Tag Archives: business

Get LinkedIn: How Franchise Professionals Should Be Using The Networking Site

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This month I have been paying a closer attention to the way in which franchise professionals utilize social media platforms. Specifically this week, I wanted to take a closer look at how LinkedIn is being used in the franchise industry. LinkedIn is a hot topic in the social networking realm right now. Everyone wants to know how to best leverage LinkedIn for their various needs. Franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers all see opportunity in the networking site, but many question how exactly they can use the platform to their benefit.

With a database of more than 238 million individuals, LinkedIn provides a great pool of prospective franchisees and customers. How can franchise professionals tap into this resource? They can start with their profile page. A new article in Franchising World’s November issue gives some tips about how you should go about revamping your page. First, look at your page from an outsider’s view. Does it read like a resume? If you’re seeking employment, that is one thing. But if you are not, it may be time to rewrite your profile to target whichever prospect or customer or prospective employee that you would like to engage.  People are using LinkedIn to better know you. You must actively choose a message: what do you want people to know about you and your company?

The article says that as you read through your LinkedIn profile, you must ask yourself whether your profile answers these questions that the reader may have:

–          Should I pay this person money?

–          Can I trust this person?

–          Can this person help me with my objectives (franchise ownership, employment, doing business)?

–          What benefits does this person and his company provide?

–          Does this person have the ability to help me make a significant decision?

–          Does this person look trustworthy and credible?

 

What is all really comes down to is making your profile a welcome mat to your company. You want to seem approachable, communicable and transparent. People want to do business with people they like and feel at ease with. Let your LinkedIn profile be a peak into your company’s missions and future goals. What LinkedIn tips do you have for fellow franchise professionals?

How to Utilize Social Media to Market Your Franchise

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Though every franchise business is different, every successful franchise has one thing in common: an effective and pervasive marketing strategy.

And while much can be said for classic marketing materials (from billboards to print ads to television commercials), social media has begun to transform the entire face of franchise marketing. From Twitter to Facebook to Tumblr to Vine, social media has created a universal and easily accessible platform upon which committed franchise businesses can both broaden their reach and establish their brands.

 

Here are three ways that your business can utilize social media to market your franchise brand:

1. Match your franchise to the network: Start by learning all you can about each social media platform to help you decide which specific networks will benefit your business the most. Then, choose only three. It may be tempting to incorporate them all, but when it comes to social media, your goal should always be to do fewer better.

2.  Establish a presence: Once you’ve selected your platforms, work on establishing a presence. Make sure that when you start posting or tweeting, you do it regularly: create a schedule and stay consistent. Consider who your audience is, what your brand is built upon, and aim to engage.

3. Never forget your brand: Any franchise consulting professional will tell you: always stay true to your brand. While some of your franchise locations may have different social media teams, make sure that every profile – from Google+ to Instagram – is representative of your brand as a whole. Above all, ensure that every post, tweet, and picture portrays your business in a positive, appropriate, and kind light.

 

When you make the decision to incorporate social media into your franchise marketing plan, you’re taking a definitive step toward developing and fostering an impressive online presence – one which will help you successfully establish your brand. Learn how to create a successful marketing plan alongside a dependable franchise consulting firm today! 

 

Are You Using Environmentally Responsible Pest Control Services?

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Are You Using Environmentally Responsible Pest Control Services?

It is not breaking news that many of the products that are used for pest control in our homes are toxic to both humans and pets. Most people are willing to compromise the health of them and their family members for pest elimination when in actuality there are health conscious and eco-friendly ways to rid their home of unwanted creatures. LadyBug Eco-Friendly Pest Control does just that. The company has over 23 years of pest control experience and use products that are entirely National Organic Program (NOP) compliant.

The main product that LadyBug Eco-Friendly Pest Control uses is called Diatomaceous Earth which, once refined, resembles talcum powder. The powder is made from one-cell plant organisms extracted from the bottom of large bodies of fresh water. This natural ingredient kills pests like roaches, ants, crickets, spiders and scorpions without bringing harmful chemicals inside of your home.

Is there an environmentally responsible pest control service in your area?

Read on if you are interested in this eco-friendly franchise opportunity!

 

Lady Bug Eco-Friendly Pest Control  Franchise Specifics:

Benefits Of Unit Ownership With Lady Bug

  • Life-Style Opportunity (M-F 9 to 5)
  • LOW Unit Investment Of $30,000 Per Unit, 2nd ½ price
  • Fast ROI With HIGH Net Return
  • 1 Truck/Route With 300 Monthly Customers =$150,000
  • A Unit Can Have Multiple Truck Routes!
  • Pest Control Operation – Repeat Monthly Revenue
  • All Training At Corporate Office For Unit Owners

Benefits Of A Regional Developer

  • Multiple Revenue Streams
  • Revenue From Their Own Unit
  • Unit included In The RD price
  • Revenue from Selling Units & Collecting Franchise Fees
  • Developing Territories & Selling Customers to Units
  • Receiving Royalty Stream
  • All Training at Corporate Office For RD’s

Unit Investment

  • $30k Franchise Fee
  • Capital $40,000+
  • 70k Total Invest
  • 7-10% Royalty
  • 2% Advertising Fund

Unit Numbers

  • $150,000 Revenue Per Truck/Route (300 customers)
  • 1 Unit Can Have Multiple Trucks/Routes
  • Avg. Pest Control Service $45 rate
  • Up To 50% Net Profit

What is Social Franchising?

