EMAIL 
NURTURE CAMPAIGN FOR 
FRANCHISE SALES
Background: 
The company was looking to promote their 
Hometown Stores and Outlets to multi-unit 
franchisees within the restaurant segment 
who might be looking to diversify their 
portfolio. 
To accomplish this, the company purchased 
an email blast to go out to a proprietary list 
of QSR Magazine subscribers. 
The company asked the Fishman PR content 
marketing team to design the email blast. 
We saw an opportunity to increase the ROI 
of the initiative.
The Idea: 
Instead of creating a one-time ad that could 
be easily ignored, we recommended 
creating something the recipients would be 
interested in receiving. Our team decided to 
create an eBook titled, “Secrets to Becoming 
a Franchise Empire Builder.”
The Process 
eBlast: We created an eBlast advertising 
the book that went out to 19k+ people. 
We achieved an open rate of 33%. 
The average is between 20% and 25%, 
according to marketing research. 
Landing Page: From the email, a recipient 
is directed to click on the link that bounces 
them to a landing page where they can 
download the eBook that gives tips on 
becoming a successful multi-unit 
franchisee.
LANDING PAGE 
The landing page highlighted the various 
company opportunities available. In order to 
access the eBook, potential leads were 
required to enter their name and email. 
3.5% of people clicked through to the 
landing page. The average click through rate 
is between 1.5% and 2.5%. 
There was a 22% conversion rate of people 
downloading the eBook. The best landing 
page conversion rates is around 5% - the 
average is more around 2.5%, according to 
marketing research.
LANDING PAGE 
By offering a piece of valuable content in 
exchange for contact information, the 
company was able to capture a percentage 
of QSR’s proprietary email list to use for future 
marketing efforts!
eBook 
The eBook profiled Tony Lutfi, a The company 
franchisee who has also invested in 300+ 
restaurant locations of varying brands. 
We chose him because the target audience 
could relate to Tony’s story. His success story 
validated the company’s franchise 
opportunity and acted as a trusted third 
party testimonial. 
The eBook featured: 
• Tony’s career as a Franchise Empire 
Builder 
• Tony’s process for evaluating franchise 
concepts 
• Tony’s experience with the brand
Email Nurture Campaign: Email #1 
This email was delivered 7 days after 
someone downloaded the eBook. By 
spacing out the communications, we 
were able to keep the brand top of 
mind, without annoying the recipient 
enough to unsubscribe from the 
campaign. 
The first email continued to introduce 
the brand and provide information 
about the industry and segment that 
validated the franchise opportunity.
Email #2 
The second email was delivered 14 
days after someone downloaded the 
eBook from the landing page. 
The content of the email worked to 
counteract many of the misconceptions 
a potential franchisee may have 
surrounding the brand. 
Again, the email works to keep the 
brand top of mind and nurtures the 
lead.
Email #3 
Email three was delivered 21 days after 
the eBook was downloaded from the 
landing page. 
It worked to personalize the brand by 
highlighting successful franchisees.
Email #4 
Email four was the last email in our 
nurturing campaign and was sent out 
28 days after an individual downloaded 
the eBook from the landing page. 
This email focused on the iconic brand 
of the company and emphasized the 
emotional attachment that consumers 
have for the brand. It relied heavily on a 
final call to action, which was for the 
recipient to call the Director of 
Franchise Business Development.
Results 
 Sold a Sears Hometown Store Unit 
 Closed a Multi-Unit Deal that had Been on Hold 
 Generated a Greater Percentage of Qualified Leads 
Four units were sold as a result of the strategic content marketing campaign. A new lead generated 
by the campaign invested in a Sears Hometown Store. By leveraging the interest of a fresh lead from 
the campaign, a three-unit deal with an existing Sears Hometown & Outlet Stores (SHOS) franchisee 
was closed after months of inaction. The Director of Franchise Sales informed the franchisee first and 
he quickly pulled the trigger, purchasing all three Sears Outlet Stores. 
Overall, the email marketing campaign was a success. While it resulted in the sale of a unit and played 
a key role in closing three deals with an existing lead, it also generated several new leads among 
prospects interested in the various franchise opportunities. 50% of the leads were from qualified 
candidates, who the client is still in talks with today. Besides the leads, a great aspect of this campaign 
is that the content can be repurposed indefinitely.

