Patrick Schwerdtfeger is a leading authority on self-employment and a motivational speaker who regularly speaks to small business owners, many of whom are franchise owners. Patrick is the author of the award-winning book Marketing Shortcuts for the Self-Employed (2011, Wiley) and a regular speaker for Bloomberg TV. He has spoken at conventions and business events around the world, some of them for large franchise organizations. Examples of the largest franchise companies include Midas Muffler Centers, Meineke, FastSigns, MAACO Collision Repair Centers, and Quizno’s Subs. Patrick spoke at The Footwear Event in Chicago and The Soccer Event in Philadelphia in 2012, both attended by a large number of franchise retailers. He also spoke for MaidPro in Boston in 2013 and his small business focus make his tactical marketing content perfect for franchise audiences. His marketing philosophy for franchise owners is described in more detail below.
Past speaking clients include:
Recent speaking destinations include:
Franchise Business Keynote Speech
The most important aspect of most franchise operations is that they’re local. That means the marketing opportunity is with online platforms that enhance the local experience, including Yelp, FourSquare and Facebook among others. The easiest way to engage local patrons is with contests. And don’t think you need to offer big prizes either. Offer tiny little prizes for tiny little actions. It’s remarkable what people will do for a cup of coffee! By offering exclusive discounts and hosting fun contests, franchise owners can explode awareness and build a loyal customer base.
Most franchise owners have heard all the hype about social media and online marketing, and are skeptical that it can actually deliver results … and they’re right. Most people engaging on platforms like Facebook and Twitter are just wasting time! But there are a few who are seeing massive results with very little effort. In his 60-minute keynote program, Patrick will introduce your franchisees to a series of fun, insightful and relevant case histories so they can see what other people have done and how they can use similar strategies themselves. And at the end, Patrick distills the stories down into a 3-step “winning formula” that will have your attendees buzzing with exciting new ideas!