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The success of franchising comes from the transfer of knowledge and experience from one successful enterprise to another. With an established business concept, as well as support and training, a franchisee can quickly become successful thanks to the foundation upon which his or her business is built. While with most commercial franchises the goal is to maximize profits, social franchises use the principles of franchising for a social goal.

What is social franchising and how does it differ from commercial franchising?

Social franchises are driven by social goals, rather than profit. While the franchise does make profit, this profit is used to develop its social aims. Social aims can include food security, poverty alleviation, or environmental conservation. According to the European Social Franchising Network (ESFN), a social franchise should be a social enterprise, and  have the four following characteristics:

  1. An organization that replicates a social enterprise business model – the social franchisor.
  2. At least one independent social franchisee that has been replicated by the social franchisor.
  3. A common brand under which the social franchisees operate.
  4. An interchange of knowledge between members.

Social franchises can operate in various ways, but generally a social franchisee pays the social franchisor a fee for their support. Differing from other non-profit charities and foundations, where most of the funding comes from grants and personal donations, social franchises use the sales of their successful business model to create a better world.

For example, Community Renewable Energy (CoRE), a European social franchise, helps communities develop their own renewable energy systems to generate community income and address climate change. The franchise does so through working in partnership with a specific community, where the community is not charged for CoRE’s work, but rather as a stakeholder in the the renewable energy systems, where they take a share of the profits. This share is then used to help the next community. The social franchise essentially supports their members by providing “technical skills, shared services, and replicable models for developing renewable energy systems.”

Are you familiar with any social franchises in your area? Please feel free to comment below!

Business Lessons From the NFL Draft

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The NFL draft is arguably the second most important night of any NFL season, the most important night being, of course, Super Bowl Sunday.

 

Unsurprisingly, the caliber of your team (and often it’s ability to win) is proportionate to the quality of your players. Although it is a very important one, this isn’t the only lesson that football or the draft teaches us about running a business.

 

Winners Are Losers

 

The rules of the draft stipulate that, in essence, the winning teams pick last. This is to ensure that the same team doesn’t win the Super Bowl every single year. This isn’t how the real world operates, just look at Harvard Business School. HBS graduates run the world. They make up the creative and managing teams of Yahoo, Google, Goldman Sachs and the Blackstone Group, among others. Quite simply, the best work for the best. Each of the aforementioned powerhouses utilizes new hires as part of their business strategy. Why shouldn’t you? Be thankful the rules of the real world differ from the rules of the draft; you can still recruit top performers. Remember to keep in mind that everything you do will attract future employees or push them into the arms of your competitors.

 

When You Wish Upon a Star

 

The Carolina Panthers had first pick on Thursday night. Beforehand I wondered if they would pick Auburn’s Cam Newton. Undoubtedly talented, Cam Newton’s a star of a quarterback. To that end, regardless of the talent of a new hire, you can’t use all of your money on your star recruit and think they’re going to save your business or make your more money. You hired them to do a specific job. The Panthers scored a good football player, but Cam Newton alone can’t make them champions.

Cam Newton

Preparing Your New Talent

 

One of the biggest discussions before the draft started on Thursday was whether or not Auburn’s Cam Newton deserved to be the number one draft pick of 2011. Regardless of what he deserves, there’s a big mental transition that needs to take place for Newton. Can Cam adjust his playing mentality when he steps onto an NFL field? The rules might be (basically) the same, but it’s a whole different ball game. Winning championships at the college level is not the same as winning championships in the NFL.

 

Like coaches and players, managers and coworkers need to be prepared for the role they’re going to play in the development and transition of a new team member. This is especially true for new hires that are young and accustomed to a collegiate lifestyle.

 

Taking a Risk

Mark Ingram

Previously injured or “troublemaker” players aren’t always a risk, and sometimes they are. Though not in the draft this year, the University of Florida’s Janoris Jenkins was recently dismissed from his position as cornerback due to his repeated arrests for marijuana possession. Will Muschamp, Florida’s new head coach, is implementing “the Florida way,” and Jenkins frankly knew better: this is his fourth arrest. This is the type of risk that you shouldn’t take. When a potential new hire has disregard for the rules or authority it’s a good idea to thank them for their interest and send them on their way. Once the plague of disrespect is caught in a team environment it’s difficult to eradicate.

 

Prior to the draft, James Andrews, MD, sent a letter to all 32 teams in the draft giving Mark Ingram, running back for the Alabama Crimson Tide, a clean bill of health after his knee injury. In the two weeks leading up to Thursday’s draft at least two teams removed Ingram from their draft boards due to concerns about the long-term health of his knee. Ingrams is the type of risk you should take. The Alabama running back plays with his whole heart. Regardless of his personal pain or discomfort he’s known for giving his whole self in every game. Despite his past knee problems, he’s been given a clean bill of health. When you’re looking at the resume or background of a potential new hire it’s so important to recognize that everyone makes mistakes or has things happen to them outside of their control. If they turn that adversity into fuel for personal improvement, that’s a winning pick.