Sean McKay steps behind the mic for a solo reflection on what he’s learned from the first stretch of Franchise This. He answers real questions about what franchisors need, where marketing dollars go wrong, and how data, automation, and brand storytelling connect to long-term success.

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Sean explains what “hanging the digital open sign” really looks like, how brands lose momentum by giving up too soon, and why consistent messaging matters as much as ad spend. He breaks down what worked with brands like Cookies & Cream, Bubba Co’s, and Marigold Academy, and where campaigns like LinkedIn advertising fell short.

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From local grand-opening playbooks to data-enriched lead qualification, Sean lays out how to build smarter franchise marketing systems that support franchisees and keep growth sustainable.

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📌 What We Cover

• What franchise marketing looks like behind the scenes at Site Hub
• The biggest mistakes franchisors make when scaling and spending
• Why brand marketing and messaging still matter in the AI era
• Lessons from Cookies & Cream, Bubba Co’s, and Marigold Academy
• Where LinkedIn ads failed and why persistence and tracking matter
• How to support new franchisees with “digital open signs” and local awareness campaigns
• Using data enrichment and automation to score and qualify leads
• What’s working in lead generation now and why quality beats quantity
• Balancing corporate and local marketing so franchisees win

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• Site Hub
• Franchise This episode with Greg at the Peach Cobbler Factory
• Franchise This episode with Tim Doherty