The way we measure marketing success is changing—and fast.

In 2025, more brands than ever are shifting toward performance marketing, a strategy focused entirely on measurable results. Unlike traditional brand marketing, which prioritizes awareness and reach, performance marketing is about action: clicks, leads, sales, and return on ad spend (ROAS). It’s marketing that only counts if it works.

According to a recent study featured in Marketing Week, 42% of global advertisers plan to increase their investment in performance-driven campaigns this year, moving away from vanity metrics and brand-first thinking.

So what does that mean for franchise marketers in the U.S. and Canada?

In this blog, we’ll unpack the rise of performance marketing, why it’s uniquely challenging for multi-location brands, and how tools like SocialMadeSimple powered by Modo AI help franchisors execute smarter, scalable, and ROI-focused marketing strategies.

What Is Performance Marketing—And Why Is It Surging in 2025?

Performance marketing focuses on measurable, outcome-based advertising. That means campaigns are evaluated on key metrics like:

• Cost per lead
• Click-through rate (CTR)
• Cost per acquisition (CPA)
• Return on ad spend (ROAS)
• Local engagement or conversions

Why the shift?

With economic uncertainty still looming, marketers need accountability and results. Every dollar spent is expected to show a return, especially in franchise systems where budgets are tight and stakeholders are many.

The Local Marketing Challenge for Growing Brands

Franchise brands operate in a complex environment. You’re not just managing a national brand—you’re also empowering dozens or hundreds of local operators.

That creates a unique set of challenges:

• Inconsistent local execution: Not every franchisee knows how to run effective ads.
• Wasted ad spend: National ads don’t always convert locally.
• Difficult measurement: It’s hard to track performance per location across multiple channels.

That’s where localized performance marketing comes in.

Localized Social Ads: The New Standard

Performance marketing isn’t just about running digital ads. For franchises, it’s about running localized social media campaigns that reflect local context and drive measurable results.

Let’s look at three components that matter most:

1. Hyper-Targeted Local Ads

Generic targeting doesn’t work anymore. You need to:

• Use zip-code level targeting
• Customize messaging by city, region, or demographic
• Highlight local offers, events, or testimonials

Related: Franchise Social Media Advertising Tips for Reaching Your Target Audience

2. Multi-Location Ad Management

You need centralized visibility but localized flexibility. That means:

• One dashboard to view performance across all locations
• Easy duplication of top-performing ads
• Scalable reporting for both local owners and corporate HQ

3. ROI Tracking at the Franchisee Level

Stop guessing which locations are working. Performance marketing means:

• Assigning leads to locations 
• Tracking cost per result by franchisee
• Comparing national vs. local ROI

How SocialMadeSimple Powered by Modo AI Helps You Scale It All

Managing localized performance marketing manually is time-consuming—and inconsistent. That’s why we built Modo AI.

Here’s how it helps you go performance-first without adding complexity:

Localized Paid Ads, Built by AI

Modo AI transforms your brand’s national messaging into location-specific ad campaigns—automatically.

• Copy and creative tailored to each franchisee
• Zip-code level targeting
• Real-time performance optimization
• Transparent reporting by location

Done-For-You Content Calendars

In addition to ads, we automate localized organic content that drives engagement and awareness.

• 3 social posts per week, per location
• Customized for local audiences
• Fully branded and reviewed by humans

Related: The Role of Franchisee Marketing in Brand Building and Customer Engagement

Transparent Results, No Manual Reporting

Track campaign ROI at every level—from HQ to individual owners. Whether you’re focused on:

• Franchisee hiring
• Lead generation
• Brand awareness

…Modo AI gives you the insights to optimize continuously.

Real-World Franchise Results: Floor Coverings International

Floor Coverings International (FCI), a manufacturer-direct flooring franchise with over 270 locations across North America, faced a familiar challenge: how to run performance-focused social media campaigns at scale without sacrificing quality or local relevance.

They partnered with SocialMadeSimple through a 90-day Franchise Marketing Pilot Program, where we acted as the social media team for five FCI locations. The results were so impactful that FCI expanded the program—and today, over 165 locations leverage our services as part of their ongoing marketing strategy.

Results That Matter:

• 3,200+ leads generated
• 44,000+ posts published
• 425,000+ total engagements

This wasn’t generic posting. We delivered a fully integrated strategy powered by Modo AI:

• Localized, branded content posted 3x/week to Facebook and Instagram
• Boosted posts auto-optimized to reach ideal local audiences
• Lead generation ads that collected customer inquiries without users ever leaving Facebook or Instagram
• Hyper-targeted campaigns focused on renovation-minded homeowners (ages 26–65+)

Plus, each franchisee received 24/7 access to SocialModo, our proprietary platform, where they could view content calendars, manage local campaigns, and review live performance data.

Read the Full Case Study

What this proves: Performance marketing isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a measurable path to ROI, even across hundreds of franchisees.

Your 2025 Marketing Plan Needs This Pivot

If your franchise brand is still relying on awareness-driven campaigns without measurable KPIs, it’s time to evolve.

With performance marketing, you can:

• Spend smarter
• Prove value to franchisees
• Attract higher-quality leads
• Optimize marketing at scale

And with Modo AI, you can do it faster, easier, and more locally relevant than ever before.

Franchise marketing in 2025 is all about results. That means moving away from “spray and pray” brand awareness and toward data-driven, ROI-focused strategies.

With SocialMadeSimple powered by Modo AI, you get the best of both worlds: AI automation and expert guidance—built for franchise brands that want to grow smarter.

Request a Demo Today