The AI Advice No One's Giving Franchisors

The AI Advice No One's Giving Franchisors

What should AI implementation actually look like in a franchise if you strip back the hype? In this episode of the Disruptive Franchise Podcast, Stacey sits down with Matt Harmsworth, founder of AI or Die and Loki, to talk about the pitfalls and where people are going wrong and the dangers that franchisors feel with franchisees using AI badly. The discussion also looks at we should be using AI as a digital employee and what Franchisors should be installing to help their franchisees succeed. Stacey gives real franchise world examples of where this has been done as early adoption and Matt shares his vast experience from working with a wide range of businesses. This episode also explores how the 'future' is now here and Matt shares insight on voice AI, agentic search, and how lead gen is shifting away from PDFs and static funnels toward interactive, conversational front ends. If you want to keep up to date with Matt and his view of AI, head to his website; https://matt-harmsworth.com/ [https://matt-harmsworth.com/] and sign up to his newsletter or connect with him on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mattharmsworth] If you're a franchisor looking to improve your franchise recruitment and update your systems, sign up to Stacey's Predictable Pipelines Masterclass here: https://impactfranchisingtheagency.com/masterclass  ------- A Thank You To Our Sponsors: Our headline sponsor, Impact Franchising - The Agency, builds a predictable pipeline - done for you! Founded by Stacey Cann, Impact Franchising - The Agency believe there’s a better way to get results. Our ethos is simple: franchise sales and marketing, done right. After seeing her franchise strategy clients constantly get stuck at the implementation stage, Stacey created the agency to take that off their hands - delivering sales and marketing that actually drives growth. Everything we do is built around strategy and your authentic human voice. Check out more details here [https://impactfranchisingtheagency.com/] Support The Podcast Don't forget that the best way you can support us is to subscribe to the podcast - not only will you get notified of future episodes as they are released, you will also be helping us get more amazing guests to come and share their secrets in franchising!

The Hidden Problem in Franchise Recruitment

Most franchisors think they have a recruitment problem, but Stacey argues it's actually a predictability problem.  In this episode she breaks down how to tell the difference. If you can't forecast your leads and conversions three to six months out, this episode is for you as Stacey breaks down how to tell the difference and why it matters - in ways that you don't realise.  Stacey unpacks what "predictable" really means, talks about evergreen consistent systems and makes the case for self-qualifying lead funnels over always-on personal hustle.  She also digs into the numbers: industry benchmark conversion rates, why tracking your own data changes the game, and how to reframe "the economy is bad" excuses. The episode closes with two underused recruitment opportunities for 2026 that you should be jumping on now too. If you need help with this, register for Stacey's Predictable Pipelines: The Masterclass, which is happening for free on 29th June: https://impactfranchisingtheagency.com/masterclass  [https://impactfranchisingtheagency.com/masterclass ] Keywords franchise recruitment, predictable pipeline, franchisor mindset, franchisee retention, lead generation for franchisors, franchise sales system, franchise marketing 2026, evergreen marketing, lead qualification, franchise growth strategy, redundancy recruitment opportunity, young franchisee recruitment, franchisor burnout ------- A Thank You To Our Sponsors: Our headline sponsor, Impact Franchising - The Agency, builds a predictable pipeline - done for you! Founded by Stacey Cann, Impact Franchising - The Agency believe there’s a better way to get results. Our ethos is simple: franchise sales and marketing, done right. After seeing her franchise strategy clients constantly get stuck at the implementation stage, Stacey created the agency to take that off their hands - delivering sales and marketing that actually drives growth. Everything we do is built around strategy and your authentic human voice. Check out more details here [https://impactfranchisingtheagency.com/] Support The Podcast Don't forget that the best way you can support us is to subscribe to the podcast - not only will you get notified of future episodes as they are released, you will also be helping us get more amazing guests to come and share their secrets in franchising!

Why People Aren't Finding Your Franchise (And How to Fix It This Week)

Over 80% of search users are already relying on AI-generated summaries. If your franchise isn't showing up in them, you're invisible.  In this episode, Stacey breaks down why the old playbook of paid Google ads and keyword-stuffed websites can no longer cut it, and what franchisors need to do right now to get found in this new era of generative engine optimisation (GEO). You'll learn why YouTube has become non-negotiable for franchise marketing, how citation across trusted platforms directly impacts both your organic and paid results, and the one simple thing you can do today to find out exactly what the AI engines already know (and don't know) about your brand. This one's a kick up the bum if you needed it...  If you are stuck on what kind of content to create - download Stacey's messaging framework here: https://staceycann.com/framework [https://staceycann.com/framework]  Keywords: Generative engine optimisation, GEO franchise, AI search franchise, Franchise marketing, Franchise visibility, disruptive franchise podcast ------- A Thank You To Our Sponsors: Our headline sponsor, Impact Franchising - The Agency, builds a predictable pipeline - done for you! Founded by Stacey Cann, Impact Franchising - The Agency believe there’s a better way to get results. Our ethos is simple: franchise sales and marketing, done right. After seeing her franchise strategy clients constantly get stuck at the implementation stage, Stacey created the agency to take that off their hands - delivering sales and marketing that actually drives growth. Everything we do is built around strategy and your authentic human voice. Check out more details here [https://impactfranchisingtheagency.com/] Support The Podcast Don't forget that the best way you can support us is to subscribe to the podcast - not only will you get notified of future episodes as they are released, you will also be helping us get more amazing guests to come and share their secrets in franchising!

