WSJ: Blogs Provide Insights for Franchisees and Wannabees

Reporter Richard Gibson of the Wall Street Journal writes that franchisees and wannabees can find a bevy of information from franchise blogs. The Journal describes our site:

Blue MauMau (www.bluemaumau.com). With its breaking news, original interviews with franchisers, opinion forums and a legal-events reporter who writes about cases of interest to the franchising community, Blue MauMau is a must for keeping current on what's happening in the world of franchising. Named for a Polynesian fish that protects itself from predators by swimming in large schools -- creator Dan Sniegowski thought that a metaphor for franchisees -- the site is one of a few with regular independent contributors.

To help cover costs, Mr. Sniegowski accepts advertisements, although he insists they don't influence his content. "If I ever cross [readers], at a click of a button they would go elsewhere and wouldn't come back," he says.

Mr. Gibson called with his own list and asked what were other major franchise blogs. I'm pleased to see that many of those sites are listed. The franchise blogosphere has significantly grown these past three years.

The subtitle "Sites Offer News, Comments, Updates ... Complaints Are Welcome Too" sends a message of openness, tolerance and news transparency to the franchise industry. Those qualities apply both ways. If franchisors, franchisees or individuals think that our news doesn't report their position accurately, they have an open invitation to contribute a rebutal or ask for an interview.

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Read the full story and comment at the Wall Street Journal