IDS

Creating Personas to Enhance Franchise Development

September 27, 2016

By: Integrated Digital Strategies

What is Franchise Development? It is the process of identifying the different people who buy particular franchises. Each franchise organization has unique attributes that attract potential buyers and it is critical to identify these attributes and create groups that are categorized into franchise personas. As soon as personas are identified, the next step is to create content that attracts the many groups that fall into categories of people that purchase a franchise.

franchise development

Why Develop Personas?

The main reason to create personas is that it is necessary to address the questions and concerns that prospective franchise buyers have. Do you attract multi-franchise buyers with a high net worth? Are you seeking—and do you have—military veterans in your portfolio of franchisees? Each franchise organization has groups of people that represent ideal buyers, who have needs and concerns that need to be answered. This is achieved through well-researched and well-written content on your website in the form of blogs, case studies, infographics, and eBooks.

Purchasing a franchise is a life-changing event. Typically, it represents a milestone such as retiring from a long career, an inheritance or newly acquired wealth, or simply a desire to become your own boss. Each person who represents the persona of a buyer of your franchise requires that you address all questions and concerns that they may have.

When developing the persona of your franchise buyer, it is necessary to list the questions that are typically asked by a prospective franchisee. At the International Franchise Annual convention in San Antonio, TX in 2016, it was mentioned that the average person spends up to an hour looking at the website of a franchise they may want to purchase. In addition, they read content for thirty minutes to learn about the advantages of buying your franchise.

Each franchise buyer persona must be written to the intended audience. The multi-franchise buyer will want to know what territories are available to them. The person leaving a career could be most interested in knowing what kind of training will be provided. Perhaps the veteran who is leaving the military will want to know what financial breaks are offered as a reward for service to their country.

What Comes after Persona Development?

When the franchise persona is complete and the content is created, the content then needs to be distributed. Typically the website is the best place to host this information, where content can be added to the website’s main pages or the blog.

A well-designed franchise website will take into account the buyer’s journey and lead them down a path that helps them feel comfortable they are making the correct decision to take the next steps to become part of your franchise organization.

Social media is another option to let people know who the ideal buyer is for your franchise. Without performing a well planned and produced buyer persona, a franchise runs the risk that they will lose quality buyers by not reassuring them of the many reasons they fit the profile of similar owners.

How Are Personas Relevant for SEO?

Lastly, franchise development persona plays a key role in search engine optimization (SEO). Google and other search engines have embedded algorithms that allow for well written and clearly defined content with good keywords to rise to the top of a search. For example, if your site speaks to the advantages of veteran or multi-franchise ownership, people that fall into these categories will have an easier time finding you when you rank higher in online searches. It comes down to speaking to your ideal audience so that they find you. Without great franchise development personas, there is a strong likelihood that your message will not reach your ideal audience.

Integrated Digital Strategies specializes in franchise development utilizing an inbound digital marketing approach. We work with dozens of franchise organizations to help them attract highly qualified prospects each year. For more information, contact us at info@idigitalstrategies.com.

IDS

GREATER BOSTON
6 Chestnut Street Unit 210
Amesbury, MA 01913

ORLANDO
100 E Pine Street Suite #110
Orlando, FL 32801

Senior Account Manager

This person will have an exciting opportunity to be the lead voice on well-known brands across the nation in a booming industry of franchising.

The desired candidate for the AM position will have experience planning and managing digital marketing projects for a portfolio of clients. This person will be the main point of contact both internally and externally for our clients while serving with a level of knowledge of key digital marketing strategies. 

Strong experience with client on-boarding, planning, fulfillment, and reporting of routine digital marketing deliverables are critical to the success of the selected candidate. Strong communication skills and the ability to meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders are required for this position in conjunction with the candidate’s knowledge of digital marketing, and the changes in the industry around SEO, SEM, social media, analytics, email marketing, content marketing, and UX website best practices. This candidate must also possess the skills needed to be helping account managers and other colleagues within IDS of the latest technology and industry enhancements are part of the job expectation.

