Kiddleywinks
15-07-2014, 02:56 PM
I joined childcare.co.uk not long after I first registered.
I got my first proper mindee from there, so it paid for itself within the first month of care.
I was fortunate enough to win a year free thanks to a competition run on this forum, just before I was due to renew, so was chuffed to bits.
This time of year is always a sad time, and I'm due to say goodbye to 2 next week, as they embark on the next journey of their little lives, 'big school'
I'd updated my profile with FIS, and childcare.co.uk, and have had a few 'airy fairy' enquiries - you know the ones....
We're having a big drop in income this year, and I was getting a little concerned about the quality of enquiries.
Well, last week, I messaged a parent, she wasn't entirely sure she was doing the right thing, choosing a minder over a nursery, first time leaving them, daunted by the whole process, and of returning to work after a number of years.
We messaged a few times, I didn't do the hard sell, I never do, guided her to FIS, as there are more minders there than online, ask around at who her friends recommend, etc.
Anyhow, we arranged a visit eventually, and she had a few others to go see too, and the upshot is...
She's coming to me! Yaaay!
Signing contracts tomorrow, and starting in August, 2 little ones. I'm so happy.
So for anyone wondering if being gold makes a difference, for me it makes a huge difference.
No, I don't always get enquiries, sometimes the enquiries I get aren't seriously looking, some never respond to a message, some never even read a message, but that's the same with all forms of advertising, I've had some very dodgy FIS enquiries too.
One client more than covers the annual fee - and you should be looking at the long term (IMO)
I got my first proper mindee from there, so it paid for itself within the first month of care.
I was fortunate enough to win a year free thanks to a competition run on this forum, just before I was due to renew, so was chuffed to bits.
This time of year is always a sad time, and I'm due to say goodbye to 2 next week, as they embark on the next journey of their little lives, 'big school'
I'd updated my profile with FIS, and childcare.co.uk, and have had a few 'airy fairy' enquiries - you know the ones....
We're having a big drop in income this year, and I was getting a little concerned about the quality of enquiries.
Well, last week, I messaged a parent, she wasn't entirely sure she was doing the right thing, choosing a minder over a nursery, first time leaving them, daunted by the whole process, and of returning to work after a number of years.
We messaged a few times, I didn't do the hard sell, I never do, guided her to FIS, as there are more minders there than online, ask around at who her friends recommend, etc.
Anyhow, we arranged a visit eventually, and she had a few others to go see too, and the upshot is...
She's coming to me! Yaaay!
Signing contracts tomorrow, and starting in August, 2 little ones. I'm so happy.
So for anyone wondering if being gold makes a difference, for me it makes a huge difference.
No, I don't always get enquiries, sometimes the enquiries I get aren't seriously looking, some never respond to a message, some never even read a message, but that's the same with all forms of advertising, I've had some very dodgy FIS enquiries too.
One client more than covers the annual fee - and you should be looking at the long term (IMO)