When you are busy running a franchise, every second counts. Time is money, and to thrive both professionally and personally, you need to be as productive as possible. Thankfully, there are some fantastic tools out there to help. Many have free options, so it might not even cost you a penny.
Here are some top tools which could enable you to make a step change in your franchise:
Trello
Particularly if you are a visual person, Trello could be a game-changer for your business. Think of it as your online to-do list. Capture what you need to do, and get it done. But Trello is so much more than that. You can brand up your different boards, helping you visually keep track of tasks. This might be for different areas of your franchise – like marketing, staff, or finance – or you can brand it up for different suppliers if you are working on something like a new website project. The beauty is that you can then share those boards with others to collaborate. This is great for keeping projects on track without the need for constant emails or check-ins.
Calendly & Zoom
If you are using networking to grow your franchise or are a service-based business, Calendly is a fantastic tool for diary management. Their paid-for options enable you to set up different types of events, such as a networking 1-to-1, a new client discovery call, or a monthly team meeting. People can book simply using your link; everything integrates seamlessly into your Microsoft calendar and Zoom. No more emails to and from about when someone is available to catch up. Simple and efficient.
Linked to this is the wonder of Zoom, Teams, or another communication platform. Whichever is your personal preference. Video calls and meetings feel like second nature to many of us now, but we forget how brilliant they are. Seeing other people visually helps build relationships and lets you pick up on non-verbal cues about how someone might feel through their body language. You can bring groups of people together for meetings without physically having to get together, and you can keep and share recordings. This is useful for team meetings, so anyone who couldn’t attend can still watch and get up to speed with what’s happening. Many communication platforms also offer AI-powered meeting notes solutions, removing the need for all those scribbled notes and post-meeting write-ups by capturing the key actions automatically.
Teleprompter & CapCut
Do you make regular videos for your social media, website, or newsletter? Video can be a fantastic way to share your expertise and build thought leadership. Thanks to technology, producing quality video is much easier and more cost-effective than it was.
Easy to use, teleprompter apps help you record a more professional video without having to look at notes or try to remember your content and encourage you to communicate to the camera as the words are on the screen in front of you, just like the professionals. Many options are available, including tools with free options for shorter videos. You can easily cut and paste your script into the app. Having it on your phone means you can move around to find the best background and light conditions, and your notes are ready on screen.
Once you have recorded your video, subtitling tools like CapCut can add the finishing touches. Subtitles are essential to ensure you can still get your video message across even if users have their phones set to silent. Always check the subtitle content, though. While tech solutions can be speedy, simple to use, and look great, they may still need a human sense check – particularly for brand or people names that it might not readily recognise.
Buffer
Social media scheduling tools like Buffer can help you post content regularly to build relationships with your audience. By planning posts in advance, you can think about what you want to communicate and get the balance right, but then enjoy the benefits of sitting back during the week, month or quarter as your pre-planned posts roll out. This frees up your time to focus on interacting with others on social media and growing your network through meaningful conversations.
The right systems and processes can save you time and money.
Although tech tools can seem scary, be brave and embrace them! These tools have all been created by software experts to help us. Identify the areas of your franchise where you think you could save time and find the right solution to streamline your business. Ask connections or your LinkedIn community for recommendations on the tools they have used. Experiment until you find the right tools that work for you and your franchise. Then, reap the benefits of your newly super-efficient franchise.
