Most franchise conferences look the same. Big ballroom. Big stage. Lots of PowerPoints. Plenty of people sitting passively, waiting for a coffee break. But here’s the truth: if you want to create an event that actually drives engagement, connection, and action, you have to design it differently.
I’ve attended, spoken at, and advised on hundreds of franchise conferences, and I’ve seen what works and what falls flat. The most successful conferences create environments where people don’t just listen, they participate.
Interactive sessions over lectures: Instead of another 60-minute keynote where people take notes they’ll never read again, consider formats that pull your audience in. Breakouts. Roundtables. Live polls. Case study discussions. When franchisees can apply lessons to their own business in real-time, engagement skyrockets.
Design for connections, not just content: Your attendees want networking opportunities just as much as they want knowledge. Build in intentional ways for franchisees, franchisors, and suppliers to connect not just at cocktail hours, but during the sessions themselves.
Focus on actionable takeaways: Engagement isn’t just about energy in the room it’s about what happens after the conference. Attendees should walk away with tools, frameworks, and strategies they can implement right away, not just inspiration.
As a keynote speaker, my focus is always on creating a two-way experience, not a one-way presentation. I don’t believe in canned talks that could be given to any audience. I believe in meeting franchise audiences where they are, addressing their challenges, and delivering insights they can act on Monday morning. That’s what increases engagement and that’s what keeps people coming back year after year.
Ready to transform your next franchise conference? Don’t settle for generic content that fails to engage your audience. Let’s design a keynote that speaks directly to your franchisees, energizes your event, and delivers actionable insights that drive results.
👉 Schedule a call with Keith Gerson today and start planning a conference your franchisees will never forget. https://gersonadvisoryservices.com/keynotespeaking/
Keith Gerson, CFE, is a globally recognized franchising expert with 50 years of experience. As President & CEO of Gerson Advisory Services, he’s known as a super-connector, trusted advisor to top franchisor CEOs, and thought leader whose webinars, articles, and the FranConnect Franchise Sales Index Report have earned him a massive industry following.