With Summer camps under way at many of our campuses, it’s time to prepare for the NEXT transition…FALL ENROLLMENTS! You’ve  heard me talk about the need to stay focused on what’s UPCOMING to ensure we’re properly prepared and allow ample time for marketing and converting our existing students/campers through transitions.   Below are my recommendations to set you up for a successful Fall enrollment season: Load Calamatic with your Fall Belt/Path schedule BEFORE Summer camps begin. This will give interested parties the ability to enroll immediately (otherwise you risk losing the sale!) Set up your promotions. Promotions should not be combined with other offers, so plan out which method makes the most sense for your campus. Early Bird Special Set up a promotion where the earlier they sign up, the more they save (i.e. Offer your best discount before July 4th. Offer another discount tier after July 4th until around Aug 1 before school starts). This creates a sense of urgency to enroll sooner and not wait until school starts (after school starts, many parents take about a month to figure out schedules before adding in any new programs). 10% Rebate Promotion The more Summer camps they enroll in, the…

Your response time to leads is critical to whether someone decides to enroll in a camp or class with you. If you can catch someone while they’re still in ‘search mode’ and looking for answers to the problem they are trying to solve, you are more likely to reach them and make the conversion. However, if you wait hours to respond to a lead, they will likely find another solution in the meantime.  For this reason, it’s a good idea for the director/franchisee to check the campus email VERY frequently (this includes before and after your ‘open’ hours). Utilizing the email function on your smartphone makes this quick and easy. If your campus receives a lot of emails daily, you can set up rules to filter your Gmail to make lead emails stand out. For instance, if lead emails all contain the words 'a new submission from’ in the subject line, you can set a rule for Gmail to send these emails to a specific folder or ‘flag’ the emails. Don’t let a slow response time be the reason you miss out on an enrollment! Put a plan in place to ensure a prompt response to each inquiry.

There are a handful of tasks that you can perform that will improve the effectiveness of your Google profile. These efforts help Google to understand better what your business does, resulting in higher placement when people search for services you offer. 1) Post Updates to Your Profile. -Pull graphics AND captions from the Google My Business section on Franconnect -Post an update a least WEEKLY a. Make sure you’re logged into your iCode campus’ Google account. b. In Google’s search bar, type your campus name (iCode ________) and hit enter c. You should see a menu of profile editing options appear on the left d. Select ‘Add Update’ and follow the prompts. -The keywords used in the GMB post captions help Google’s algorithm understand what your business does and recognize opportunities to use your business as a search result. 2) Add Photos to Your Profile Regularly. -Adding new photos to your GMB profile provides a better experience for Google users. Google likes and rewards businesses that do this with a higher ranking in search results. -Select some of your best photos from the week -Save them to your computer with names that are descriptive of what is going on in…

Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have been pushing video content recently. This type of content has been performing better with audiences, and apps want to keep giving them more of what will keep them interested. In order to maximize reach and engagement on your social media channels, let's review a few different tools, techniques, and tricks for creating and posting engaging video content. Good Video Editing Tools for Small Businesses There are a variety of apps and editing software available to help you create engaging video clips with music and/or captions. When it comes to functionality, ease, and affordability, these are our top picks: 1.) Capcut: Capcut is an editing app that allows you to explore trending meme templates, edit your own videos from scratch, as well as link your account directly to Instagram for easy posting. Here is a breakdown of the app’s available tools and price structures: Pre-made meme templates for easy content creation Trim, split, and rearrange various clips Playback speed adjusters for slow-mo and timelapse videos Easy editing software for both mobile and desktop Auto-captioning capabilities Video sizing guides for Facebook and Instagram reels $7.99 per month for their premium plan, which allows you…

