FRANomenon: Social Media at the IFA

by Kyle Stites

I am going to start by making a bold statement: Social Media is not a fad, it is here to stay!

I can officially say this because just over one year ago in San Diego, franchise professionals conviened for the IFA conference and NO ONE knew about social media. words like "trendy" and "hip" buzzed about the meetings, altering the eagerness of franchise execs to put social networks to use for their companies. Well, with the economic woes of 2009 defeated, so goes the assumption that social media is a fad. Welcome to 2010.

In just the four days of the IFA conference earlier this month, there were dozens of online marketing and social media sessions. An evening "Tweet-Up" event was organized and panel discussions of experts were formed during day sessions. It was on the tongues, and smart phones, of every franchisor in the joint.

As the New Girl, I started exploring social media platforms after last year's IFA. Since then, I have built online relationships with many in the franchise industry. In San Antonio I was able to learn from pros like BJ Emerson (@BJ_Emerson) who is Director of Information and Social Technologies for Tasti D-lite (@tastidlite). His efforts and online marketing strategies, for the delicious fro-yo company, exposed them to thousands of followers and friends taking Twitter and Facebook by storm. And, they are just one franchise company of many that are using social media to build their brand, gain exposure, and develop their systems. It's a FRANomenon.

At FBR, we have implemented multiple groups on LinkedIn, Twitter handles for all employees (@franchisereview, @Kyle_Stites, @monrowan, @ericstites), organized various webinars, and we treat it as a vital marketing campaign. We certainly haven't mastered it, but we continue to learn and implement because we KNOW social media is here to stay!

Here are some of my fun, inspirational, intelligent, professional friends and clients on Twitter. Follow them to see how to get motivated on social media... @ginidietrich, @Chad_Cohen, @interstatebatts, @huhot, @oxifresh, @paulsegreto, @DebCE, @CETEAM, @DwyerGroup, @ChuckTeamLogic, @franchiseking, @ShowhomesThomas, and of course follow all of us here at @FranchiseReview!

Happy Franchising, Following, & Friending!

All my best,

Kyle