| Internet marketing has revolutionized the way that | | | | to better approach these sites. |
| people can find your franchise business. However, | | | | 3. Register for each site to list your business. |
| many owners of franchises aren't aware that they | | | | Make sure that your business is listed with each of the |
| can use their website as more than just a fancy | | | | major sites. If it's already been listed by local |
| brochure. In fact, the combination of social media, | | | | customers and the information is incorrect, be sure to |
| smart phones and your website can create a | | | | contact the site owner. They are normally happy to |
| powerful system for getting more feet in your | | | | help you correct errors. If you have a physical location, |
| business's door. | | | | place stickers or signs in your location in order to make |
| Here are five tips for using location-based online | | | | sure that customers now that your business can be |
| marketing in order to increase the success of your | | | | found on foursquare, Yelp etc. |
| franchise business. | | | | 4. Use fun and exciting promotions on the site. |
| 1. Learn the location based marketing platforms. | | | | Location based marketing sites can help you run |
| Although your website is an important piece of the | | | | promotions for your franchise business that can get |
| puzzle, the main components of location-based | | | | people in the door or more people calling. For example, |
| marketing are going to be with a variety of third-party | | | | on foursquare you can run a special that allows users |
| sites that allow smartphone users to learn about | | | | to get a free item if they check in with the site a |
| businesses around them. They range from service | | | | certain number of times. This creates a lot of activity |
| selection engines (that allow users to select a service | | | | on your profile on a certain location-based marketing |
| in their area based on the location of their phone) to | | | | site, which can in turn encourage more people to |
| review sites (that aggregate reviews of a business for | | | | patronize your business. You can run raffles, specials |
| other users to read). Local customers can "check in" | | | | or when a customer first checks in or something like |
| with these platforms when they are at your location or | | | | what is described above (a type of "digital punch |
| have used your business. By using these sites you can | | | | card.") |
| keep local customers updated on special deals and | | | | 5. Get involved with the community. |
| also make sure that there are good things being said | | | | A lot of franchise owners shy away from review |
| about your business. The most popular location-based | | | | style site because they think that the ability for |
| marketing platforms are FourSquare, Loopt, Brightkite | | | | customers to post to a bad review is a bad thing. |
| and Google Latitude. Others are Yelp and Facebook. | | | | However, social media is not a one-way megaphone. |
| 2. Decide how you're going to use these sites to | | | | You need to interact with your audience. Thank |
| market your franchise business. | | | | customers for good reviews and try to respond to |
| Before you start plugging yourself into these networks | | | | bad reviews as much as you possibly can. |
| you need to set some goals. Do you want more fit | | | | With these tips you can make location-based |
| traffic in the store? Do you want more people at a | | | | marketing work for you. Visit any of the sites listed |
| particular time of day? Do you want to sell more of | | | | above to get started today. |
| one item? By specifying your objectives you'll be able | | | | |