant business. You didn’t just buy the right to use another company’s branding and other trademarks; you also bought a proven business model.
However, running a franchise business has its fair share of challenges. Competition can be fierce depending on the nature of the franchise and your local market, for instance.
To overcome many of these challenges, you need to master the art of franchise marketing.
Keep reading to learn how to market a franchise.
Contents
1Ensure Brand Consistency
Franchising means you get to use the franchiser branding strategy. Most franchisers will help you set up your business to ensure the brand is consistent with their overall brand, but just in case you aren’t getting this support, you have to ensure consistency.
Can you imagine visiting a Starbucks franchise that doesn’t look quite like the Starbucks you know? You’ll actually think it isn’t a legitimate Starbucks franchise and as a result, you may avoid buying the coffee.
Branding is a key part of franchise marketing. Especially if you’re starting a well-known franchise, it’s vital to keep the branding consistent.
2Leverage the Power of Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Although a popular franchise will give you a head start, your customers have high expectations. Just as consumers know Starbucks for its great coffee, they expect to get the same coffee in every Starbucks outlet.
When customers come to your shop, they expect a certain level of service quality. If you don’t meet their expectations, they may never come back again. But if you offer excellent products and customer service, they’ll be impressed and are more likely to share their experience with their friends and family.
Considering the fact that over 90% of consumers trust recommendations from their friends and family, most of them will end up coming to your shop or visiting your website.
This is how word-of-mouth marketing works.
3Go Hard on Digital Marketing
Ever heard of franchise SEO?
If you haven’t, it’s because you haven’t embraced digital marketing as a key part of your franchise marketing strategy.
In 2021, more and more consumers are shopping for products and services online. And as a business, you need to be where your consumers are.
Start by creating a business website if you don’t already have one. Hire an expert to build a professional website that not only suits the nature of your business but also optimized for search engines.
With a website, you need a content marketing strategy. This means creating a blog and posting informative content regularly.
You can also look into PPC advertising if your budget allows. This is especially crucial if you’re in a competitive market or are looking for quick results.
Social media must also be in your digital marketing bag. Ensure your franchise has an active social presence on top social networks.
You Can Hack Franchise Marketing
Effective franchise marketing is key to the success of any franchise. However, this is easier said than done. With this guide, though, you now know how to get started the right way.
Need more marketing tips and insights? Explore our blog.