In a world where financial stability is becoming increasingly paramount, side hustles are no longer a novel concept but rather a strategic component of many individuals' income streams. But what makes a good side hustle and how does it fit into a broader financial plan? One interesting thought, have you ever considered owning a franchise as a viable side hustle? This prospect may seem daunting at first, but with the right franchise and the flexibility to be as involved as you want, it could potentially become a lucrative addition to your income. Let's take a look at the potential of franchise ownership as a side hustle, focusing on the thriving sector of STEM education franchises, and examine some key insights to help you make an informed decision. Understanding the Concept of a Side Hustle A side hustle is any type of employment undertaken in addition to one's full-time job. It's essentially an entrepreneurial venture that allows you to earn extra income while retaining the security of your primary job. Side hustles have been growing in popularity, particularly due to the changing dynamics of work brought about by digital technologies. In the gig economy, where project-based or temporary jobs are common,…

The thought of becoming a business owner can be both thrilling and daunting! Many people want to start their own business but are confused about how to get started. This article will help you understand what it means to own a franchise, decide if becoming a franchisee is a good fit for your objectives and personality, lead you through the entire process, and reveal the best franchises to buy in 2023. What Is a Franchise? A franchise is a business wherein the owner of a brand and business model grants you the rights to use these assets (together with all associated trademarks, goods, systems, and so on). The franchise owner is the franchisor, and you are the franchisee. Getting started with a franchise is a much easier task than starting something from scratch which is one of the biggest reasons many people opt for franchising over starting something of their own. A Step-By-Step Process to Buy a Franchise Understanding what’s involved with starting a franchise can alleviate a lot of the stress and help you discover the best franchises to buy in 2023. Step 1: Know Your Why Owning any business can be an emotionally, physically, and financially exhausting experience.…

Franchise Buying 101 Want to start a business but not sure where to start? Have you considered buying franchise businesses, but you’re not exactly sure how it works? First things first: How do franchises work? A franchise is a proven business model where you leverage the power of an established system and brand to help you turn a profit without having to figure everything out on your own. In this article, we’ll take you through the process of buying a franchise company, explore the costs involved, and answer questions you might have before jumping in. When to Buy a Franchise Before you make a decision, it helps to consider when you should buy into a franchise opportunity. When is the best time for you? To make that decision, you’ll want to consider your circumstances, financial situation, and business goals. To start, ask yourself the following: Do I have enough money saved for startup costs and ongoing expenses? Do I have access to financing? Do the market conditions in my local area make sense for this right now? Is this business model feasible within my current lifestyle and goals? Will my past experiences support my success in this venture? Does the…

Most people have heard of franchises, the “business-in-a-box” model, yet it seems like the entire process remains shrouded in mystery. How do franchises work? What actually goes on under the hood? That’s what we’ll help you clarify in this article. Order Now   How Does a Franchise Work? In a franchise, the franchisor (owner of the brand model) grants the prospective franchisee (you in this case) the right to use its trademark, products, services, and operating systems to sell products and services under the franchisor's brand name. Since the franchisor has already built a successful business, it can provide franchisees with a proven business model, operating systems, and other training and support to show franchise owners how to replicate that success. The prospective franchisee then invests in the right to operate under the brand name and leverages the power of the brand’s established systems to launch its own franchise location. The franchisee signs a franchise agreement - a contract that outlines the terms of the franchise relationship - which details any fees, royalties, territory restrictions, marketing requirements, and operating guidelines. Once a franchisee officially owns a franchise, the franchisor provides ongoing training and support to help the franchisee build a…

As you start to consider your franchise options, you might wonder about the costs involved in franchising. Whether you’re interested in starting a coding franchise or a retail franchise, at some point, you may stumble upon the words, “franchise fee.” But what exactly is a franchise fee? A better question is, “what are franchise fees?” as in, plural. Why? Because when it comes to owning and operating a franchise, you may encounter a variety of franchising fees. Let’s explore some of the different types of franchising fees. Types of Franchise Fees There are a variety of franchise fees that you’ll encounter in various stages of your franchise journey. Some of the most common fees include: Initial Franchise Fee: This is a one-time fee paid by the franchisee to the franchisor for the right to use the franchise's brand, business model, and systems. It usually covers costs like training, site selection assistance, and initial marketing support. Royalty Fee: An ongoing fee paid by the franchisee to the franchisor, typically calculated as a percentage of the franchisee's gross sales or revenue. The fee helps cover ongoing support, including marketing, training, and access to proprietary systems and technologies. Marketing and Advertising Fee: This…