Franchises seem like the perfect business model—you get the brand, the website, the marketing support… but the reality? It’s often a lot messier.
Who’s actually responsible for marketing? What happens when franchisees struggle to get leads? And how do franchisors keep control of their brand without stepping on their franchisees’ toes?
In our latest episode of Marketing vs. The World, Abbie chats to Danny Hall, founder of FSE Digital, about what’s working in franchise marketing right now—and what’s not.
And in true Marketing vs. The World style, we’re not just talking business. Danny also opens up about empty nest syndrome, and how dads can feel it just as much as mums when their kids leave home.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone in the franchise space—or anyone navigating big life changes.
Danny works with both franchisees and franchisors, so he’s seen both sides of the coin. And the biggest problem?
"A lot of franchisees think they’re buying a business in a box—that they’ll get leads handed to them. But franchisors are focused on selling franchises, not necessarily driving local marketing. And that’s where the disconnect happens."
In reality, many franchisees are left to figure things out for themselves. The result?
Generic, copy-paste websites that make them invisible on Google
Inconsistent social media (if they use it at all)
Zero local marketing because they assume leads will just turn up
Sound familiar? Then you need to listen to the full episode for practical fixes.
If you’re a franchisor, how do you support your franchisees without doing everything for them?
And if you’re a franchisee, how do you take control of your local marketing without feeling totally overwhelmed?
Danny breaks it down with some key steps:
"You need to give franchisees the right tools, not just a logo and a landing page. Marketing should be built into the package—so they’re not left struggling from day one."
Have clear brand guidelines but also allow for local flexibility.
Consider partnering with an agency that can manage marketing at scale.
"Your franchisor isn't going to do everything for you. You need to take ownership of local marketing."
Optimise your local website page—don’t just accept the standard content.
Get active on social media, but keep it simple—no overproduced videos needed.
Tap into local partnerships—word of mouth is still powerful.
Want the full strategy? 🎧 Listen to the full episode now.
With business costs rising, a lot of franchises are cutting budgets—and marketing is often the first thing to go.
Danny warns against this:
"We see it all the time—marketing budgets get slashed, then three months later, businesses wonder why enquiries have dried up. If your competitors are also pulling back, this is actually the best time to stand out."
His advice? "Be brave and stick to the plan." The businesses that keep investing in visibility will be the ones that come out stronger.
If you’re feeling the pressure, listen to the episode for real, actionable insights on how to market smarter in 2025.
Away from business, Danny shares something personal—how his daughter moving out hit him harder than he expected.
"I was completely fine while she was packing up. But when she left, I walked into her empty room and it really hit me. It felt like this big chapter of life had just… ended."
It’s something a lot of parents—especially mums—talk about. But dads feel it too.
Danny explains how he’s navigating this new stage of life, from keeping busy to setting personal goals.
"I’ve started looking at my life like I do my business—what do I want the next few years to look like? What do I want to do just for me?"
It’s a powerful reminder that life keeps evolving—and that we need to be intentional about what comes next.
If you’re going through a similar shift, you’ll want to hear this part of the episode.
There’s a lot to unpack from this conversation, whether you’re a franchise business, a franchisee, or just figuring out how to navigate change in business and life. Here are some of the biggest takeaways:
Franchisors: Give franchisees the right marketing tools—not just a brand name. A website alone won’t cut it.
Franchisees: If leads aren’t coming in, it’s time to take control of your local marketing.
Marketing in 2025: Cutting back now could leave you invisible later—staying visible is key.
Social media & partnerships: You don’t need to be on every platform, but having a presence and building local relationships is crucial.
Empty nest syndrome is real: It’s not just mums who feel it—dads experience it too, and it’s okay to talk about it.
For the full conversation, listen to the episode now
For more insights and updates on the world of marketing, follow Abbie Dando and Monday Clicks. Loved Danny’s story and want to follow him? Connect with Danny on LinkedIn.
This article has been created using various AI tools, which transcribe raw audio and transform the content into a blog post. This helps us ensure each Marketing vs The World episode is released as quickly as possible. Monday Clicks does not use AI for any client content creation.
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