Episode description

Franchising has great appeal, but is it right for you? Tom Russo, Brian Parker and Ken Cook take an in depth look at franchising; the good, bad and ugly of it.

As always, we open with what’s Hot in the world of customers, marketing, and sales. Presenting the Hot Potato News for the first full week of October 2012.

Are Facebook clicks totally meaningless? The answer is yes, no or maybe, depending on who you are. Hubspot’s blog explores how your social media metrics need to align with your marketing strategy.
http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/33671/are-facebook-clicks-totally-and-utterly-meaningless?source=Blog_Email_[Are%20Facebook%20Clicks%20]

Hubspot’s blog strikes again with 7 Reasons Why Your Brand Will Never Be As Awesome As Apple’s. How many do you identify with?
http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/33661/7-reasons-your-brand-will-never-be-as-awesome-as-apple?source=Blog_Email_[7%20Reasons%20Your%20Brand]

One feature you don’t want on your iPhone -- the ability to spy on you. Yet Congress has decreed that iPhone’s (and other smartphones) can spy on you because the manufacturers are based in China -- specifically Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-07/huawei-zte-provide-opening-for-china-spying-report-says

The Allure of the Franchise -- Here are 10 Things Every Franchise Owner Should Know
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/60746

Here are Five Reasons Why Franchise Ownership isNo Longer the American Dream
http://www.forbes.com/sites/caroltice/2012/05/23/5-reasons-why-franchising-is-not-american-dream/

And lastly, the do's and don'ts of franchising. With franchising, just like any other business, success is far from guaranteed. But here are a few tips to better your odds.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/08h/07/smbusiness/franchising_dosanddonts/?postversion=2007080803

Tom Russo, Brian Parker, Ken Cook and Open for Business #51 – more great information than you could hope for in less than an hour.

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