Tag Archives: ifa

FranCamp 2013 By The Numbers

18 Mar

FranCamp_logo_transparent (3)
 .

FranCamp – the Social Media conference for The Franchising Industry – is happening May 14 and 15 at the Loews Atlanta Hotel. I am pleased to once again be part of the team organizing FranCamp, this time with the IFA!

If you haven’t yet registered for FranCamp, do so today as space is limited. And now, the numbers…

Number of days:  2

Speakers / sessions scheduled:  20

Education Credits you will toward your CFE accreditation:  300

Number of times in the next two months Paul Segreto and I will make a joke that begins: “This one time, at FranCamp…”:  7

Cost: $395

Contacts you will make while networking: up to you!

 

Register Now2

 

Tags: , , , ,

5 Things to Prepare for IFA 2013

31 Jan

2013IFAlogo

The International Franchise Association’s annual convention returns to Las Vegas in February 16 – 20. As you get ready for the show, here’s a list of gear you’ll want to remember.

What to bring:

1. Business cards. Yes, we still use those. No one really wants to tap phones to exchange contact information because that’s just weird.

2. Hand sanitizer. You really don’t want this flu bug that’s taking people out of work for a week at a time. It’s killing our economy faster than Obamacare, which is ironic.

Stop by the Engage121 booth in the exhibit hall. We’ll have plenty to share. In fact, let’s all bathe in the stuff.

3. A pen. Because, no, I don’t have an extra pen. You would probably just get flu germs on it.

4. Your power cords. A colleague of mine forgot his and headed off to find the Apple Store in Las Vegas during the 2011 IFA. We’re still waiting for him to return.

5. All of the cash you plan on using. Nothing good happens after going to an ATM in a Las Vegas casino.
  

A few things to do before the show:

1. Download the IFA Mobile App

2. RSVP to the IFA Tweetup on Saturday 2/16

3. Sign up for The IFA’s new social network, FranSocial

4. Like Engage121 on Facebook. The Engage121 team will be posting live updates all week during the show.

5. Get a flu shot! (see above)

..

.. 

Tags: , , , , , ,

The Tasti D-Lite Way

27 Aug

I am really enjoying this great new book by James Amos and BJ Emerson about Social Media Marketing. The Tasti D-Lite Way is hot off the press and definitely worth a look by all marketers.

Tasti D-Lite
To say it’s a book about social media in the franchise industry only tells part of the story!

This book isn’t just a Franchise system. It’s a true American business success story about how to build a brand.

It’s not just about Social Media. It’s about creating a culture, a product, a team, and stories your customers want to share. As we often have discussed, social media is just the channel where those stories are shared. Do yourself a favor and steal as many ideas from Jim and BJ as you can!

  

Tags: , , , , , ,

Entrepreneur: Social Media for Franchisors

25 Jun

Thanks to Entrepreneur Magazine for giving me the opportunity to discuss Social Media and the Franchise industry in the July issue!

Check out my interview here:

The Biggest Lessons Franchisors Learned About Social Media

Yes, they put that Zuckerburg guy on the cover….maybe next time… 

Tags: , , , ,

Franchise Events

21 Feb

After participating in the best IFA Convention ever last week, you may be looking for more franchise events where you can continue the conversations. I have found a terrific source called SPEAK! which has created a free calendar of franchising events. Here’s a sample for March:

 

And, here’s some background on SPEAK! with contact info – check them out…

SPEAK!’s 2012 Franchise Industry Events Calendar

Have you ever wondered where you might find all the major franchise and restaurant industry events in one, easy-to-reference place? Well, our friends at SPEAK! have once again created a must-have document for anyone in the franchise industry.

http://www.franchisespeakers.com/2012-franchise-industry-events-calendar/#

And if you don’t know SPEAK!, you should! They are the only speakers bureau to serve the franchise industry exclusively. If you are looking for speakers or trainers for your next event, SPEAK! should be your first call 720-304-3710 or info@franchisespeakers.com

Tags: , , ,

IFA 2012 Tweetup

3 Jan

The International Franchise Association‘s annual conference is just a few weeks away and the social media discussion is already top of mind for many attendees. With keynotes from top social media influencer Guy Kawasaki and leading broadcast media host Bill O’Reilly, communications and particularly social engagement will bet the biggest topic of the conference this year.

I’m glad to once again be organizing the unofficial Tweetup with my friend Deb Evans to kickoff the first night with some informal networking and discussion of social media with franchise pros. Our 3rd Annual IFA Tweetup will take place in the lobby bar of the Orlando World Center Marriott on Saturday just after the Taste of Franchising. RSVP today below and please share with your colleagues using the hashtag #ifatwtup!

.. 

Tweetvite IFA2012

Tags: , , , , , , ,

WKRP: Thanksgiving Turkey Drop

21 Nov
Arthur Carlson WKRP

"As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

Here’s an update from last year’s post about Gordon Jump, turkeys, and a new list of pros for whom I am thankful this year.
But first, let’s watch a clip of the WKRP turkey drop!

Several years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Gordon Jump, aka Arthur “Big Guy” Carlson of WKRP in Cincinnati. He was passing through town on a PR tour for Maytag (he was the Maytag Repairman in the commercial campaign at the time) and did a live studio interview at the radio station I was programming.

What a pro! Mr. Jump was a PR person’s AND a media outlet’s perfect interviewee: he promoted the Maytag event for which he was the guest, and also was open to reminiscing about his WKRP glory days. It was near Thanksgiving, so he gave us his best on-air recreation of his classic quote from the WKRP turkey massacre episode. He was thankful for having such a good run and for still acting and portraying fun characters.

