The 8 | May 25, 2018

1. Frantastic: We’re starting this week off with some Frantastic news — and it’s not just the fact that Sean Fitzgerald is back as a special co-host. 1851 is heading to the International Franchise Expo in New York next week, and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone there! If you’re going to the event, feel free to swing by booth 723 to say hi or be interviewed. For those of you who won’t be in attendance, you can catch our live stream of “The 8” all day next Thursday, May 31 on Facebook.

2. Franlebrity: We’re shaking things up this week — our latest Franlebrity is someone who operates outside of the franchising industry. 1851 spoke with SEO consultant Jim Milan to break down the top five SEO tips for franchise brands, including keyword research, the optimization of location landing pages and encouraging consumer reviews. Head to 1851 to check out the full article and learn more about the steps that brands can take to boost their organic traffic.

3. Frash Money: We talk about this a lot on “The 8,” but in order for brands to make Frash Money, they need to be ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. That’s why 1851 rounded up five ways that technology is revolutionizing the industry, from KPI tracking to mobile apps and online ordering. As technology continues to evolve at a rapid rate, it’s crucial for franchisors to proactively stay on top of these trends.

4. Frant of the Week: It’s the hottest topic in franchising — how can brands get more leads? In his latest Frant, No Limit Agency* CEO Nick Powills takes on that question by breaking down what he would do if he ran a franchise company. From a lead standpoint, it’s important for franchisors to remember that franchisees are the best salespeople. And from a budgeting standpoint, Powills recommends creating content across multiple mediums and putting it in as many places as possible.

5. Franch Forward: Smaller brands that are looking to Franch Forward don’t need to limit themselves to domestic target markets. A recent article in Forbes breaks down how international development can be a great opportunity for emerging concepts that are looking to grow, especially when competition in the U.S. is heating up. As long as a brand has a good system, strong corporate staff and working capital, international development can be advantageous.

6. Fran Funny: What do you call having your grandma on speed dial? Instagram.

7. Franspiration: “The idea that more leads equal more deals is an old way of thinking that some franchisors can’t shake. That philosophy falls victim to the law of diminishing returns.” - Scott Thompson, Senior Vice President of Global Franchise Development for Tutor Doctor

8. Franemies vs. Frands: Consumers — and prospective franchisees — have made a new Frand. Since launching 14 months ago, Facebook has announced that its Stories feature has 150 million daily active users. And now, because of that success, Facebook is going to test five- to 15-second video ads in the U.S., Mexico and Brazil throughout these stories. But in order to successfully pull off ads in Stories, Facebook is going to have to integrate them in a seamless way that’s similar to sponsored content that appears in feeds.