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Simple Ways to Advertise and
bring in some Day Care Business (Written By Pat
Alexander of Alexander Day Care)
FLYERS: Create some nice
flyers, full size sheet, with phone number tear off
at the bottom that you can hang up in local Laundry
Mats, church bulletin boards, community bulletin
boards, etc. Check on your flyers at their locations
frequently, and replace when necessary. Make this on
your computer, so when you Xerox, you are getting 3
copies for the price of one. It should be simple,
large print to draw attention list, Name of day
care, picture of logo to dress it up. Days open,
Hours Open, Ages you take, Meals included or food
program. If you take subsidy programs, list that,
List on there your program if you have one, if not
list, a Warm and friendly environment with in home
structure and love. If you have done any extra
classes, while becoming licensed, CPR, First Aide,
Any workshops on kids, or any Early Childhood
Education units, list this too. Put your first name,
Large bold print, and phone number large bold print,
then on the tear off Put Lic. Child care, and phone
number so people remember what that number is for.
Remember on any flyer you do never put your full
address down. Always just your nearest busiest
Streets so people have a general idea of your
location. This is for your safety.
DOOR TO DOOR FLYERS: Get a
couple of teenagers to help you out. Place flyers on
the doors of the homes in local neighborhoods that
would be convenient to your location. Avoid your
immediate neighbors. Offer a discount for the first
month and put a coupon on the flyers, They must
present the coupon to get the discount. If you have
a registration fee, you can always waive that for an
end of the year special.
CAR FLYER: you can make 3
Columbus on one page, and have 3 flyers for the
price of one when you Xerox. It will be shorter and
simpler, but get basic information on flyer.
Licensed Family Child Care Locations: (list only
your nearest cross streets no address) Ages, Days
open, Hours Open. OPENINGS NOW AVAILABLE, please
call put in large print, name and phone number.
Place these flyers on the windshields of cars, go to
locations that attract families, and always look for
the car seats in cars. McDonalds, Parks, Indoor Play
grounds, Schools nearest you, Children's clothing
stores, Children Toy Stores, (toys r us, etc.)
K-mart, Malls, but be more selective here look for
car seats, and or toys in cars as you walk up.
Community Booths Parks and
Festivities: Whenever there is an event going on
in your community you will notice that vendors have
booths set up. It could be an organization of any
type. Phone your local parks and recreation and find
out when the event dates are: Ask about vendor
booths, and the price. Find out if you would qualify
to have a booth set up. Share the booth with other
providers. Most booth are tent like, with canvas
sides, and are 3 sided. You can each take a wall of
the booth and display your day care pictures,
letters from parents, projects. Make it inviting and
informative for parent's to view. Set up a table in
front of the booth for handouts, flyers, brochures,
suckers with your business card attached and etc.
Some activities require that you have an activity
going on. If this is the case then make it a simple
activity. Such as bringing a big plastic container
along or water table, and fill it up with bubbles
and bubble wands and let the kids do bubbles. Kids
love doing that and it's not expensive to do. You
can also distribute a color page. Pick a cute
picture and at the top in large letters put your day
care name, and at the bottom your phone number and
web site. Anything you hand out should have all that
information on it. Sharing the booth brings the cost
down.
Community Flea Markets: Some
schools, parks, and parking lots have monthly flea
markets during the spring and summer. Again like the
Festivals, you can set up your own booth. Just
simply pay for a space for the day usually under $20
for the day, and set up a table and displays. If you
have a canopy of your own to bring along this would
be a wise idea to keep the sun off you. Do the same
as you would in a community festival and have
handouts and etc. Do this locally. Another way to
exposure your business.
YARD SALE: Do you plan to have
a yard sale anytime soon? If so be sure to set up a
display about your child care and a big sign about
your child and that you have openings. Another
opportunity to expose your business to your
neighborhood. Be prepared to show off your day care
while they are there and have handouts ready as
well.
CAR WINDOW SIGNS: Make up
flyers in large bold print and tape these flyers to
the inside of your car windows. (do not obstruct
your view) use the side back windows, and if you
have a van even one on the rear window. People will
see these signs while you are driving around or
anyplace you are parked. Magnetic signs for your
vehicle: Although this is a expense here are some
web sites where you can get signs at a great
discount http://www.signcompany.com/vehicle.htm
http://www.magneticsignsontime.com/ http://www.alphainstantsigns.com/magnetic.htm
I have these signs and I am very pleased with the
signs and the price. Great way to advertise.
