1851

Gone are the days of franchisors being able to invest in a consumer website, add a franchise development page and call it a day -- letting it sit for years. Today, franchisors have to be nimble with their sites, as best practices continue to fluctuate, as does the ways would-be franchisees perform their due diligence.

Today&rsquo;s best practices, as researched through the evaluation of 200 franchise websites by 12 judges from franchise technology and consulting firms, are to have a separate URL for consumer and franchise sales purposes. This requires, in many cases, two separate build outs and a larger budget to ensure the brand is best positioned to acquire online franchise leads. The challenge for franchisors, especially of the emerging category (those with fewer than 100 units), is finding the budget room to properly invest in this process.

Even with the costs associated, experts in franchise development and in helping concepts become a franchise, agree that the franchise brand needs to have a great site built out from day one.

&ldquo;The very first thing you should invest in and continue to invest in is your development website,&rdquo; said <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancfitzgerald/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=advice-for-emerging-franchisors-for-when-to-invest-in-a-franchise-development-website-2703197" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sean Fitzgerald</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://nolimitagency.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=advice-for-emerging-franchisors-for-when-to-invest-in-a-franchise-development-website-2703197" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chief Development Strategist</a> 1851. &ldquo;A bad website is the &lsquo;silent killer&rsquo; for franchise development. Candidates easily get turned off by bad websites and the lost opportunity is nearly impossible to track.&rdquo;

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-beagelman-58535210/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=advice-for-emerging-franchisors-for-when-to-invest-in-a-franchise-development-website-2703197" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Steve Beagelman</a>, (CEO of <a href="https://smbfranchising.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=advice-for-emerging-franchisors-for-when-to-invest-in-a-franchise-development-website-2703197" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SMB Franchise Advisors</a>, says that costs have decreased over the years, thus eliminating part of the obstacle of a franchisor launching a development-focused site.

&ldquo;The costs of a separate URL and website development have become so affordable, it&rsquo;s silly not to invest in that from the very beginning,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Plus, a separate URL will secure much better SEO for their franchising site, and with the increase in candidates &lsquo;finding&rsquo; brands on the web, this is very important.&rdquo;

Kay Ainsley, Managing Director of <a href="http://www.msaworldwide.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=advice-for-emerging-franchisors-for-when-to-invest-in-a-franchise-development-website-2703197" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MSA Worldwide</a>,&nbsp;says that while some brands choose to use different names in the URL, using the franchise brand will help with search, especially for franchise prospects in the initial stages of brand research.

&ldquo;I would also use the brand in the URL rather than a holding company or corporate name,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;If a prospect is looking for a franchise they probably will look for the brand name.&rdquo;

Advice for Emerging Franchisors for When to Invest in a Franchise Development Website

1851 Franchise

How much should a franchise Website cost and when should you build one

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

advice-for-emerging-franchisors-for-when-to-invest-in-a-franchise-development-website

Image Studios

image of studios salon suites stylists business owners

Finding Freedom: Why Beauty and Wellness Professionals Build Their Dream Careers With IMAGE Studios

benefits-image-studios-salon-suites

IMAGE Studios Offers a Scalable, Real Estate-Focused Franchise Opportunity in an Industry Projected to More Than Double Within a Decade

image-studios-franchise-opportunity

ServiceMaster Restore

ServiceMaster Restore - Disaster Response - 1851 Franchise

When Disaster Strikes, ServiceMaster Restore Moves

servicemaster-restore-disaster-response-carmen-coleman

Children's Lighthouse

How Children’s Lighthouse Stands Out Among Other Children’s Education, Childcare, and Daycare Franchises

how-childrens-lighthouse-stands-out-among-other-childrens-education-childcare-and-daycare-franchises

The Growth Coach

The Growth Coach Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

the-growth-coach-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Design with American and Federal Reserve flags against light blue background

Federal Reserve Expected To Cut Rates by Quarter Point, a Move That Could Boost Franchise Growth

fed-rate-cut-boosts-franchise-growth

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

Mike Revak - Chief Business Officer - Sky Zone - Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Mike Revak — President and Chief Business Officer, Sky Zone

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-mike-revak-chief-business-officer-sky-zone

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Brittany Knollmiller — Head of Marketing, Yogurtland

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-brittany-knollmiller-head-of-marketing-yogurtland

BooXkeeping: Making Bookkeeping Cool for Franchisors, Franchisees, and Small Business Owners

booxkeeping-making-bookkeeping-cool-for-franchisors-franchisees-and-small-business-owners

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Advice for Emerging Franchisors for When to Invest in a Franchise Development Website

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS