Team of 12 Franchise Experts Evaluates 200 Websites, Announces 2nd Place Winner Sport Clips

More than 200 franchise brand websites were reviewed by industry judges, and 75 were recognized as best-in-class. Each of these categories were meticulously evaluated by a panel of 12 judges and given a score on a ten-point scale; the website rankings are based on a composite average of these scores. Sport Clips* was a best of the best, tied for 2nd overall with a score of 7.58.

The judging panel was comprised of industry experts: Sean Fitzgerald, of 1851 Franchise; Nick Powills, of No Limit Agency*; Batchelor, CEO and Jack Monson, Director of Digital Strategy, of Qiigo; Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review; Craig Slavin, CEO of Franchise Navigator; Jamshaid Hashmi, CEO of ClickTecs; Kay Ainsley, Managing Director of MSA Worldwide; Keith Gerson, President of FranConnect; Stan Friedman, President of FRM Solutions; Steve Beagelman, CEO of SMB Franchise Advisors*; and Todd Bingham, President of Pinnacle. Each judge was tasked with judging hundreds of submissions, from which they awarded 75 standout franchise development websites with a gold, silver or bronze designation.

The judges had this to say about Sport Clips’ franchise development site:

Bingham: The SportClips site is visually appealing and a quick inspection lets me know it has an abundance of content. Once I visit the individual pages, I have the information that I am looking for and a clear direction on what to do next.

Ainsley: The photos and copy reflected the culture of the concept. Again, simple design, easy to navigate and presented the information in a way that would make me want to know more. The use of their awards and accolades was also eye-catching.

Hashmi: Clean website and the slider offers a unique way to represent their differentiating points.

Slavin: Clearly articulated value proposition. The “whys” are answered right up front.

Friedman: Very pleasing to the eye, a ton of great content laid out in a way that makes you want to keep reading.

Beagelman: Tons of information, good movement on the site, multiple graphical formats, and a strong static menu.

Rowan: Nice video right up front. Lots of great testimonials, supported by list of awards to show franchisee satisfaction and validation. The "A Day in the Life" feature is unique and also gives candidates a clear and easy to understand snapshot of what to expect. The site has a unique look and layout that is still easy to navigate. The baseball image is consistent with branding without being boring. Same with CTA: "The Ball is in Your Court".