BOOKS: Get some Children's
books and glue in a business card inside the cover,
or a small flyer that will fit inside the cover
telling about your Child Care. Donate to Doctors
offices, Dentist Offices, and other places where a
parent might pick up the book and read to their
child. (Always get permission to leave the books)
STREET SIGNS: (only if your
town doesn't have an ordinance against them)
Materials needed. Large pieces of cardboard, cut up
old boxes, glue, hammer, nails, roofing nails work
best, they are short and fat. And Xerox copies of
the sign. On plain paper, about 3 sheets, write out
LIC. CHILD CARE PHONE NUMBER WRITE this in
very large thick bold print. If you can do it on the
computer, fine, be sure it is thick, very black, and
at least 3 to 4 inch high letters. Xerox the sheets,
20-40 times, trim and glue down on to cardboard. (do
not use poster board, it is thin and starts to
droop, cardboard will last longer in the elements)
use Elmer's glue to glue down your signs, and be
sure to use plenty and get all the corners glued
down, These signs will last a while even in rain.
Placement: nail to wooden telephone poles. Place
high, might need a step stool. use 3 nails, top,
middle, bottom, to insure the sign will stay up
longer. The sign should face traffic, and you should
place them on busy streets, about a mile radius
around your area. Place on both sides of street so
people see them coming and going, place near
intersections where they can see them and read them
while sitting at signals, place near schools, parks,
etc., check on your signs, and replace as needed. I
hung up 40 the first time, sometimes more than 4 on
one street if it's a busy long street. I check on
them and replace them, I got most my calls from
these signs.
Call referral agencies and other
providers: Get on the referral list for every
agency in town. Call Licensing and ask them who the
agencies are. Be prepared to send in a copy of your
license to each of these agencies. Call local
providers, you can find them also in the newspapers
and call them. Introduce yourself, and see how their
ads are working, and what areas they are in. Call in
the evening, when you know they don't have Day Care.
Let them know you are new. And that if they are full
up if they would take your phone number and direct
some calls your way. Ask for some helpful tips. Find
out of there is a provider support group in your
area, and attend a meeting, and exchange phone
numbers. And always take their numbers too and do
the same thing with them, send calls their way.
Share the resources, ask them other resources as
well. (you might run into a couple of providers that
don't wish to talk, share, or anything, just keep on
going don't give up)
YARD SIGN: Place a nice yard
sign in your front yard. This should be of wood or
heavy plastic so it last in the rain. Use Latex
paint. Make it cute. Don't put your phone number on
the yard sign, just the name of your day care,
Licensed, hours, and ages. They can come to your
door, (always keep the screen locked) and inquire
about the day care. Have some flyers or brochures
ready to hand out about your day care. These can be
a little fancier, with more information and cute
little pictures on them. If they are interested ask
for the phone number, and set up an appointment, try
not to do a drop in appointment unless you really
feel comfortable with the person you are talking to.
A mom with a kid in tow. But do not do a drop in
appointment if a man comes to the door, or a woman
that you feel uncomfortable with and you are there
alone. Always take precautions, and simply tell
them, your first interview you do after day care
hours, (when your husband is home) and then they can
come back for a second visit when the kids are
there. If you have a ordinance against signs in your
yard then place it on Garage door. Remember you can
always take it down when your spots are full. Can
also make a large window sign that is visible to the
street as well.
REALTORS: Give some business
cards to local Realtors that they can pass out to
clients moving into the area and looking for
possible Day Cares, ask Realtors to put your card,
or flyer in their business packets that they give
new clients. If there are open houses going on in
your area stop and ask the Realtor to place your
flyers or cards on the table with his brochures and
etc. A selling point to parents is affordable day
care near by.
APARTMENTS, AND OFFICES: visit
local apartments and talk to the managers and see if
you can put a stack of flyers, maybe half sheets, on
their front desk for their tenants to find, and or
new tenants coming in. Also check with Doctors,
Dentist and medical offices, Especially Children's
Doctors, and Dentist, and see if you can leave some
flyers there.
BUSINESS CARDS: you can even
make these up on the computer if you have a good
program. Print Master Gold series, Print Shop, and
etc. Use Business Card stock that you can find at
any stationary, or computer store. Print up cards to
always carry with you. You never know when you might
run into people and get to talking and they ask for
a business card. go to http://www.vistaprint.com and
order 250 cards for FREE. only cost is shipping and
handling.
