Tag Archives: Blogging

United Airlines Magazine Promotes Blogging

If you have the privilege of flying my favorite airline and got your hands on the recent Hemispheres Magazine, then hopefully you read the article about executive blogging.

I have consistently preached the value of blogging, but it is nice to see mainstream, trade and travel publications promoting what I preach. While it wasn’t focused specifically on franchising, it covered several different executives who have turned to the blogosphere to promote their business virtually.

What is your company doing in regards to blogging?

I have talked with several franchisors who have said, “Oh yeah, we are blogging. Let me send you the link. Wait, I can’t find it. I know I set it up, but where is it.” Exactly what I want them to say.

It’s one thing to spend a day creating the valuable Social Media/Social Networking sites, but it’s another to spend the time maintaining. Maintenance is where many bloggers and social networking enthusiasts fail.

If you are going to join the conversation, commit to it 100 percent. Be prepared for honest content, timely content, and consistent content. You must be ready and staffed for interactions, or else Social Media/ Social Networking can turn into a negative for your business.

Go Where The Franchisees Are

Why would you ever hire a PR firm? For brand exposure? For franchise leads? For marketability? All of the above, duh. Well, I have a secret way to get in front of the audiences you want, in addition to scoring great stories courtesy of your PR firm.

Again, send cash donations to, Nick Powills…Kidding, of course.

Today, reading the morning news, as I usually do with my coffee in the morning, I came across a blog post that asked a question about what franchisees should watch for when looking for the right entrepreneurial opportunity. There were a few comments, but the discussion hadn’t been touched. Upon deeper research, I found that the blog was highly read, and easily picked up in the search engines. So, what did I do? I advised my clients to post a comment and answer the question while providing a link to their site, their title, and their concept.

In the future, I can take their thought and turn it into a press release; a blog post; a interview opportunity, but in the mean time, I wanted to teach them something about progressive communications – you CAN reach your audience with a simple comment post.

A good franchisee is going to do their homework. They are going to research franchising. So, what if during their research, while reading a story on franchising, they see an educated response from a franchisor? And what if that franchisor is not pushing their brand in their face? What if they are showcasing their knowledge, and support, by simply communicating with the reporter? And what if, their publicist, in turn, contacts the reporter and then offers their client as the expert for anything franchising. Instant publicity and at what cost? A few minutes of their time – which is completely worth it because all franchisors LOVE talking about franchising.

My first step is to see how my clients respond to the questions (of course I can provide editing assistance for them). My second step is to take that answer and publicize it on other stories around the Net; my blog; and to journalists. Instantly another source of PR was born.