Requirements:

  • Experience working amongst a team of Digital Account Managers
  • Responsible for the full understanding of IDS’ suite of digital marketing vendors and services
  • Ensure timely delivery and fulfillment of digital marketing products and services
  • Experience in managing the development of new websites and maintenance of existing sites
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to foster an environment of teamwork and collaboration across our different digital marketing departments
  • Experience working in Project Management systems such as Bitrix, Jira, or Basecamp (Bitrix a bonus)
  • Strong understanding and tactical experience working within digital marketing channels such as Paid Search, SEO, Display, Social, Content Marketing, UX, and Analytics (Certifications a bonus)
  • Ability to curate presentations and reports that align with client marketing goals and objectives with strong data-driven storytelling
  • Experience working in reporting tools such as Ninjacat, Domo, or Tableau.
  • Involvement in client growth opportunities
  • Work closely with Senior Account Managers, Operations, and the Executive Team to deliver routine updates surrounding the delivery and execution of IDS’ onboarding, leveraged platforms, client growth opportunities and company growth opportunities.
  • Experience in Franchising or B2B Marketing Strategy

Job Type: Full-time

Required education: Bachelor's

Required Digital Marketing Experience:

3+ years minimum

Job Location:

Amesbury, MA

COVID-19 considerations

  • To ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, IDS is currently working on a hybrid basis with some team members in the offices and others working remotely. IDS is completely committed to providing a safe work environment by following protocol that is recommended by the State of Massachusetts and the Federal Center for Disease Control.

Account Manager

The desired candidate for the AM position will have experience planning and managing digital marketing projects for a portfolio of clients. This person will be the main point of contact both internally and externally for our clients while serving with a level of knowledge of key digital marketing strategies. 

Strong experience with client on-boarding, planning, fulfillment, and reporting of routine digital marketing deliverables are critical to the success of the selected candidate. Strong communication skills and the ability to meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders are required for this position in conjunction with the candidate’s knowledge of digital marketing, and the changes in the industry around SEO, SEM, social media, analytics, email marketing, content marketing, and UX website best practices. This candidate must also possess the skills needed to be helping account managers and other colleagues within IDS of the latest technology and industry enhancements are part of the job expectation.

Requirements:

  • Experience working amongst a team of Digital Account Managers
  • Responsible for the full understanding of IDS’ suite of digital marketing vendors and services
  • Ensure timely delivery and fulfillment of digital marketing products and services
  • Experience in managing the development of new websites and maintenance of existing sites
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to foster an environment of teamwork and collaboration across our different digital marketing departments
  • Experience working in Project Management systems such as Bitrix, Jira, or Basecamp (Bitrix a bonus)
  • Strong understanding and tactical experience working within digital marketing channels such as Paid Search, SEO, Display, Social, Content Marketing, UX, and Analytics (Certifications a bonus)
  • Ability to curate presentations and reports that align with client marketing goals and objectives with strong data-driven storytelling
  • Experience working in reporting tools such as Ninjacat, Domo, or Tableau.
  • Involvement in client growth opportunities
  • Work closely with Senior Account Managers, Operations, and the Executive Team to deliver routine updates surrounding the delivery and execution of IDS’ onboarding, leveraged platforms, client growth opportunities and company growth opportunities.
  • Experience in Franchising or B2B Marketing Strategy

Job Type: Full-time

Required education:

  • Bachelor's

Required Digital Marketing Experience:

  • 1-2 years minimum

Job Location:

  • Amesbury, MA

Job Type: Full-time

COVID-19 considerations

To ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, IDS is currently working on a hybrid basis with some team members in the offices and others working remotely. IDS is completely committed to providing a safe work environment by following protocol that is recommended by the State of Massachusetts and the Federal Center for Disease Control.

Digital Marketing Analyst

The desired candidate for this position will manage paid search and display campaigns on Google and Bing. This candidate will report to the Director of Search. A successful SEM Specialist will effectively manage account setup and implementation, strategy, and budget while working cross-collaboratively with the SEO, Content, Social, and Account Management teams in order to maximize a client's ROI. (Paid Social is a bonus)

Responsibilities

  • Execute tests, collect and analyze data, identify trends and insights in order to achieve maximum ROI in paid search and display campaigns
  • Track, report, and analyze website analytics and PPC initiatives and campaigns
  • Manage campaign expenses, staying on budget, estimating monthly costs, and reconciling discrepancies
  • Consult Account Managers on landing page best practices and copy adjustments needed to improve post-click engagement and conversion.
  • Perform ongoing paid keyword discovery, expansion, and optimization
  • Research and analyze competitor advertising
  • Keep the team informed on industry news and trends

