Staying Connected on Franchising Trends
If you are involved in franchising or considering investing in a franchise, staying on top of current franchise news should be a vital part of your routine. It’s important to read general news, but staying abreast of news in your particular industry is essential in staying relevant. What are the best places to find franchise news and stay on top of franchising trends, you ask? Well, in today’s connected world, there are a ton of resources to aid you in this process. It’s not as daunting as you think. Here are a few that come to mind:
Check major news publications for business news specific to your industry. Several outlets have franchising sections like Entrepreneur and The Wall Street Journal that often publish franchising articles.
Subscribe to Google Alerts. This sends you an email anytime a certain phrase is mentioned in an article or website. Google Alerts is one of many tools that PR companies use to help track press for their clients. Use terms like “franchise business” or “coffee franchise”, whatever you deem appropriate really.
Check out franchise experts and consultants that host podcasts. These are almost always free and full of great information, often with special guests. Rick Bisio, a franchise consultant based out of Florida, hosts a “Franchise Focus” podcast on the last Thursday of each month.
Publications like the IFA Smartbrief often link to relevant stories in the franchising industry.
Follow franchise experts on Twitter. If they aren’t offering their own useful insight, they usually link to trending articles in their field. Even better, they’re connected to other great franchising resources. Good people to follow: @Franchising_com, @FranchiseKing, @Franchwire, @Franchise, @sarahneedleman, @TiceWrites.
Use an RSS feed to streamline all of your content into one spot. An RSS Reader compiles all of your content into one stream so it’s easy to sift through.
These are just a handful of ways to stay connected in the franchising world. It’s not much different than following other types of news, but it does take a little digging to find the most reputable sources. Remember, above everything else, Google is your best friend.