Franchise PR Meets AI: Lessons from a People-First Agency
At All Points Public Relations, we’ve spent the past few years testing, learning, and leading with AI to work smarter in achieving our clients’ goals. In franchising, where relationships, strategy, and storytelling drive growth, AI can’t replace the human touch—however, it can help us work efficiently and more creatively.
We’re breaking down some of the biggest myths about AI in PR and marketing and sharing what we’ve learned about successfully integrating it within a fast-paced, people-first agency environment.
Myth: Letting Your Team “Figure It Out” Is Enough for AI Success
Reality: Successful AI adoption starts with leadership modeling, hands-on learning, and shared responsibility.
Leaders who haven’t taken the time to explore AI themselves will struggle to support their teams in using it effectively. If you don’t understand the tool, it’s difficult to create policies around it, ask the right questions, or evaluate the output.
At APPR, we’ve found that the best way to embed AI into our culture was to lead by example. That means leadership experimenting with different platforms, learning how to layer prompts, sharing wins and challenges openly, all while encouraging teams to do the same. We’ve held all-agency trainings, created department-specific workflows, and even swapped prompt tips like you’d share productivity hacks or keyboard shortcuts.
For franchise brands, that same mindset applies. Whether you’re rolling out AI to improve workflows, streamline training content, or support franchisee communication, it starts with you. When leadership shows curiosity, intentionality, and accountability around AI, it empowers the whole team to use it with confidence and purpose.
Myth: AI Isn’t Secure or Ethical Enough for Client-Facing Work
Reality: AI can be used safely and ethically if you put the right systems and expectations in place.
Like any other digital tool, AI is only as secure and ethical as the policies and practices behind it. At our agency, we’ve seen that when expectations are clear and usage is intentional, AI can be a safe and powerful part of a franchise brand’s toolkit.
Establishing internal policies is the first step. When everyone knows what is and isn’t appropriate to input into AI platforms, you minimize risk and maintain control. For example, sensitive data like customer information, financial details, or internal operations should never be entered into a public AI tool. But using AI to generate social media copy, brainstorm local PR angles, or summarize documents? That’s a smart, efficient way to save time.
Myth: AI Will Replace Jobs
Reality: AI doesn’t replace great people—it gives them more time to do what they do best.
In the marketing world, especially for franchise brands, success hinges on creativity, strategy, and strong execution. AI supports those efforts by cutting through the busywork to give teams more time to think big and act boldly.
At APPR, we use AI to streamline early-stage tasks and free our team to focus on the parts that really matter, like crafting creative campaigns that move the needle and building strategies that align with each brand’s growth goals. Our work always is finalized with a human, creative touch that is impossible to replace with an online tool.
For franchisors and franchisees alike, AI can make your team more efficient, but it’s your people who make the brand exceptional. Use AI to give them time, space, and inspiration to do the work that drives real growth.
Don’t Underestimate What AI Can Do for Your Brand
There’s a common fear in both franchising and marketing that AI is here to replace us. But the reality is that it’s simply a tool—an incredibly helpful one—that, when used intentionally, allows your team to focus on the work that truly moves the needle.
Curious about how to bring AI into your franchise organization in a way that feels aligned, efficient, and ethical? We’re always happy to share what we’ve learned. Get in touch today to chat with our team about how AI can help you work smarter.