Tag Archives: marketing

Using LinkedIn For Your Business?

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I have been paying a closer attention lately 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?

Technology and Franchising: The Future in Google Glass

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Franchising World, the International Franchise Association’s official magazine, published a really interesting article this month about Google Glass and the role it will play in franchising in the future.

As many know, Glass is the latest in technology innovation: a sleek (albeit slightly dorky looking) pair of glasses that acts like a smart phone. You can take phone calls, read and send emails or text messages, search the internet, translate simple phrases, receive turn-by-turn directions, take pictures, record videos, post updates to social media sites, automatically track your flight status or other events, and even make video calls. When you place the device on your head, a small display hovers just in front of your right eye (not in front of it, so you can still see normally.) There is a small touchpad on the side of the glasses’ frame that allows you to navigate its computing platform.

If all of that isn’t enough, technology analysts are now looking at the way that this device could eventually change hyperlocal marketing as we know it. What are some of the ways that they might change the franchising industry? Here are some of the speculations Ken Colburn has:

1. Training. The device could reduce the cost of creating video training libraries. With the ability to record high-definition videos from the first person perspective, training videos no longer need to be filmed by an expensive videographer. First-person training videos could capture point-of-sale interactions. Just by having seasoned employees wear Glass for a couple of hours, you could have a bunch of great, real footage for new employees. Trainees could also wear the glasses during their first few shifts, with the manual or reminders available literally right in front of their eyes.

 

2. Field Support. Glass makes it easy to gather information, complete with time and date stamps. Field support teams could quite easily document their visits with photographs, videos and verbal notes that can be backed up to Google’s cloud resources. The possibilities are almost endless.

 

3. Marketing.  Here’s where the money is at. Apps on Glass can alert users on local points of interest based on their location. For example, an app called Field Trip currently makes a sound every time you walk past a historical site. This technology could help franchises bring advertisements and coupons closer than ever.

 

While Glass is nowhere near its prime yet, as the technology evolves, I can expect we will see big things. The device’s technology offers a whole new platform for franchises to utilize. What do you think is in its future?

Leave thoughts below!