1. fo cus : soci a l m ed i a busi n ess bo ost ers
DELIVERING
THE NEXT
BIG THING!
Not that long ago every business had to be
convinced why they should include one
dollar of Social Media in the marketing
budget. Even more recently businesses
continue to struggle with an inadequate and
un-measured social presence – but there are
also thousands of success stories.
So what happened?
Sitting in the Head Office, the founder of the
international network welcomes any and all
questions about the development of a unique
franchise. Collins is upfront about the
industry and the current state of play in the
social space.
A network of franchisees and Master
franchisees around the country, international
expansion in process, a growing list of
clients, and strategic planning to be the
standard, and authority in a booming
industry. Apparently, Max Collins has
something to get of his chest.
24 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand
A few years ago business and Social
Media were worlds apart with little
understanding of how one impacted the
other. Where do you fit in?
We stuck to our belief and passion for a
growth product we knew could help a lot
of people and businesses. It’s thrilling to
think how far my team and I have come
in less than two short years. Today we are
the ‘go to’ social marketer simply because
we offer organisation, structure, national
representation and well proven results.
And when you launched in 2011 it was still
in the relatively early days of social media
and business?

2. When we launched, social media was a new
business tool. Today, it is a critical channel
for businesses seeking to engage customers
and stakeholders. We see the results daily.
Let’s discuss your growth model. Is SMBB
about growing outwards and upwards?
Every new franchisee allows us to extend
the model and services we provide for social
media management, social marketing, social
customer service, social training and selling.
It will also allow us to significantly expand,
while continuing to innovate the services our
clients use and trust.
As the marketing world moves from paying
its way - to earning its way, my dynamic
franchisee team at Social Media Business
Boosters is acutely aware that the brands
that will thrive and survive are those with
executives who understand the incredible
opportunity new media offers them and
commit to excellence in managing their
social presence.
You mention ‘opportunity’ but surely the
pace of change in the Social Media space
can be challenging for anyone, not least
your network?
No, it’s a fantastic opportunity! It’s the way
our world is moving and I am still stunned
and surprised when I talk to senior people in
blue chip organisations who say ‘I still don’t
really get social media but we have allocated
a significant budget for it’. In the same
breath they say ‘we want you to get started
with our work because we know we have to
be there’!
“
Right Product, Right Place, Right Time
is the advice from the experts if you
are looking to become a social media
marketing specialist with the world’s
leading social media marketing franchise
company.”
carried out in all multimedia channels –
written, visual, video etcetera.
A number of newer franchisees are extremely
commercially savvy they have recognised
and seized the training and up-skilling we
deliver and are on their way to building big
businesses.
Where do your clients come from?
Anywhere! I mean to say I am continually
amazed. They can be the musician next door
who wants a social presence, or a corporation
with regional offices in many overseas
territories. We have an eclectic mix of clients
from all over the world.
Your franchisees cover a little bit of
everything and are focussed on specialties.
So geographically this isn’t an issue?
In the main Australian franchisees work
with local clients. The brand also excels by
delivering for national customers. We are
able to provide true local representation
Australia wide.
What do you mean by ‘local
representation’?
And what is the typical qualification
process for anyone looking for a business
in which to invest?
A most recent example is 2013 Federal
Election campaign. We provided Social
Media Services for a major political party.
Franchisees were on hand to work with
candidates at the local level. A city based
office can’t talk local issues like a local!
Another is a national financial services
professional. Consider our franchisees as the
local voice for its agents around the land we
position them locally as the ‘go to expert’.
Our qualification criteria is becoming
more selective as we grow. It needs to.
Effervescent people skills are paramount
in social media. Not only does personality
shine through when working with clients it
is also reflected in all elements social work
A near perfect customer retention rate,
and great business return on social media
effort, very high average monthly net profits
and super successful quotation to client
acceptance ratio exudes the message that we
are doing things right.
Tell me what your franchisees do?
Social Media Business Booster franchisees
provide Social Media, Public Relations,
Digital Training and a range of online
marketing services for a wide variety of
clients.
You’ve touched on ‘Return On Investment’
and it seems that some businesses are wary
of where the ROI comes from. How do you
approach this?
Don’t you mean extra profit for return
on investment? For the business owner
measured profit dollars are generally the
first thing in their minds but they also
understand that nothing influences people
more than a recommendation from a trusted
friend. A trusted referral influences people
more than the best paid broadcast message
or advertisement. As Facebook’s, Mark
Zuckerberg says,“ a trusted referral is the
Holy Grail of advertising”.
For a not-for-profit client the objective
can be measured very differently. Social
Media has the ability to provide a broad
range of solutions dependent upon what is
required. We listen to the customer and act
according to need, to put it simply results are
sometimes delivered in 10 or 20 different
ways. It’s a fascinating new shift and I think
it’s an attraction to those seeking a business
opportunity with a difference.
Tell me about your types of clients?
In a word diverse! A misconception is
that we only work with business clients.
We also do work for Federal, State and
Local government, plus the many different
departments. The range of tasks is vast
covering crowd engagement for anything
from road closures to economic data.
Clients may be sporting bodies, athletes,
entertainers, events, charities, wineries, and
more. As we say, “getting the work is the
easy part”.
A piece from Peter Switzer earlier this year
mentioned “fishing where the fish are”. So
if your customers are on Twitter, Facebook,
LinkedIn and other platforms your
Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand 25

3. fo cus : soci a l m ed i a busi n ess bo ost ers
business needs to be there too. What’s
your take on this?
I agree and I’d add to this by saying that
switched on sales staff are now using
Social Media to monitor potential clients or
competitors to gather intelligence, network
and more. It is providing a competitive edge.
In a recent study by researcher Aberdeen
Group it was found that sales people using
this knowledge out performed peers by a
whopping 73 per cent.
We haven’t spoken about training yet.
Obviously you shouldn’t be a social media
guru from day one. How do you train
Franchisees?
We run induction and training programs
at our head office training facility. Our
accredited program covers many modules,
from technical to customer care, and is
delivered by certified trainers.
What happens in the training room is only
the start, ongoing training is paramount we
update franchisees by buddying, webinars,
breakfast meetings, forums and such, which
are the norm.
Can you identify for me some strengths
and weaknesses you have been challenged
with as the first Social Media Franchise to
hit the market?
We are a leader in what can sometimes
be considered a disorganised industry.
There are thousands of independent social
media managers. Many are self-taught
and operating their own social agencies. It
can be difficult to position yourself as the
standards setter, but I feel that is increasingly
the perception.
A good analogy is when websites became
a ‘must have’. There were people rushing
around offering to build a site for the sake of
having one in most cases without considering
the purpose. The SMBB franchise brand
is international, professional, structured,
reputable and a proven leader. I’m not
surprised some are possibly trying to emulate
what we do!
Are there any other weaknesses for your
competitors or any one for that matter to
exploit?
Demand is dictating that we gain more
franchisees to allow us to provide Social
Media Services for our Australian and
26 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand
International multi outlet clients; this is a
current weakness we must overcome.
The SMBB mantra is to empower its
franchisees to reach new markets for clients
using social media – to help them connect,
inform, and manage reputation like never
before. This growth gives us additional
resources to expand quickly and strategically
on deliver on our vision around the world.
The franchise is seeking franchisees to
build the brand and continue to deliver.
If you are a lover of all things social and
ready to build a new career in your own
business, surprise yourself!
Call the franchisor Max Collins:
Office 1300 298 898
Mobile 0433 229 900
Facebook.com/
SocialMediaBusinessBoosters
connect@smbboost.com
http://Welcome.
SocialMediaBusinessBoosters.Co