Franchise websites differ from other websites in that they don’t cater to a single geographic audience. This implies that franchise businesses require a general website, several local ones, and authentic and consistent content across all of those web pages.
You no longer need to be afraid if you intend to design a website for a franchise organization. You can create a highly effective website for this type of business using our seven tips.
“A successful website does three things: It attracts the right kinds of visitors. Guides them on the main services or products you offer. Collect Contact details for future ongoing relations.”
Mohamed Saad
Make it simple to switch between global and regional web pages.
One of the most crucial aspects of web design overall is website navigation. These days, people are so impatient and quick to pass judgment that if they don’t immediately find what they’re looking for, they leave the website.
With regard to franchise organizations, the need for simplicity and effectiveness is even more pronounced. Once they’ve made up their minds to buy something from the brand, they’ll want to be taken as soon as possible to the local website.
To get around this, you’ll need to design your website so that users can quickly find and get in touch with the closest store. This will not only keep them interested but also motivate them to buy something.
Pay close attention to how the navigation works.
Franchise businesses often have one main website, as well as several local ones. Because of this, web designers frequently think that all websites should have a uniform user experience (UX) design. They all fall under the same brand, after all, don’t they?
Actually, not quite.
When users visit local and general websites within the franchise organization, they have different expectations from the same brand. When people want to learn more about a brand, they go to the general website, and when they want to buy goods or services, they go to the local website.
Because of this, the navigation menu for the main website should make the items readily visible. Users will be able to quickly comprehend the brand’s mission thanks to this.
On the other hand, local websites should concentrate more on what they have to offer locally. Along with the obvious contact details and business location, you should also mention prices, events, and reviews that are particular to that neighborhood shop.
The key is consistency.
Building brand loyalty and differentiating a franchise organization from the competition requires maintaining consistency in how the organization is portrayed across all marketing platforms.
This indicates that you should utilize the same colors throughout both regional and global websites while designing websites. Based just on the colors you pick, every time someone views the website, they will experience a wave of emotions. Additionally, maintaining color harmony makes the website appear tidy rather than disorganized.
It’s crucial to use the same typefaces on all websites. People frequently notice when you use different fonts that something is “wrong,” so even seemingly insignificant details count. Of course, we also caution you against utilizing several fonts on one website. Simply put, it’s too confusing.
Finally, the company’s logo is undoubtedly its most recognizable symbol and what many people think of when they think of branding. That is obviously untrue because branding encompasses much more than a logo, but that doesn’t negate its significance.
On both the global and regional websites, the logo should be positioned near the top left corner since this is where users usually look for it.
Install a franchise finder
Users who are prepared to buy the business’s goods or services frequently want to know where the closest shop is. Although they could purchase items online, many individuals still want to view them in person.
Using a location finder is the simplest approach for people to learn where the stores are.
A location finder makes it simple for potential consumers to get to the place of their choice.
It can be difficult to get through to customer service just to inquire about the location of the closest store; not everyone enjoys making phone calls. In contrast, a location finder aids users in independently locating the information they require.
Add Google Maps to your website for extra points. Because Google Maps is mobile-friendly, your users will have an easy time navigating.
Some franchise businesses also have a geolocation feature that locates the user and directs them to the local page of the store closest to them.
Organize your local SEO.
SEO is crucial for local websites as well as those that are generally accessible online. It’s true that your approach will be different, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a local website strategy.
First and foremost, localized keywords like neighborhood or community names, locations, and traffic instructions should be included in the writing. This is crucial when describing where the shop is located; just keep in mind how customers can look up your goods and services on Google.
Additionally, be sure to include localized keywords in any local content you develop as well as other pertinent areas, such as the URL, titles, and meta-tags. For instance, we suggest that you include the name of your company, the product(s), and the location in the title section.
Establish a blog
Those who assert that blogging is dead are ignorant of the subject. It has changed because we didn’t have influencers or social media platforms ten years ago, but it’s still not the same.
On both local and general websites, many franchise groups, including franchises for veterans, feature blog sections.
The blog part of general websites should include information on the brand’s achievements, press releases, and general news.
Local websites, however, have to provide a variety of information, such as posts about events taking place in the area around their particular business or neighborhood. For instance, if a local retailer is expanding, a local website should announce the news, especially if the retailer intends to provide a discount on the first day of business.
It all seems very straightforward, but it’s not. Designing a blog section that can be easily managed should be the designer’s top priority because it takes time to create new blog content. Franchise businesses ought to have no problems adding or removing blogs as they see fit.
Use a single domain for both global and regional websites.
Franchise businesses are not required to have a single domain for both their general and regional websites. But this strategy is not the most effective.
Franchise businesses frequently expand and disperse over the globe. This implies that when they expand, they will need to build additional regional websites. The separate-domains model will make it more difficult to maintain consistency across design, SEO, and copywriting each time that occurs.
Thus, we think franchise businesses ought to utilize a single domain for both their global and regional websites.
Basically, you’ll need to design various sub-sections of the main website, each with its own navigation, persona-specific pages, and frequently its own subdomains. Franchise companies are now able to modify the web design of both their global and regional websites.
For instance, it will only take a few clicks for them to change the colors if they choose to do so rather than visiting each of those websites individually.
As you can see, developing a franchise website is not as difficult as it would appear. It all boils down to being consistent and producing original, SEO-friendly material.