While attending the IFA Convention

Small Franchisor? No Problem -- Good Morning WSJ

in San Antonio this year, we noticed a trend – a trend in opinion. Every single franchisor is trying to figure out what’s next in developing qualified franchise leads. Unfortunately, though, just like the last 50 years of IFA, I doubt the next 50 is going to produce that magic bullet.

The same goes for PR.

While our methodology may not be the ultimate solution, it is working. Case-in-point, we have a 10-unit tax preparation concept that we just placed in the Wall Street Journal. Take a peek at the online story, but take a good look at the print story – a giant photo of the CEO, Nick Rizzi, full of branding and powerful words – including our favorite, franchising. Additionally, we placed our supplier client, Store in a Box, and our powerhouse brand, Qdoba, in the story.

Old technology would have been us praying for this story to appear. New technology was us taking control.

Over the last year, we have eliminated the term “PR” and replaced it with progressive communications, a fine-tuned blend of Social Media + Traditional PR that is built on relationships. This story wasn’t chance. It was built from a relationship with a reporter – a reporter who understands that when No Limit calls, we are actually calling with a story.

This is just one example of our relationships coming to fruition. Three hour segment on Fox & Friends; a return visit to Fox & Friends; Business Week, New York Times, 15 + WSJ interviews; local press that drives franchise leads; local TV that drives consumers; Social Media that interacts; Associated Press; Reuters; Fox Business; CNBC. This is what progressive communications tastes like.