Of course I’m referring to a term we all know, Keep it Simple Stupid, when referring to KISS. Sure, social media has so many different facets that it’s difficult to simplify. Especially in its entirety. Well, so is using social media. I would not recommend attempting to work with multiple social media at one time without perfecting skills one platform at a time.

The following is an article I had published in the August 2010 issue of the IFA’s Franchising World magazine that addresses simplifying social media. And as we’re all focused on results, focus is clearly on utilizing social media to achieve optimum results. An easy path? You be the judge. But, remember to keep it simple!

Simplifying Social Media for Optimum Results
Franchising World – August 2010

Social-media technology is evolving at a rapid pace. New tools enabling increased communication with various constituencies are being introduced on a frequent basis. While the franchising community is not yet embracing social media at the levels of the public-at-large, its members are beginning to understand the multi-tiered value that social-media participation can provide to their firms. This value includes:

• Creating or improving brand awareness that drives business to franchise locations,

• Creating interest in franchise opportunities or franchise-candidate lead generation, and

• Establishing or improving communications and information-sharing throughout the franchise organization.

A frequently-cited impediment to the franchising industry’s adoption of social media is the perceived time commitment required to achieve optimum results. There are many implementation methods and technology tools that can be utilized to execute a firm’s social-media program in a way that will maximize ROI, minimize time requirements and achieve complete integration into its overall marketing strategy, all of which will serve to achieve optimum results.

Read the full article in Franchising World, August 2010