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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/13/2008 2:54:43 PM
Posts: 2,
Visits: 4
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| We provide our franchisees with an individual web site, currently not serachable, with an individual URL and tied in to our locator system (we have protecteed territories). In the P&P Manual and franchise agreement, we prohibit franchise owners from maintaining their own web sites or otherwise listing on the web. However, we are finding that many of our franchisees are creating FaceBook, LinkedIn, and other web based networking and marketing accounts. Does anyone have experience with these kinds of situations - to regulate or not to regulate, etc? Has anyone adjusted policies to allow creation of Facebook and similar sites? Thanks for whatever experiences/advice you can share.
Dick Deerin
INTERIORS by Decorating Den
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/14/2008 3:03:12 PM
Posts: 1,
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I am reasonably sure no franchisor will be able to completely control the use of the Internet by their franchisees. Even if prohibited according to the FDD and/or agreement, you would probably spend a great deal of time and money in litigation, and that is not the best thing for any franchisor or franchisee, especially during this economy. With the many different social and business networks it might be a great way for franchisees to gain business, build relationships and drive recognition for the brand. Personally I have found LinkedIn very useful in broadening my professional network and using it for career advancement as I am now a free agent. Perhaps you can investigate and have discussions with those franchisees that are using these networks successfully and begin to "regulate" them in such a way that proves beneficial to all. Remember, many franchisees have created new products, services and marketing methods that enhance the brand rather than dilute it. Channel the franchisees entrepreneurial spirit for the betterment of the brand, and use these new tools to build the brand. Steve Trego 16 year management veteran of the franchise industry in marketing, operations and development.
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/17/2010 3:00:35 PM
Posts: 7,
Visits: 10
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| About 5 years ago, I reasearched the feasability of creating a franchise website with sub domains for each franchisee. This would allow for global marketing and SEO, but would also allow certain individual SEO programs locally. We implemented this site in 2006 and the site has grown considerably. With the use of an admin portal, each franchisee has access to some of the content for their franchise, will corporate maintains the majority of content control. That is not to say that the franchisee cannnot change their product descriptions and pictures as we perform this on request. This process allows us to control consistency in content but also give individualality to the franchisees pages, to reflect the different products and services available in their territory. In this admin section, we have added marketing features to allow each franchisee to add coupons, sidebars to give attention to specific massages, control of testimonials for their territory, pickup leads from the website and add pictures to a product photo gallery. The ultimate goal is to allow as much SEO on the global level, but still allow some flexibility to the franchisees "Local' needs.
Jamie R. Nelson
Franchise Performance Director
The Screenmobile Corporation
jamie@screenmobile.com
(760) 343-3800 Ext 113
(760) 343-7543 FAX
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