Why Your Prospects Go Quiet After the Discovery Call (And How to Fix It)

You had a great discovery call. The vibe was good, they were excited, and you thought — yeah, this is the one. And then nothing. If you've ever followed up twice, three times, more - and still heard crickets - this episode is for you. The truth is, a quiet prospect is not a dead prospect. And the reason they've gone quiet probably isn't what you think. In this episode Stacey unpicks the real reasons franchise prospects disappear after the discovery call, why most franchisors are unknowingly making it worse, and exactly what you can put in place to fix it. Stacey covers: * Why prospects go quiet - and why it's rarely about the money * The follow-up mistakes that are costing you sales right now * Why your nurture process probably stops too soon (and what to do instead) * The one question you should be asking on every discovery call * How to stay top of mind without feeling like you're pestering people Buying a franchise is one of the biggest decisions a person will ever make. Your job isn't to pressure them into a yes... it's to make sure that when they're ready, you're still the one they're thinking about. If you're generating leads but struggling to convert them, this episode will change the way you think about your whole recruitment process. 🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe so you never miss one — and if it resonated, leave a review. It genuinely helps more business founders find the show! ------- A Thank You To Our Sponsors: Our headline sponsor, Impact Franchising - The Agency, builds a predictable pipeline - done for you! Founded by Stacey Cann, Impact Franchising - The Agency believe there’s a better way to get results. Our ethos is simple: franchise sales and marketing, done right. After seeing her franchise strategy clients constantly get stuck at the implementation stage, Stacey created the agency to take that off their hands - delivering sales and marketing that actually drives growth. Everything we do is built around strategy and your authentic human voice. Check out more details here [https://impactfranchisingtheagency.com/] Support The Podcast Don't forget that the best way you can support us is to subscribe to the podcast - not only will you get notified of future episodes as they are released, you will also be helping us get more amazing guests to come and share their secrets in franchising!

Why AI Scripts Are Killing Franchise Recruitment (And What to Do Instead)

In this episode, Stacey gets refreshingly honest about one of the biggest mistakes she's seeing franchisors make right now - reaching for AI-generated scripts to power their video content and recruitment marketing. We're living in a trust recession right now. Potential franchisees aren't just buying a business model - they're buying you. Your story, your energy, your imperfections. And when your video sounds like it was written by a robot (because it was), they feel it.  That icky, off feeling? That's inauthenticity, and it's costing you candidates before they ever get on a call with you. Stacey shares her own experiment going deep into video tools and AI scriptwriting; what she found, why she hated it, and the moment a fabricated case study appeared in her own script.  She also explains why Gen Z in particular - the franchise buyers you should be attracting - are actively walking away from overly polished, over-produced content and craving something real. This isn't an anti-AI episode. It's an episode about the line between using AI to support your voice and using it to replace it - and in franchise recruitment, crossing that line could be the thing standing between you and your next franchisee. You'll come away with: * Why authenticity beats consistency in franchise recruitment every time * The real reason AI scripts feel "off" and why your prospects notice * How Gen Z buying behaviour should be reshaping your content strategy * What AI should (and shouldn't) be doing in your marketing Hit play. No script required. 👉 Want help with your marketing? Get Stacey's free framework to improve your franchise messaging: https://staceycann.com/framework  ------- A Thank You To Our Sponsors: Our headline sponsor, Impact Franchising - The Agency, builds a predictable pipeline - done for you! Founded by Stacey Cann, Impact Franchising - The Agency believe there’s a better way to get results. Our ethos is simple: franchise sales and marketing, done right. After seeing her franchise strategy clients constantly get stuck at the implementation stage, Stacey created the agency to take that off their hands - delivering sales and marketing that actually drives growth. Everything we do is built around strategy and your authentic human voice. Check out more details here [https://impactfranchisingtheagency.com/] Support The Podcast Don't forget that the best way you can support us is to subscribe to the podcast - not only will you get notified of future episodes as they are released, you will also be helping us get more amazing guests to come and share their secrets in franchising!