Not alot on enquiries through childcare.co.uk

**Little_Tootsies** · 12-01-2014, 04:17 PM

HI everyone!!

Not sure if just me or if anyone else is finding that childcare.co.uk doesn't have a lot of new members (I'm in the kent area) or that they get a lot of enquires through it. I've had 3 calls in the 6 months that I have been on their. I seem to get a lot more interest on my facebook business page than on there.

Does anyone have any advertising ideas? I have business cards, childcare.co.uk advert, facebook business page, & have an advert on gumtree.

Am thinking of printing some leaflets and dropping then through doors local to me or putting some in the school reception that I collect from.

Does anyone have the magnetic car stickers. And if so so you get much contact through them.

Thanks in advance any help and ideas will be much appreciated.

X

**Rick** · 12-01-2014, 05:12 PM

Do you have a free or gold membership on childcare.co.uk? If only a free member it may be that you have to be more proactive as you get out what you put in. You can get enquiries as a free member as gold members can contact you but in order that you can contact all parents you can upgrade.

Word of mouth and getting yourself known in the local community e.g. toddler groups, is the best way of finding prospective parents.

Good luck

**Little_Tootsies** · 13-01-2014, 12:13 AM

Hi :-)

I am a gold member of childcare have been buying it religiously every monthly.

Thanks for your suggestion I go to a few play groups during the week so maybe something will come up from that.

Thanks again.

**MessybutHappy** · 13-01-2014, 07:04 AM

If you are doing before and after school, contact the local schools and let them know you have availability, are you on your local family information service lists?
A simple notice in your local news agent window might help too, also taking to new parents in your local parks? Good luck, it's frustrating but will pick up, I'm sure!

**Rick** · 13-01-2014, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Little_Tootsies

Hi :-)

I am a gold member of childcare have been buying it religiously every monthly.

Thanks for your suggestion I go to a few play groups during the week so maybe something will come up from that.

Thanks again.

Cast your net as wide as you can as you never know. Some parents may live at quite a distance but may have a job near you (like one of my children) or may be looking for a nursery (convince them to change their mind

).

Toddler groups are idea. People get to know you and you become a better proposition than someone they don't know. Particularly good for me being a male childminder!

**hectors house** · 13-01-2014, 09:56 AM

I do have car stickers on my car even though I don't have any vacancies at the moment - I hope it gets my name "out there" so that when parents are looking for a childminder my name may "jump out" at them on childcare.co.uk website or they may remember my name and do a yellow pages search for me. I also have hi-viz vests for the children with my name and mobile number on (mostly so I can see kids in the easily in the park and in case they get lost) but it also shows other parents using the park that hopefully I am a good childminder and take my mindees out for lots of fresh air and exercise.

**Little_Tootsies** · 13-01-2014, 10:45 AM

Thanks for your suggestions. Good idea hectors house love the hi-viz option will look into that now

**Little_Tootsies** · 13-01-2014, 10:47 AM

Thanks mtk007 never thought about casting my net wider that's defiantly something that I am going to do from now on. Much appreciated.

**Richard** · 13-01-2014, 10:54 AM

We have more new members than ever - over 720,000 active members. January is always the busiest month.

**sarah707** · 13-01-2014, 03:05 PM

There is some advice here about how to make the most of your profile

Writing your profile - Childcare.co.uk

**hectors house** · 13-01-2014, 03:42 PM

Do you just wait for parents to contact you on childcare.co.uk? - as I believe that you can search for parents in your area looking for childcare and contact them too if you are a gold member.

**Little_Tootsies** · 13-01-2014, 04:32 PM

I do contact parents asking if they are still looking for care but either get no reply or I'm not close enough within our area to them. :-(

**Little_Tootsies** · 13-01-2014, 04:33 PM

Thanks Sarah707 I try to update it once a month tweeting it a little bit here and there.

**wee_elf** · 22-01-2014, 09:03 PM

Thanks for the tips on advertising. I read on another site that someone got their details printed on a umbrella.
Could I please ask where you got your car stickers made? Thank You

**Little_Tootsies** · 28-01-2014, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by wee_elf

Thanks for the tips on advertising. I read on another site that someone got their details printed on a umbrella. Could I please ask where you got your car stickers made? Thank You

Hi I think you can get them on a few online websites through google I also saw them for twenty pounds for two on ebay if you have that.

**b miller** · 28-01-2014, 03:58 PM

I also find that with childcare .co.uk . How do you set up a face book business page? That is a good idea that I might pinch ! If that's ok

**Little_Tootsies** · 30-01-2014, 01:03 PM

Hi :-). Yes that's fine happy to help. if you google create facebook page it will bring the link up follow that and if you registered log in or create account. Hope I've helped. :-)