Requirements

  • Google Ads Certified
  • Proven SEM experience and success managing PPC campaigns across Google and Bing (Social a Bonus)
  • Well-versed in performance marketing, conversion, and online customer acquisition
  • Up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in search engine marketing
  • In-depth experience with bid management tools
  • Experience with website analytics tools (ex. Google Analytics)
  • Strong analytical skills and experience generating SEM reports
  • Familiarity with A/B and multivariate experiments
  • Required education: Bachelor's

Required Digital Marketing Experience: 1-2 years minimum

Job Location: Amesbury, MA

Job Type: Full-time

COVID-19 considerations:

To ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, IDS is currently working on a hybrid basis with some team members in the offices and others working remotely. IDS is completely committed to providing a safe work environment by following protocol that is recommended by the State of Massachusetts and the Federal Center for Disease Control.

Apply Now

  • Accepted file types: jpg, png, pdf, docx.

Content Writer

About Us

Integrated Digital Strategies is a fast-growing digital marketing company with offices based in Amesbury, MA, and Orlando, FL. We are a committed team of professional digital marketers, constantly looking to better ourselves and our clients. In 2021, Entrepreneur Magazine named IDS a top marketing company for the fourth consecutive year.

Our success is driven by our transparent company culture and work/life balance, diverse experience, continuous curiosity, and mutual respect. With our company growth, IDS supports a rapidly expanding portfolio of more than 60 franchises, 750 franchisees, and various B2B companies across the United States.

The Content Writer Role

Integrated Digital Strategies is seeking a digital marketing content writer to add to its talented content team. The preferred candidate will have a college degree in Communications, English, Writing, or a related field. The successful candidate should be prepared to provide writing samples and references.

This candidate will primarily be responsible for the writing and managing of digital content deliverables for a variety of clients across several industries. This is an exciting opportunity to be the lead voice of well-known brands across the nation in the booming franchise industry. Writing and editing projects include but are not limited to the following:

  • Website content
  • Blogs
  • eBooks
  • Infographics
  • Email campaigns
  • Ad copy
  • Content calendars
  • Social media postings
  • Press releases

Writing needs to account for spelling, grammar, context, and clarity, but also for the style and voice of each individual client. All writing is performed through a combination of Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and the WordPress CMS.

Additionally, this candidate should be prepared for regular client interaction, via phone/video conference, or in person as needed. The writer will need to navigate IDS’ project management platform (Bitrix24) to create tasks, edit content, upload content, and more.

Required Skills

  • Proficiency in the Microsoft suite of products
  • Strong writing and editorial skills, including a mastery of the English language, spelling, and grammar
  • Experience working collaboratively across digital teams, including account managers, SEO professionals, and operations
  • Ability to work on multiple projects and subjects simultaneously and juggling priorities
  • Knowledge of SEO as it pertains to content production and optimization
  • Sound content research and fact-checking capabilities
  • Motivated, self-starter who can work independently and take ownership of their work and their accounts in a deadline-driven environment
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in written form
  • Knowledge and proficiency of the WordPress CMS is preferred, but not required

Benefits

  • Health, Vision, and Dental insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contribution
  • Paid vacation and holidays
  • Life insurance
  • Industry training
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Free healthy snacks

WordPress Developer

We are seeking a WordPress Developer responsible for both back-end and front-end development, including creating and customizing WordPress themes and plugins. This position requires a combination of programming skills (namely PHP, HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript) and aesthetics (understanding element arrangements on the screen).

The candidate will understand industry trends including digital marketing best practices. Additionally, an understanding of the entire web development process, including design, development, and deployment is preferred.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience; Strong knowledge of tools and technologies such as HTML, CSS3, PHP, JavaScript, jQuery, etc.
  • 2+ years’ worth of proven track record in executing projects from concept to completion, applying current project and web development and design best practices with the ability to prioritize and creatively problem-solve independently
  • Understanding of cross-browser compatibility issues and responsiveness
  • Ability to develop under constraints and stay current with changing technology
  • Ability to stay on top of execution through task prioritization and management
  • Strong communication and client-facing experience
  • Strong familiarity with platforms such as WordPress, Joomla, Magento, Drupal, Shopify, etc
  • Experience with current WordPress plugins, themes, and API’s
  • Experience working on other CMS systems, such as Hubspot
  • Familiarity with design tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks, Figma, etc.
  • Working knowledge of the eCommerce / online retail space, CRM integrations (Salesforce, Eloqua, HubSpot, Marketo etc.), shopping engines, and complex integrations
  • High attention to detail, critical thinking, and learning abilities; Strong time management skills
  • Working knowledge of digital marketing technology and SEO is a strong plus
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to foster an environment of teamwork and collaboration across our different digital marketing departments
  • Experience working in Project Management systems such as Bitrix, Coda, Slack or Basecamp (Bitrix a bonus)
  • Experience in Franchising or B2B Marketing Strategy a plus

