Advertising leaflet for independent cms!

[sarah707]

Independent childminders will be responsible for our own advertising... just as we are now!

We will need to stay one step ahead of the agencies who will have money to spend on marketing their childminders.

Childcare.co.uk, via the forum, wants to help us with advertising and so that we can remain sustainable through the changes that are coming.

1. Childcare.co.uk is FREE to register your details and vacancies. You do not have to pay to put your details on the site.

- Tips for staying safe online - Safety Centre - Childcare.co.uk

- Tips for writing your advert - Writing your profile - Childcare.co.uk

- Free information guides and advice - Help and Advice - Childcare.co.uk

2. Childcare.co.uk has supported the writing of these advertising leaflets which childminders can print and use to advertise their vacancies.

I hope you find them useful

[Rick]

Thanks for doing this Sarah

I urge all of you to have a look at the poster

Use it to help you fill your places.....and to promote Independent Childminding to parents

[wellybelly]

Thank you Sarah this is awesome! You've really done us proud.

[oxfordshirecm]

I really dunno where you find the time- thank you x

[Rick]

I really dunno where you find the time- thank you x

I think Sarah is one of quadruplets and they all work together

[hectors house]

Can I ask a quick question about childcare.co.uk - I only have a basic free listing, I don't think parents can see my contact details and if I receive an e-mail saying my profile has been viewed and I look at who viewed it, I see what childcare they are looking for, but I can't reply to them.

I recently received my first e-mail direct from a parent on childcare.co.uk - how did she do this - did she pay to be a member?

Is there still a discount code for forum members?

[Paulab]

Fab thank you x

[Rick]

Yes if you have received a message from a parent, they must have upgraded to gold membership. You are permitted to reply to that message ONCE even as a basic member. If you get another reply to that you can reply again once.

You must be a gold member to initiate a conversation with a parent.

Parents with basic membership can't see your contact details on your 'profile plus' just as you can't see theirs as a basic member. A gold member CAN see all contact info.

As a green member you are eligible for a discount. Please PM Richard and he will help you

[hectors house]

Thanks for speedy answer Rick, that is how I thought it worked I was just confused to get and be able to reply to an e-mail. So other that the parent knowing that I am a fantastic childminder by reading my profile - they haven't got any way of contacting me, unless one of us pays or they look me up on FIS website (which I don't think anyone knows about anymore)?

I did sent all my mindees parents a message about creating accounts so they can give me a review (had e-mail from childcare.co.uk about getting them to do it), can they access that without any of us being members?

Haven't got any vacancies at the moment but just trying to plan ahead.

[oxfordshirecm]

I think Sarah is one of quadruplets and they all work together

Haha I think you are right- no other explanation

[Rick]

Yes one of you has to upgrade to see the other person's contact details. If you try and add this info into your free profile it will be removed by admin. It goes into your profile plus and can only be read by gold members.

Ah if it was an email (rather than a message on the site) then they must have paid to see your contact details. But similarly they could have sent you a message via the site and you could have replied.

I think the parents have to be members of the site to give you a rating. I don't think anyone has to be a gold member though.

It doesn't hurt to have a free profile. You might notice someone has viewed your profile lots of times or added you as a favourite. If this person was perfect for you it would be worth upgrading, if only for a month as a new mindee will pay for your month's fee in the first few hours you have them! Don't forget your green members discount

[Stapleton83]

Thanks Sarah

Sam x

[The Juggler]

I think Sarah is one of quadruplets and they all work together

no, not quadruplets - she has cloned herself

[benandjerrys]

Sorry for sounding daft but what is the green members discount?

[Kiddleywinks]

When you have achieved 300 posts, your name will become green and you will gain access to another 'members area'.
Only long standing members (300 posts or more) can access this area and there is a discount available to green members on childcare.co.uk.

There is an initiation ceremony, it involves Wibble, and some rather painful accessories she has, but it does wear off eventually - or so they tell me

[Samijanec]

That is awesome. Thank you so much! X