Constant Contact Poll Finds Franchisors and Franchisees Expect Positive Financial Outlook for 2012; Will Use a Variety of Marketing Tactics to Support Their Efforts

WALTHAM, Mass. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- According to a new poll conducted by Constant Contact®, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTCT), the trusted marketing advisor to more than half a million small organizations worldwide, franchisors and franchisees are expecting a positive financial outlook for 2012. The poll of more than 200 franchisors and franchisees, conducted in January 2012, found that 86% of respondents expect to have moderate or strong financial performance this year. These findings echo those from a recent forecast by the International Franchise Association, which noted that after three straight years of decline, the number of franchise units are projected to increase nearly 2% in 2012 and total revenues increase 5% to $782 billion dollars.

“Franchises are beginning to feel a bit more optimistic about their futures,” said Eliot Grossman, senior manager for franchise, distributors, and direct seller groups at Constant Contact. “We’ve seen signs of this in our own operations over the past year. Our Franchise Program added more than 140 franchise brands, and 3,500 franchisee, dealer, and distributor customers during 2011—an indicator that franchises understand the important roll marketing plays to their business success.”

Additional poll findings underscore the importance of marketing to franchise success. Franchises report that they are using a variety of marketing tools to promote their organizations. Ninety-four percent of respondents cited websites as effective marketing tools to market their franchises, followed by email marketing (79%), public relations (64%), online advertising (62%), and social media marketing (60%). Ninety-three percent of respondents plan to maintain or increase their email marketing efforts in 2012.

When it comes to finding new customers, direct person-to-person communications rank high on the effectiveness scale: 93% say that in-person communications have helped them find new customers, and 88% report that telephone conversations are effective. Websites also play an important role in attracting new customers, with 85% of respondents citing it as effective.

"We've seen franchise businesses improve their results by taking an integrated approach to their marketing, combining email and social media marketing along with direct person-to-person communications,” said Grossman. “This integrated approach ensures franchises can most effectively engage with customers and get their messages in front of a wider audience to attract new ones.”

About the Constant Contact Franchise Program

Constant Contact's Franchise Program enables franchise organizations to maintain brand consistency across their franchise locations while providing each franchisee with proven tools to help market directly to their customers. Members of the Constant Contact Franchise Program receive special account pricing for franchisees, branded templates that support both corporate and local content, a dedicated Franchise team and Constant Contact's award-winning free personal coaching and support.

Franchise businesses interested in learning more about the Constant Contact Franchise Program and how email marketing can benefit their business should visit: http://www.constantcontact.com/industry/franchises.jsp.

About Constant Contact, Inc.

Constant Contact is revolutionizing the success formula for small organizations through affordable, easy-to-use Engagement Marketing™ tools that help create and grow customer relationships. More than half a million small businesses, nonprofits, and associations worldwide rely on Constant Contact to drive ongoing customer dialogs through email marketing, social media marketing, event marketing, and online surveys. All Constant Contact products come with unrivaled KnowHow, education, and free coaching with a personal touch, including award-winning customer support.

Constant Contact and the Constant Contact Logo are registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All Constant Contact product names and other brand names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

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