1851

In the last few decades, the approach to franchise development has been slowly shifting from traditional marketing methods to a focus on digital spaces, especially in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. ?According to a special edition of the <a href="https://cmosurvey.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/The_CMO_Survey-Highlights-and_Insights_Report-June-2020.pdf?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-ultimate-franchise-sales-website-checklist-2717362" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CMO survey</a> released in June 2020, the pandemic has increased not only marketers' focus on digital opportunities across industries, but also customers' openness to these offerings.The strategy may differ based on brand and budget, but the franchise development website serves as the central point for all digital marketing efforts and is key to a brand’s growth and success. The main goal of a franchise sales website is <a href="https://resources.madisonmarketing.com/what-makes-a-great-franchise-website?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-ultimate-franchise-sales-website-checklist-2717362" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to make sure the franchisor is just as prepared to compete in a digital environment as in their physical stores.</a>Here are the top three ways to create an effective and engaging franchise development site.<h4>First Impressions</h4>A website that makes a good impression will be easily accessible, user-friendly from a design and technical standpoint, have exceptional site performance, strong SEO and have mobiel accessibility.&nbsp;In order to cut through the clutter and compel candidates to engage, franchise development sites <a href="https://www.franchising.com/articles/the_keys_to_designing_a_great_franchise_website.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-ultimate-franchise-sales-website-checklist-2717362" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">must optimize for SEO to stand out over competitors clamoring for attention</a>. People want to have a good-looking site, but they also want one that is set up in a way that loads quickly. Page speed performance contributes to SEO — Google doesn’t reward slow-loading pages — drives up user bounce rate. In addition, FD sites shouldn’t just provide a great desktop experience. Mobile users need to be able to access the same functionalities, such as access to validation information, testimonials and more.<h4>Informative Content</h4>Informative content should be motivating, and it should include calls to action and reasons to buy now. Franchise sites that excel with their content tell <a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchisedevelopmentawards/how-to-drive-more-leads-through-your-website-2703382#brand-latest-stories">compelling stories that are specifically designed to drive action</a>. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the question of “Why Now?” has also become increasingly significant and should be addressed clearly.On franchise development sites, the messaging should position the franchise opportunity clearly. Tap into language that showcases the financial value proposition and the investment required to join the system. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/10-common-mistakes-made-by-franchisors-when-creating-a-franchise-development-website-2703183#brand-latest-stories">Don’t make your candidate hunt for that information.</a> Still, when it comes to engaging content, brands have to find the right balance between sharing too much and under-sharing. Instead of just relying on the data to tell the story, high-quality testimonial videos, photos or interactive content can showcase the types of owners who are a great fit for the brand to validate the franchise opportunity.&nbsp;<h4>Ease of Use</h4>Because inquiry forms are the vehicle by which franchise brands receive relevant information from prospective franchisees, their presence and quality are critical. Any critical information like inquiring forms should be easy to locate and complete.The development website should provide a simple, navigable form so that prospects can quickly tell franchisors that they are interested. It should also provide high-level details of costs so that under-qualified candidates don’t waste the franchisor’s time and qualified candidates know the specifics of what they are getting into. The form to request more information should be easily accessible on every page and easy to view.&nbsp;Overall, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchisedevelopmentawards/optimizing-franchise-development-websites-for-conversion-rates-2710029#brand-latest-stories">franchise development websites should focus on securing high conversions on qualified leads</a>. Applications will determine the quality of the content and the site’s ability to attract the correct buyer for the brand. To achieve this, the site should tell the brand story and describe the brand’s business model, clearly sharing qualifying details like culture and start-up costs while still encouraging prospects to initiate a conversation.With effective first impressions, useful content and ease of use, franchise development websites can become the starting point of the franchise development process and serve as the primary entry point into the brand.Related stories:<ul><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-should-you-budget-for-a-franchise-sales-website-2714208#stories">How Should You Budget for a Franchise Sales Website?</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-to-measure-the-success-of-a-franchise-sales-website-2714329">How to Measure the Success of a Franchise Sales Website</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/10-tips-for-a-killer-franchise-sales-website-2712559">10 Tips For a Killer Franchise Sales Website</a></li></ul>

Optimizing Franchise Development Websites | 1851 Franchise

1851 Franchise

It’s time to dive deep into the strategies used to create successful sales websites.

The Ultimate Franchise Sales Website Checklist

the-ultimate-franchise-sales-website-checklist

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue’s Home Maintenance Plans: Peace of Mind for Homeowners

trublues-home-maintenance-plans-peace-of-mind-for-homeowners

Caring Transitions

Caring Transitions Targets Peoria, Illinois, for Franchise Growth

caring-transitions-targets-peoria-illinois-for-franchise-growth

Caring Transitions Celebrates a Strong Start to 2025 With 19 New Franchise Sales and Momentum-Building Training Events

caring-transitions-celebrates-a-strong-start-to-2025-with-19-new-franchise-sales-and-momentum-building-training-events

Right at Home

Right at Home 30th Anniversary in Home Care with Right at Home Logo

Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence and Future Innovations in Home Care

celebrating-30-years-of-excellence-and-future-innovations-in-home-care

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

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 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

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Lumin Lash Franchise Deep Dive - Costs, Fees, Profit and Data - 1851 Franchise

Lumin Lash Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

lumin-lash-franchise-deep-dive

HTeaO Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-hteaos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Photo of Happinest Brands vans and teams standing together

Happinest Brands Closes Strong Q1 With Strategic Growth, System-Wide Enhancements

happinest-brands-q1-2025-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

The Ultimate Franchise Sales Website Checklist

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS