Tag: ifa

Senator Marco Rubio to Address IFA

Marco Rubio

The International Franchise Association has just announced that Senator Marco Rubio of Florida will join an impressive lineup of keynote speakers at the IFA Public Affairs Conference in Washington, DC on September 17.

Mr. Rubio represents a new generation of political leader who will be moving our country forward and is also very hard to cast in a predefined label. Like Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, Mr. Rubio is a post-label politician; they’re pro-business and economically conservative, but they are by no means part of the old establishment when it comes to other issues.

I don’t know if Marco Rubio will be president someday (we can’t get that lucky) but it’s a sure thing that he will be a leader on many issues that affect American business, especially franchises and small business owners. From taxes to jobs to immigration reform to healthcare, Mr. Rubio will be a constant voice of reason and logic for decades to come.

If you’re a member of the IFA, you can register for the event now and sign up to meet with your member of Congress to discuss these important issues as well!

  

FranCamp 2013 By The Numbers

FranCamp_logo_transparent (3)
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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

 

5 Things to Prepare for IFA 2013

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)

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The Tasti D-Lite Way

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!

  

Entrepreneur: Social Media for Franchisors

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… 

Franchise Events

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

IFA 2012 Tweetup

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!

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Tweetvite IFA2012

WKRP: Thanksgiving Turkey Drop

Arthur Carlson WKRP
“As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.”

 

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.

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
-Jack Monson

Oh, the humanity!
-Les Nessman

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