Franchise Sales: Content Marketing for Franchise Lead Generation

  • 1.
    EMAIL NURTURE CAMPAIGNFOR FRANCHISE SALES
  • 2.
    Background: The companywas looking to promote their Hometown Stores and Outlets to multi-unit franchisees within the restaurant segment who might be looking to diversify their portfolio. To accomplish this, the company purchased an email blast to go out to a proprietary list of QSR Magazine subscribers. The company asked the Fishman PR content marketing team to design the email blast. We saw an opportunity to increase the ROI of the initiative.
  • 3.
    The Idea: Insteadof creating a one-time ad that could be easily ignored, we recommended creating something the recipients would be interested in receiving. Our team decided to create an eBook titled, “Secrets to Becoming a Franchise Empire Builder.”
  • 4.
    The Process eBlast:We created an eBlast advertising the book that went out to 19k+ people. We achieved an open rate of 33%. The average is between 20% and 25%, according to marketing research. Landing Page: From the email, a recipient is directed to click on the link that bounces them to a landing page where they can download the eBook that gives tips on becoming a successful multi-unit franchisee.
  • 5.
    LANDING PAGE Thelanding page highlighted the various company opportunities available. In order to access the eBook, potential leads were required to enter their name and email. 3.5% of people clicked through to the landing page. The average click through rate is between 1.5% and 2.5%. There was a 22% conversion rate of people downloading the eBook. The best landing page conversion rates is around 5% - the average is more around 2.5%, according to marketing research.
  • 6.
    LANDING PAGE Byoffering a piece of valuable content in exchange for contact information, the company was able to capture a percentage of QSR’s proprietary email list to use for future marketing efforts!
  • 7.
    eBook The eBookprofiled Tony Lutfi, a The company franchisee who has also invested in 300+ restaurant locations of varying brands. We chose him because the target audience could relate to Tony’s story. His success story validated the company’s franchise opportunity and acted as a trusted third party testimonial. The eBook featured: • Tony’s career as a Franchise Empire Builder • Tony’s process for evaluating franchise concepts • Tony’s experience with the brand
  • 8.
    Email Nurture Campaign:Email #1 This email was delivered 7 days after someone downloaded the eBook. By spacing out the communications, we were able to keep the brand top of mind, without annoying the recipient enough to unsubscribe from the campaign. The first email continued to introduce the brand and provide information about the industry and segment that validated the franchise opportunity.
  • 9.
    Email #2 Thesecond email was delivered 14 days after someone downloaded the eBook from the landing page. The content of the email worked to counteract many of the misconceptions a potential franchisee may have surrounding the brand. Again, the email works to keep the brand top of mind and nurtures the lead.
  • 10.
    Email #3 Emailthree was delivered 21 days after the eBook was downloaded from the landing page. It worked to personalize the brand by highlighting successful franchisees.
  • 11.
    Email #4 Emailfour was the last email in our nurturing campaign and was sent out 28 days after an individual downloaded the eBook from the landing page. This email focused on the iconic brand of the company and emphasized the emotional attachment that consumers have for the brand. It relied heavily on a final call to action, which was for the recipient to call the Director of Franchise Business Development.
  • 12.
    Results  Solda Sears Hometown Store Unit  Closed a Multi-Unit Deal that had Been on Hold  Generated a Greater Percentage of Qualified Leads Four units were sold as a result of the strategic content marketing campaign. A new lead generated by the campaign invested in a Sears Hometown Store. By leveraging the interest of a fresh lead from the campaign, a three-unit deal with an existing Sears Hometown & Outlet Stores (SHOS) franchisee was closed after months of inaction. The Director of Franchise Sales informed the franchisee first and he quickly pulled the trigger, purchasing all three Sears Outlet Stores. Overall, the email marketing campaign was a success. While it resulted in the sale of a unit and played a key role in closing three deals with an existing lead, it also generated several new leads among prospects interested in the various franchise opportunities. 50% of the leads were from qualified candidates, who the client is still in talks with today. Besides the leads, a great aspect of this campaign is that the content can be repurposed indefinitely.