The toughest part of running a business is usually getting it off the ground. This can be difficult for all businesses, including those involved in franchising. Just because franchisees enjoy the benefits of being part of a much-larger network, they can still find it heavy going when the company begins trading.
For those starting out in the world of franchising, as well as those more established businesses, have you ever considered taking part in a virtual exhibition? And the same applies to franchisors wishing to expand their brand. An online exhibition will do wonders for your profile, so it’s time to get involved today.
There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when it comes to marketing your business. Every brand and every business owner’s goals are different. However, there are some general tips to help you build an effective strategy. If you want your virtual space to be successful, you will need to establish a broad base of support.
This means attracting visitors from all sections of your industry, including both current and potential customers. You will need to develop a marketing plan which targets specific groups of visitors. You will then have to focus on satisfying their needs. And, finally, it’s essential to stay ahead of the competition by updating your virtual space on a regular basis.
Understanding the purpose of an exhibition
A virtual exhibition provides 24/7 access to visitors, allowing them to explore business opportunities at any hour of the day – and in any region too. This also allows exhibitors to upload and amend content whenever they want – because of the 24/7 access.
This means content remains up to date at all times, and can be adjusted to satisfy your ever-changing marketing campaigns. Those clicking-in will have different needs, so everything from offering advice and support, to listing available franchisee territories, or existing ones that are being offered for sale, is fair game for franchisors to promote. Even job vacancies can be listed online. A virtual space offers unlimited access to every interested person.
Distribution channels
Determining which channels to market online can be overwhelming. Look at your target audience, and attempt to build your online presence from there. Make a point of posting frequently on social media channels. Distributing content regularly is the key for increasing your profile. Make the most of all the features available on a virtual exhibition community platform. This includes seminars, blogs and news, as well as the job board. Upload your information to the online client profile portal, so it can be updated on the community platform.
Develop a cost-effective strategy for marketing
Marketing can be costly at times, so use your budget wisely. Focus on your target audience and also the aims of the business. This will help you to produce a marketing strategy that maximises every penny you have at your disposal.
Always test your marketing communication
Marketing is a journey that all businesses go on. Some strategies work and some don’t. When you use a virtual exhibition, this will pull together all of your business resources into one space. For example, this means promoting your website, social media channels, plus contact information, such as phone number, email and appointment system. These all become easily available to users. Virtual exhibition platforms offer an outlet for businesses to connect with potential and current customers in a convenient and interactive format. Make best use of it.
To sum up
You can use the online community to target specific groups of visitors with relevant marketing materials. Always remember, a virtual exhibition platform makes it easy to share information about events, news and jobs. A virtual exhibition is a great place to update content. There is 24/7 visibility for visitors.
A virtual exhibition community platform can be a great place to update your content whenever you wish and have 24/7 visibility to visitors all in a sustainable marketing method. For more information on how to join a virtual exhibition community platform contact katie.bateman@franchiseshow247.com
This article was written by Katie Bateman of FranchiseShow247 and was first published in Elite Franchise Magazine here
