New technological advances in the past year have ushered in a plethora of opportunities for franchises looking to extend their brand into the digital age, as localized marketing and social media strategies once considered cost-prohibitive have since become more possible. Until recently, implementing local search engine optimization, email/mobile marketing campaigns and social media simultaneously seemed logistically and financially unfeasible for franchisors. But now, intelligent new software platforms such as ElementsLocal offer online marketing solutions that are easily manageable, comprehensive and cost-effective.

As recently as a year ago, it was simply impossible for a franchise to affordably launch hundreds of autonomous, optimized web sites for each of its franchises, not to mention monitor each of them for brand compliance. Today, technological developments allow franchises to effectively leverage and maintain control of their brand marketing online, in email and on mobile devices, without costly oversight

So, just what is the digital age for franchises and why can more companies now participate? LaDuque explains the key components and why they’re now more affordable to implement:
Local Search

Why it’s relevant: A strong, localized search-marketing strategy is now considered one of

With seniors considered the fastest-growing population, America is aging, so it’s no surprise that Always Best Care – provider of in-home care and assisted living placements for seniors – is an increasingly successful franchise anticipated to nearly double its growth in 2010.

Increasingly instrumental to the company’s further expansion, however, is its ability to appear local to its potential customers, which is why Always Best Care has teamed up with ElementsLocal™ – an innovative new solution designed specifically for franchises that helps increase web traffic and online leads by creating local web sites for each franchise location.

“We are a relationship-based business, so it is very important for our franchises to have a local presence on the Internet,” said Michael Newman, founder, president and chief executive officer of Always Best Care. “Our clients want to know that we are in their local community and that we are there when they need us.”

Research company eMarketeer recently found that local search is now more popular and relevant than regular search for people looking for a

Sport Clips, the nation’s leading purveyor of contemporary men’s haircuts with 650 locations in the US has chosen ElementsLocal, by ELEMENTS, for their websites, online marketing, and software needs. The unique ElementsLocal software platform will enable Sport Clips to better utilize their electronic communications and internet presence as a strategic focus to increase brand awareness, improve marketing effectiveness and increase clientele.

Sport Clips, currently listed as one of the top 50 fastest growing franchises by

This article was published in Franchising World Magazine in August 2009. http://www.franchise.org/Franchise-Industry-News-Detail.aspx?id=47280

In a world where technology has infiltrated the very fabric of our social culture, consumers have evolved to be human spam filters, adept at tuning out the constant messaging coming in from TV and banner ads, billboards, email newsletters and the like. With marketers now realizing that the age-old premise, “if you display it, they will see it,” may no longer be viable, the current buzz throughout board rooms, marketing forums and coffee houses is whether or not Mobile Internet Marketing is the next effective and practical progression in the marketing mix.

As companies question the effectiveness of traditional “outbound” marketing initiatives like broadcast and billboard advertisements, which push a message out far and wide, hoping that it resonates with a few individuals, they’re putting more emphasis on “inbound” marketing strategies that organically attract potential and already interested customers through search engines, blogs and social media. This has spurred franchises to take a closer look at making their messaging more local. Franchisors have moved from national level marketing, to regional, and local, by way of localizing online presence for every franchisee, and are now faced with Mobile Internet Marketing and wondering where it fits and what benefits it offers.

Jeremy LaDuque, CEO, and Steve Bridge, CFO, will be attending the IFA Public Affairs Conference at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C. September 14-15, 2009. They will be available and happy to answer any questions related to franchise software, local online marketing, search engine optimization, among many other topics. They look forward to seeing many of you there!

Elements Inc., an interactive web agency, designs and develops online business applications, corporate web sites and Internet marketing strategies that enable clients to harness the power of the Internet to streamline their business. Based in San Luis Obispo, CA, and founded in 1999, Elements recently introduced ElementsLocal™, a software platform developed specifically for the unique challenges and opportunities franchise companies face in online franchise marketing. ElementsLocal clients include Jiffy Lube, Paul Davis Restoration and Always Best Care, among others. For more information on the company, visit www.elementslocal.com.