T-SHIRTS: Get some T shirts
for yourself and the DC, even your own kids. You can
buy transfer paper at the computer stores, and make
up your own designs and do your own T-shirts. Put in
large print on the backs of the shirts, The name of
your day care, (phone number optional) You need a
program on your PC that will reverse the lettering
before you print it on the transfer paper. Iron them
on, and whenever you take the DC out to the park or
something have them wear their Day Care shirts.
(keep them at the house) It makes it easier for you
to see the kids while out, and you are advertising
as well. You will get people coming up to you and
asking about your day care.
Extra Ideas: for next year
call your local yellow pages in advance. You can put
your phone line and list it as a business line and
get to advertise in the yellow pages free. So check
it out. Or just advertise in the yellow pages. The
cost varies on the size ad you place. From a little
one line add to a boxed ad and then the sizes of the
box ads. Some yellow pages have specials for first
time advertisers. Ask and see if yours does. Also
when doing any of the above, always carry extra's
with you at all times ready to do. So if you come
across a new place you have a flyer, or business
card or something to hang out.
HALLOWEEN: A perfect night to
advertise. Include your business card into trick or
treat bags. You can attach them to the candy you
give out or simply drop them in the bags. Think
about the number of kids that come to your door. I
myself also put a sign on my front door (decorated
to match the occasion) that this is a day care, and
have mini flyers attached for parents to take when
they walk up. Always use every opportunity to
advertise.
LOCAL COMPANIES: Find the
large companies nearest you. Especially High Tech
computer / software companies where they staff a
large department of employees. Write a letter to
Human Resources or Personnel there. Write a
professional letter, and state that you are a
licensed child care offering quality child care
services in this area. That you have some openings
and would like to offer your services to the
employees of their company. Ask if you can do the
following: 1. Post a flyer in their employee lounge,
or employee news letter 2. Come to their company and
use a meeting room where the employees can come and
meet you and talk to you about child care. Have a
stand up display made showing pictures of the kids
at various activities. Also list what you have to
offer these possible prospects. Have hand outs ready
to give them such as: business cards, brochures, and
other handouts on nutrition, health in the day care
and useful information for parents. Parents like
getting this stuff and it makes you look good. Have
a sign in sheet for them to sign when they come in.
Have on there. Name, home phone, email, ages of
children and if they would like to visit your day
care Talk freely, answer questions. Leave materials
behind for anyone that might have missed the
meeting, and ask those who came to pass the word
along.
OPEN HOUSE: Host an open
house. Pick a Saturday to do this. Just for about 3
hours. A couple of days in advance hang out street
signs (remove them later) that are printed up much
like Yard sale signs. Use neat very bold large print
and place on sturdy cardboard. Place on busy streets
near your home marking the way with arrows like you
would for a yard sale. Plus a big sign with some
ribbons and balloons on your front lawn. OPEN HOUSE
CHILD CARE COME VISIT OUR CHILD CARE SATURDAY DATE
TIME ADDRESS Be prepared to have handouts. Business
cards, brochures, other useful information. Have
that stand up display to show the kids in action.
Have a couple of your current day care parents there
to also be a reference for you. Do not do this
alone. If you have a video of the kids at play and
doing activities show that as well. Give tours of
your day care. Also when you do this, do not have
your own children there at that time Send them off
to grandmas or a friends. Less distractions, and
this gives you the opportunity to talk to these
people without the children interrupting. This also
means any DC parents coming to leave their children
behind as well. Have letters from your DC parents
that could not come to show. Serve some cookies and
punch, set up on the table so they can help
themselves.
PROMOTIONS: Try placing
coupons on your flyers. or a promotion in your
advertising. the coupon can be good for any of the
following: 1. If you sign up during the month of
_______________________registration fees will be
waived. A $25.00 or $50.00 savings. 2. This coupon
good for one free parents night out. Coupon entitles
parents 4 free hours for an evening out. $25.00
value per child. One coupon per family when the
enroll their child. 3. Sign up during the month of
___________and get a 10% deduction off your first
months child care fees. A $_____________value. 4.
Sign up during month of _____________and receive
savings of $10.00 a week off child care fees the
first 90 days of enrollment. $120.00 savings. Always
Put an expiration date on the coupons. Tell Parents
in your Day Care if the find a new client for you
and the client signs up they will receive a free
parents night out, or $10.00 off a weeks fees. And
the new family they bring in will also receive a
Free Parent's night out or something. Give The
parent a certificate when they bring a new client
that has enrolled. And they cash it in when they
want to. However, on parents night out make sure
it's a night convenient to you as well. And they can
only use it on specific days. Such as the 2nd or 4th
Friday of the month.
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