sarah707
26-04-2013, 11:42 AM
Promoting your childminding provision
There are many different ways to advertise your provision to parents - and it is important that you utilise as many as possible to raise your profile in the local community.
Internet advertising
The more links you can create on the Internet, the better chance parents have of finding you if they search for a childminder within a certain area. It can be hard work setting up the initial links, but once they are in place you simply need to monitor and tweak them from time to time.
Ideas for places to post your details, used by Childminding Forum members, include -
• Childcare.co.uk - write your free advert Babysitters, Childminders, Nannies, Nanny Jobs, Private Tutors - Childcare.co.uk (http://www.childcare.co.uk).
• Facebook - create a business page and let all your friends and families know about it.
• Twitter - make links with other childminders in your local area and advertise each other’s vacancies.
• Website - once you have created your website you need to link it in as many places as possible. For example, add a reciprocal link to the Childminding Forum post it on there; link to local childminders and local businesses so you are advertising each other.
• Use classified sites such as Gumtree, Thomson Local and Yellow Pages - beware of any sites which request money for advertising.
• Put your advert in the appropriate area in the free Childminding Forum advertising section.
• Use Google as an advertising medium - you can post your business name and a little map with your general location to help parents who are looking for childcare in your area.
• Set up an e-mail signature so that each time you send an email to friends, children’s parents and other contacts you are advertising your childminding business.
Advertising material
There are a wealth of advertising opportunities in your local area, but some are harder to find the others. To prepare yourself for local advertising you might find it useful to -
• Order business cards – print your own or get some prices from local companies.
• Design a leaflet about your services to give to people who are interested or do a leaflet drop in your local area. You never know who is looking for care or who knows someone in need of a childminder.
• Write a postcard to display in local shops – make sure it is eye catching and ask, ‘Would I answer this if I saw it on a notice board?’
Local advertising
• Word of mouth is one of your most powerful tools - tell everyone you know what you do. Tell people when you are out shopping in your town - you never know who they know! Tell parents in the playground if you pick up at school, playgroup or nursery – now is not the time to be shy!
• Ask at your local health centre / dentists / doctors surgery / gym / schools / church newsletter / toddler groups / Children’s Centre / library if you can put up a leaflet.
• Design and print a banner for the back window of your car.
• Make links in your local area and work together with childminder colleagues - we all need to help each other by passing on contact details if we are full or cannot help the family because the timing is wrong. Share your business cards and contact details with each other and work together!
Protect yourself!
Childminders are in a very vulnerable position as we work from home, mostly on our own. Be careful about who you invite into your home and, if you are concerned, offer to meet in a public location such as your local toddler group or coffee shop for the first interview - or arrange the meeting in the evening when another adult can be present.
Never accept payment by cheque or bank transfer until you have met the family and be aware of scams where you are offered more money than required for the deposit and then ask for money back. If you are in any doubt about an approach from a family, ask for advice on the Childminding Forum first.
Please add more ideas below :D
There are many different ways to advertise your provision to parents - and it is important that you utilise as many as possible to raise your profile in the local community.
Internet advertising
The more links you can create on the Internet, the better chance parents have of finding you if they search for a childminder within a certain area. It can be hard work setting up the initial links, but once they are in place you simply need to monitor and tweak them from time to time.
Ideas for places to post your details, used by Childminding Forum members, include -
• Childcare.co.uk - write your free advert Babysitters, Childminders, Nannies, Nanny Jobs, Private Tutors - Childcare.co.uk (http://www.childcare.co.uk).
• Facebook - create a business page and let all your friends and families know about it.
• Twitter - make links with other childminders in your local area and advertise each other’s vacancies.
• Website - once you have created your website you need to link it in as many places as possible. For example, add a reciprocal link to the Childminding Forum post it on there; link to local childminders and local businesses so you are advertising each other.
• Use classified sites such as Gumtree, Thomson Local and Yellow Pages - beware of any sites which request money for advertising.
• Put your advert in the appropriate area in the free Childminding Forum advertising section.
• Use Google as an advertising medium - you can post your business name and a little map with your general location to help parents who are looking for childcare in your area.
• Set up an e-mail signature so that each time you send an email to friends, children’s parents and other contacts you are advertising your childminding business.
Advertising material
There are a wealth of advertising opportunities in your local area, but some are harder to find the others. To prepare yourself for local advertising you might find it useful to -
• Order business cards – print your own or get some prices from local companies.
• Design a leaflet about your services to give to people who are interested or do a leaflet drop in your local area. You never know who is looking for care or who knows someone in need of a childminder.
• Write a postcard to display in local shops – make sure it is eye catching and ask, ‘Would I answer this if I saw it on a notice board?’
Local advertising
• Word of mouth is one of your most powerful tools - tell everyone you know what you do. Tell people when you are out shopping in your town - you never know who they know! Tell parents in the playground if you pick up at school, playgroup or nursery – now is not the time to be shy!
• Ask at your local health centre / dentists / doctors surgery / gym / schools / church newsletter / toddler groups / Children’s Centre / library if you can put up a leaflet.
• Design and print a banner for the back window of your car.
• Make links in your local area and work together with childminder colleagues - we all need to help each other by passing on contact details if we are full or cannot help the family because the timing is wrong. Share your business cards and contact details with each other and work together!
Protect yourself!
Childminders are in a very vulnerable position as we work from home, mostly on our own. Be careful about who you invite into your home and, if you are concerned, offer to meet in a public location such as your local toddler group or coffee shop for the first interview - or arrange the meeting in the evening when another adult can be present.
Never accept payment by cheque or bank transfer until you have met the family and be aware of scams where you are offered more money than required for the deposit and then ask for money back. If you are in any doubt about an approach from a family, ask for advice on the Childminding Forum first.
Please add more ideas below :D