A big thank you to ClientTether for sponsoring this episode of The Advisory Board Podcast. Their balance of automation and human touch is exactly what today’s discussion is all about.

This week, host Dave Hansen sits down with Amanda House, Director of Franchise Development Marketing at Lightbridge Academy—a leading early education and childcare franchise with over 160 centers open or in development. With experience across more than 35 brands, Amanda brings a rare perspective from both the franchisor and supplier side of FranDev marketing.

Amanda shares why the industry is moving beyond chasing lead volume and instead focusing on fit—finding the right owners who align with a brand’s culture. At Lightbridge Academy, this means deliberate scaling, thoughtful discovery days with executive involvement, and a relentless focus on their “circle of care.” She emphasizes that data is the new scoreboard, where cost-per-lead and return on ad spend matter more than simple reach.

The conversation also explores how AI and SEO must work together. Rather than choosing one or the other, Amanda highlights the need for strong technical SEO and backlink strategies to ensure brands surface in AI answers, while also using AI tools to research, analyze, and tailor communication. Still, she insists that the human touch remains non-negotiable when building trust with future franchisees.

Reputation also plays a starring role. Prospects are looking at Google reviews, social content, and franchisee transparency before they ever pick up the phone. Amanda’s advice? Treat every touchpoint as proof of culture. And her favorite north star metric is simple but powerful: Would your franchisees buy in again? With Lightbridge Academy boasting a high “yes” rate and 70% multi-unit ownership, the results speak for themselves.

Her closing encouragement: if you can’t measure it, you can’t sell it. It’s never too late to start tracking data, refining your digital presence, and leaning into AI tools that amplify your efforts—without replacing the personal relationships that make franchising work.