In honor of the late Mr. Jump’s spirit of thankfulness for lasting in his chosen industry, here’s a new list of just a few of the folks in the Franchise industry and specifically involved in Social Media Marketing with whom I am thankful for collaborating in 2011 and recommend following in social sphere:

@debce

@bj_emerson

@brandjournalist

@PaulSegreto

@franchise411

@akstout18

@jennimacdonald

@LorriW

@robin_ce

@joematty

@justinthesouth

@faithfulpr

@pamdemoniumpr

@marketing4mom

@goddardsystems

@johnboyens

@greglacour

@josephcaruso

@jeremyladuque

@davemurr

@jbgrafx

And everyone from #Francamp!


Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
-Jack Monson

Oh, the humanity!
-Les Nessman

.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Social Media Conferences 2012

1 Nov

The number of Social Media conferences continues to grow each quarter. What’s growing even faster is the number of conferences, summits, and conventions that are industry-specific that are now completely social media marketing focused. I am continuing to pull together as many as possible into one compiled social media conference list and have updated it well into 2012.

If you are organizing, speaking at, sponsoring, or attending a show that is not on this list, please comment here or email me at jmonson@engage121.com and I will add it!

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Where Is The Next FranCamp?

24 Oct

FranCamp

Franchisors, franchisees, agencies, and suppliers all had them same initial feedback as soon as Franchise Social Media Camp – FranCamp – wrapped on Saturday:

When is the next FranCamp? And, where?!?

The FranCamp organizing team got together immediately to discuss, but we want to hear from the Franchising Community as to what areas of the country make the most sense for busy marketers and development pros. Please take a minute to tell us your choice for FranCamp cities.

Click Image to Take Poll and See Results

 

The desire of so many attendees to continue this discussion may have been based on the tight focus of all speakers and presenters. The discussions were neither too introductory nor too technical.  All presentations and roundtable discussions were geared to giving everyone usable social media tactics to put in place immediately.

This was a refreshing change from the IFA’s recent attempts at having social media panels and presentations at the annual convention, which were very elementary for many franchise marketers.

All of the presentations from FranCamp Nashville were streamed live on USTREAM and available to you for viewing now. These include:

Deb Evans, Computer Explorers – Engaging Your Company

BJ Emerson, Tasti D-Lite – Social Loyalty Programs

Thomas Scott, Brand Journalists – Business Blogs

Nate Griffin, Man of Action and Aimee Romero, Love and Science – Organic SEO

Joe Mathews, Franchise Performance Group – Social Franchise Development

Jack Monson, Engage121 – Twitter Tactics

Paul Segreto, franchisEssentials – LinkedIn Strategies

Jennifer MacDonald, WIN Home Inspection – Online Videos & YouTube

AK Stout, Saying It Social – Facebook Strategies

Ashley Betzendahl, Goddard Systems and Robin Scott, Computer Explorers – Franchisor and Franchisee Q&A


One final note – several attendees have asked to see the Engage121 case studies I mentioned. Please see links here for case studies of franchise system Edible Arrangements and iconic brand Amtrak.

Thanks to everyone for their time and attention. See you in whatever city you want to bring FranCamp to next!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Franchising Equals Jobs

16 Sep

IFA

In advance of the Franchise Social Media Summit next week and October’s FranCamp, both of which will offer advanced discussion on who franchise systems can leverage social media to grow their business, here’s the latest from the franchising front. My colleague Jack Serpa of Engage121 participated in this week’s International Franchise Association Public Affairs Conference and offers this guest post as a refresher on the importance of the franchise industry to the US economy. 

Franchising Equals Jobs

If you believe that economic recovery is dependent on job creation, you’ll be both impressed and frustrated with the impact the franchise industry holds in the balance.   

I just returned from Washington DC where the International Franchise Association held their annual IFA Public Affairs Conference.   

Consider that one out of every eight jobs in the private sector is with a franchise company. When a local Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins opens in your area, 30 new jobs are created.  There are 828,000 franchise businesses in theUS, employing 9.1 million people who are paid $304.4 billion in direct payroll. That creates $468.5 billion to GDP.

It gets bigger.  Each franchise establishment needs supplies, services and professional support.  Roll that up nationwide and franchising fuels 17.4 million jobs,  $707.6 billion in payroll, which is 9.7% of all private/non-farm payroll, and $1.2 TRILLION to GDP

Now comes the frustration.   So jobs grow when Franchising grows, right?  To start a franchise business, a local business person (the employer) needs capital funding.  The funding is not coming through. No new lending means no new jobs.

Ken Walker, the Chairman and CEO of Driven Brands (owners of MAACO, Meineke and EconoLube) said his company has 100 people signed up to open new franchises. They can’t get funding.  Karen Powell, CEO and Founder of Décor For You, told me she has two new franchisees inPennsylvania, but the banks aren’t coming forth with the capital.

What’s being done? 

The IFA’s Public Affairs Conference is a well-orchestrated lobbying blitz where owners of both local franchisees and corporate franchisors meet with their US Senators and Representatives.  After great networking and instructional events at the JW Marriott on Pennsylvania Avenue, the IFA literally buses this franchise army to the Capitol.  With pre-scheduled meetings in the office of senators and congressmen, the franchise army presses the case for easing capital lending to franchisees to fuel economic growth.

The power of the purse strings in our nation’s banks can stymie or stimulate our economy.  If you agree, send a tweet or post or a good ol’ fashion letter to your local congressional representative.  For contact information on your local congressman or senator, go to http://www.congress.org. They work for you and you pay them.  Be heard!

Tags: , , ,

← Older Entries

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 41 other followers

%d bloggers like this: