IFA Annual Convention Live: Franchise Development and Social Media

Franchise Development Summit Audience Still searching for the winning strategy

SPONSOREDUpdated 8:08AM • 03/05/16

For the last few years, Social Media has continued to be a main focus of the IFA Convention – especially as it relates to franchise development. Clearly, the jury is still out.

One audience participant said, “I am still skeptical about Social Media for lead generation, as our brand is a b-to-b brand. I get why we would use LinkedIn to attract leads – salespeople who could be real prospects – but why Facebook?”

Quickly, Jack Monson, Global Director, Manalto Social Media, replied, “Because people still sell brands.”

The panel continued to reply on Paul Pickett’s, VP of Franchise Development for Wild Birds Unlimited*, personal approach, in which he constantly posts photos of him with his franchisees – shopping, riding horses, living life.

The panel continued to point back to an integrated approach seemingly working the best – which included a little bit of everything: Content, Social Media, advertising and PR.

The audience was clearly still puzzled by what the truth of Social Media is for franchise development. While the jury is still out, much of the audience seemed to agree that Social Media needs to be a part of the process.

*This brand is a paid partner of 1851 Franchise. For more information on paid partnerships please click here.