Benefits:

  • Excellent Health, Dental, and Vision plans
  • 401k Plan including both Pre-tax and After-tax
  • Roth investments with a generous 100% match of your first 3% and 50% of your next 2% contributions. This safe harbor matching contribution is 100% vested.
  • 15 PTO Days and 5 Paid Sick Days, plus 8 Paid Holidays.
  • Bonus Holidays to extend some of the paid 8 holidays including extra time off between Christmas and New Year’s!
  • Half-Day Fridays during the summer months!
  • Coffee, beverages, and snacks in the office!
  • Flexible work time around personal appointments.
  • Dog-Friendly Office!

Job Type: Full-time

Required education: Bachelor's

Required Digital Marketing Experience:

2+ years minimum

Job Location:

Amesbury, MA

COVID-19 considerations

  • To ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, IDS is currently working on a hybrid basis with some team members in the offices and others working remotely. IDS is completely committed to providing a safe work environment by following protocol that is recommended by the State of Massachusetts and the Federal Center for Disease Control.

Social Media Marketing Specialist

About Us

Integrated Digital Strategies is a fast-growing digital marketing company with offices based in Amesbury, MA, and Orlando, FL. We are a committed team of professional digital marketers, constantly looking to better ourselves and our clients. In 2021, Entrepreneur Magazine named IDS a top marketing company for the fourth consecutive year.

Our success is driven by our transparent company culture and work/life balance, diverse experience, continuous curiosity, and mutual respect. With our company growth, IDS supports a rapidly expanding portfolio of more than 60 franchises, 750 franchisees, and various B2B companies across the United States.

The Social Media Specialist Role

IDS is looking for someone who has experience working with multiple brands in the social media marketing space. This candidate must be a well-organized, strong and clear communicator, who is comfortable being client-facing part of the time and able to work independently and in a team environment.

The candidate will oversee a portfolio of predominantly B2B social media campaigns with activities including but not limited to:

  • Research and curation
  • Campaign and content creation
  • Design
  • Execution
  • Monitoring and reporting

Knowledge of SEO best practices is also helpful but not a requirement (internal training provided) as it correlates to the social and digital marketing space.

Responsibilities

The Social Media Specialist works with clients to create a social media strategy that is in line with their marketing and advertising campaigns and reflects their goals and the competitive landscape. The person in this role will:

  • Create timely and engaging content optimized by platform and intended audience
  • Analyze and report on social media activity by the client on a monthly basis to highlight successes, diagnose problems, and identify new opportunities
  • Stay current with social media trends and tools, both in general and in industries related to clients and their competitors.
  • Create engaging and professional visuals that reflect clients and their brands
  • Be responsible for the social media creation and execution for IDS
  • Continue to refine and define internal and client-facing social marketing processes, contributing to the growth of the existing role and IDS’s social media strategy

Required Skills and Experience

  • 1+ years of social media marketing experience (or equivalent account management experience)
  • Demonstrated experience and familiarity with social media platforms and use: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google, and the Google Suite, Twitter, and YouTube
  • Knowledge of social media and analytics software: Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, Soci, etc.
  • Working knowledge of social media paid advertising campaigns: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
  • Strong understanding of user-generated content management, content marketing, and reputation management
  • Strategic content creation and excellent copywriting skills
  • Self-starter with exceptional time management skills and the ability to adapt to changing priorities
  • Graphic design skills

Benefits

  • Health, Vision, and Dental insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contribution
  • Paid vacation and holidays
  • Life insurance
  • Industry training
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Free healthy snacks

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching
  • Dental insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • Flexible schedule
  • Flexible spending account
  • Health insurance
  • Health savings account
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance

Schedule:

  • 8 hour shift

Education:

  • Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

  • Social Media Management: 1 year (Preferred)
  • Social media marketing: 2 years (Preferred)

Work Location:

  • One location

Company's website:

Work Remotely:

  • Temporarily due to COVID-19

COVID-19 Precaution(s):

  • Remote interview process
  • Social distancing guidelines in place
  • Virtual meetings

Work Location: One location