How Social Media is Developing Franchise Industry

Social media is a phrase being tossed around a lot these days, but it can sometimes be difficult to answer the question of what is social media.

Social media refers to interaction among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks and the social media marketing or Franchise refers to the process of gaining traffic or attention through social media sites. Social media marketing programs usually is the process of marketing through social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business mode.  In other words, it is the development of a distribution channel through the replication of a proven operational system. Today franchising is the prior direction in the development of the chain of World Class. Particular demands to these services are formed in light of the rate of economic and social development.

The franchisor’s success ultimately is directly influenced by the success of the franchisee’s business.  The franchisee has a greater incentive than a direct employee because he or she has a direct stake in the business and therefore will most likely run the business with greater profitability and success. 
However, it must be noted that, except in the US, Canada and now in China  where there are explicit Federal and State/Province laws covering franchise expansion, most of the world recognizes the business of offering a ‘franchise’ but rarely makes legal provisions for it.
Where there is no specific law, a franchise model is considered a distribution system, in which case, each country would have a set of rules and regulations that cover marketing processes and guidelines for how a franchise distribution system should be established.

“The biggest problem with the term “social media” is that it isn’t media in the traditional sense. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and all the others I don’t have the word count to mention aren’t media; they are platforms for interaction and networking. All the traditional media — print, broadcast, search, and so on — provide platforms for delivery of ads near and around relevant content. Social media are platforms for interaction and relationships, not content and ads.”(Brian)

Social media marketing is the process of marketing through social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

What is social media, and is social media actually media in the traditional sense of the word?  This is the question Jeffrey and Brian Eisenberg take on and try to decisively answer at their marketing firm's company blog.

“Social media platforms are quickly becoming an important part of franchise companies’ marketing strategies, especially in a time of lower marketing budgets,” says Alisa Harrison, vice president, communications and marketing at the International Franchise Association (IFA)

Moreover, consumers are beginning to expect companies to have a social media presence. “Ninety-three percent of Americans expect companies to have a social media presence and are using [social media] to participate in conversations, engage with brands, and find job opportunities,” says Gini Dietrich, CEO of Arment Dietrich, a communications firm specializing in franchise and business services.

Franchise companies are delivering on that expectation. Church's Chicken tempted fans to join its Twitter feed by giving away $1 to every person who signed up during a 30-day period. Pizza Hut went on a hunt for a “twintern” -- an intern who could use the Twitter lingo to keep fans up-to-date on Pizza Hut happenings. And Papa John’s launched its first Facebook-exclusive promotion in March.

            (http://www.allbusiness.com/food-beverage/restaurants-food-service-restaurants-     fast/12357153-1.html)

Stay informed by staying active is the catchword of the day.

Sara Wilson of   AllBusiness.com .also    quotes Harrison as saying  that
“Social media is not an exact science, so to engage, you need to jump in,”. “It is such an evolving medium that it is hard to know all the answers before launching. Franchisors need to accept the idea that this is a ‘learn as you go’ frontier of communications and marketing, much like the Internet was not too long ago.”

The same  is  true  of  the use  of Twitter  in the 2013 Elections  of  5 Indian States’  Learned  and  enlightened  politicians  have  benefited  greatly  by  use  of  TWITTER  in  campaign.

Social networking offers many benefits. It is now easier than ever to keep in contact with old friends and colleagues. The professional networking site LinkedIn even allows users to request introductions to business people who are known to their contacts. The potential of this enhanced connectivity is huge; whereas once you would be left sifting through business cards after a networking event, trying to remember details about each person, you can now easily look up a connection’s credentials and business interests on their social media profile. ... Read more this article at: http://www.businesses2sell.com.au/blogs/2013/12/how-social-media-is-developing-franchise-indu.php

This article is written by Mr. Sp Sethi works as a Copywriting and On-line Marketing Manager at businesses2sell