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Evaluating Franchise Marketing Programs

Written by: Rick Bisio

Article Overview: An important part of any franchise system is the marketing program. Is the franchisor able to help you predictably create demand with a proven marketing approach. This article will help you determine if the franchisor is providing real value in regard to marketing programs.

Evaluating Franchise Marketing Programs

One of the several benefits of joining a franchise is the marketing that is made possible when you’re part of a large organization. As I say in Chapter 6 of my franchise book, The Educated Franchisee, the marketing power of a franchise system delivers the same advantages as a business with a dozen locations in a market. The franchisor is significantly more efficient than any independent franchisee can be. Professional marketing materials are expensive and valuable, so having materials provided by the franchisor is a key resource that works to your advantage.

The marketing should drive clients to the franchisees without having to hire and manage an outside marketing firm. A uniform marketing message helps establish the franchise brand across the marketing area. Because all the franchisees pay into the marketing fund, the franchisor can hire a strong marketing firm and afford larger media buys that an individual franchisee probably could not afford. And because a large franchisor has enough marketing volume, the franchisor can negotiate national pricing agreements and deliver saving to the local franchisees.

So Why is the National Marketing Program often Problematic?
The marketing program is usually an area of difference of opinion between franchisors and franchisees. Occasionally, the conflict is warranted. Many times, it’s not.

Look at this.
• Marketing programs are funded by mandatory contributions made by franchisees. Some franchisors demand a fixed amount; others charge a percentage founded on the gross sales of the unit, but either way, it’s required of all franchisees.

• Although we all see advertisements, direct mail pieces, etc., most of us actually have no idea what goes into creating, executing and monitoring these programs. . But we think we do.

• It’s always challenging to spend money on something you have little or no control over. Perhaps especially hard for the entrepreneurial individuals who gravitate to franchise ownership.

• It’s easy to second guess, and consider the expense, without seeing the absolute necessity of a strong franchise marketing program.

That said, marketing constitutes an art as well as a science. Some programs are efficient and some are not, so you do want to do your best to evaluate the program and make sure it will work before you sign any franchise documents!

Here are some questions to ask the franchisor:
• How much marketing will the franchisor carry in your market? How are marketing dollars allocated? Ad dollars go a lot further in rural Wisconsin than they do in New York City.

• Is your market a typical market? If the majority of the materials are targeted to a certain demographic, and your market is constituted of a different demographic, how will that be handled?

• Are franchisees responsible for any marketing, and if so, what components? Is the cost of those components included in the mandatory marketing contribution?

• What percentage of the marketing budget is spent on image advertising vs. call to action advertising?

• What elements of the program are most effective?

• How is the marketing program evaluated, and how often? Are results shared with franchisees?

• Is the marketing program fully transparent? Will the franchisor provide you with an annual accounting of both the income and the expenses of the national advertising program?

• Ask the franchisor if s/he will send you copies of their ads and promotional pieces during your franchise investigation. Most franchisors will send items that are in the public domain.

Here are some questions to ask the franchisees:
• Do they keep track of how their customers discover them? If so, what percentage is from the marketing program (vs. word of mouth, driving by, etc.)?

• Which tactics are the most effective? Electronic marketing? Television ads? Direct mail?

• What things - if any - would the franchisee modify about the marketing program?

The bottom line.
Maybe the easiest measure is this: If you talk to a number of franchisees, and most are unhappy with the marketing program (for reasons other than cost), you will probably be unhappy as well.

Conversely, if most franchisees find the program is working (even if they consider it costs too much) it is probably an effective franchise marketing program that will be an important factor in your future success!

Related Articles
  What Do Franchisors Look For in Potential Franchisees?
  Financial Analysis for Evaluating a Franchise opportunity
  Franchise information that is pertinent to your investigation is disclosed in the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC).
  Hiring a Franchise Lawyer
  TEN FRANCHISES POISED FOR GROWTH

Article Tags: advertisements, difference of opinion, direct mail, entrepreneurial individuals, franchise system, franchisees, franchisor, franchisors, gross sales, gue, independent franchisee, large organization, mail pieces, marketing firm, marketing materials, marketing power, marketing program, marketing programs, national marketing, professional marketing



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