Leveraging the best marketing strategies for business owners is crucial for building brand reputation and generating leads to expand your business. One of the top benefits of franchising with a company like Neighborly® is that it comes with access to an established brand, proven business model, ongoing training, and marketing support. Marketing support can ensure that as a business owner you have what you need to generate leads and grow your business in your area. More specifically, local digital advertising and marketing can be the key to achieving these goals, as well as helping maintain the brand reputation.
To help the overall brand and each franchise succeed, franchisors like Neighborly can assist with local marketing strategies that send a consistent message to customers while saving you time and resources. Learn about the advantages of franchising and how marketing strategies could maximize your business.
Local Marketing Strategies For Franchises
Local marketing can be one of the most effective marketing strategies for franchise owners. Also known as neighborhood marketing, local marketing targets consumers and customers within a certain radius of the physical location of a business. This is essential in providing customers with quick and efficient service within territories managed by franchise owners.
Local marketing for franchises allows you to customize your marketing messages and target specific demographics in your area. As a result, you can create effective lead-generation strategies, build relationships with potential customers, and grow your business.
Because Neighborly is a national brand that has been successful for over 40 years, franchise owners can rely on its national brand awareness, franchise marketing strategies, and vast network of training resources and mentors who can assist franchise owners with the best way to tap into their local markets. Pooling creative and operational resources will optimize your efforts and financial investment in getting the word out about your franchise.
The brand recognition, expertise, experience, and proven success that franchises provide are tremendous benefits for franchise owners.
Target Leads Through Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website and online content to rank higher in search engine results for “near me” searches on platforms like Google and Bing. When customers search for businesses like yours in their area, you want your franchise to appear at the top of the Search Engine Results Page (SERP), as studies show that most searchers will not click past the first page of results.
To ensure that your franchise appears in local "near me" searches, you must first claim and optimize your business online by using local business directories such as Google My Business (GMB) and Yelp. Doing so can ensure that your business has visibility on Google Maps and in search results, both of which are key to an effective local franchise marketing strategy.
In addition, you should also include your city or state in your website's title tags, meta descriptions, and H1 headers. For example, if you are a franchise owner in Los Angeles, you should include "Los Angeles" in these key places on your website. You can also use other local keywords throughout your website's content to let both search engines and potential customers know that you are a local business.
Finally, you should encourage customers to leave online reviews of your franchise business on Google Business Profile, and other platforms. Positive customer reviews can improve your ranking in search results, while also increasing trust and credibility with potential clients.
This is another area where being aligned with Neighborly’s brand recognition, vast network of experts, and resources can be of great advantage. With Neighborly, you have a team of marketing specialists at your side dedicated to ensuring your local SEO strategies are aligned with your franchise business goals.
The Power Of Social Media Marketing
Another key strategy for effective marketing is harnessing the power of social media. Social media provides franchise owners with the power to tap into their local communities. Through social media, you can connect with local customers and followers, share relevant and timely content, and promote special offers or events. In today’s digital world, franchise businesses that have a presence and consistent engagement on social media at the local level may find it easier to develop relationships with consumers.
For example, as a home services business, you should take advantage of free platforms like Facebook and Instagram business pages dedicated to promoting your franchise. A flexible and powerful tool, social media can be used to connect with local influencers, share photos of your work, leave reviews, and highlight community engagement.
Other social media tactics you may want to incorporate in your strategy include:
- Join local or community groups on social media
- Promote upcoming sales or events
- Use location tagging
- Engage with other local businesses
- Utilize video to promote your business
Bonus: Don't overlook the advantages of cross-brand promotion. At Neighborly, cross-brand promotion is encouraged. Local franchise owners could cross-promote each other on their websites and in digital advertising, especially when their services go hand-in-hand. For example, plumbing repair and water damage restoration are often needed by the same customers. By promoting your business together, your local marketing becomes even more effective in driving growth.
Franchise Marketing With Neighborly Experts
When you are a Neighborly franchise owner, you have several distinct advantages when it comes to marketing. First, we provide you with a custom-built website designed for lead generation. Each site is equipped with powerful SEO functions to help you rank higher in search results and drive more traffic to your website.
With Neighborly, you do not have to be a marketing expert. We offer a variety of digital marketing services to help you reach your local customers, including a playbook to help jumpstart your strategy. Our services are designed to promote your franchise business online and offline, through both traditional and digital channels. We can help you with everything from print collateral to pay-per-click (PPC)digital campaigns.
Finally, we offer a wide range of support and resources to help you succeed with your local marketing efforts. Our team of marketing experts is available to answer your questions and provide guidance on any new franchise marketing trends and ideas. Our Dryer Vent Wizard franchise owners, Tesha & Satchell Doyle, have experienced first-hand the value of marketing support & the importance of creating brand awareness in their local market. Hear more:
Take Advantage Of The Marketing Support Neighborly Can Provide Franchise Owners
There are many significant advantages of owning a franchise vs. independent business marketing. From franchise advertising on social media platforms, to attending local networking groups, to advertising with neighborhood or city publications, Neighborly brands ensure business owners understand how to market a franchise and how the power of local marketing for franchises can provide you with the tools to support the sustained growth of your business.
Since all businesses rely on networking and relationships, the quality and quantity of contacts that the family of franchises provide can be the one thing that sets you apart from your competition in the acquisition of customers.
Ready to start your franchise journey? Learn more about the training, networking, and resources available to help you identify your franchise area of interest, create an effective business plan, and prepare yourself for every part of your journey, from initial launch to sustained success. Download our free guide “from marketing to operations” today.
