No calls...

[Persephone]

So I've ran my ad (today will be day 6) for a week now and had one phone call...which was really odd, the lady acted like she didn't understand.

So I called someone else who was running an ad in the paper this week and I know I've seen her ad a few times before in the last 6 months.

I talked to her for awhile and she's not getting calls either. She had one phone call for a infant that is not due until Oct.

So I know it's just the area and no one is in need. Which really ****s!

She acted like I was crazy for wanting to do School age because in her words "They are brats!" But sounded like she didn't really do anything with them. I'm planning field trips and stuff like that to keep them busy.

[Unregistered]

I've had ads out and have got a few legit calls but the parents sounded like wackos so i declined to be their provider. , I have however been getting alot of calls from women wanting to know if I am hiring, i explain that i am an IN Home Child care provider and i do not and cannot hire an assistant, i was advertising for children to earn an income not an adult to loose income on..sheeeeeesh!
kiddiecare

[momofboys]

I'm sorry you haven't gotten any interested callers yet. Don't give up! Times are tough. I was sort of thinking of doing something this fall along the lines of a Mom's Morning Out. I only have my son & another little boy who is almost 2 so I could probably have 2-3 other kids. It would likely be for 3 hrs one day a week. I'd do crafts/storytime/outdoor play when weather permits in our backyard, etc. Not sure if it will generate much interest but it is worth a shot I figure! Have you offered up any incentive for people to try you, like maybe pay for 2 weeks up front & get a 10% discount or something like that? Just a thought.

[Liliya]

Seems like people do not read papers anymore.
I was not getting any calls from paper ads.
All mine came from craigslist and superpages, it is all free.

[missnikki]

I would also encourage your current client(s) to recruit by offering a discount if they drum up business for you.
Have a flier printed up, and ask local elementary schools to display. (think siblings)
Craigslist is a fantastic way to advertise. Where I live, we have www.yelp.com - it's like a review site that anyone can post on. It's free too. Any of those types of sites that are just feedback/review are great for business.
One idea that a friend of mine had- She went on several walking field trips over one week or so, leaving fliers around the neighborhood while with her DCK's. hey all wore matching t-shirts with the program name on them. (Easy to make on your home printer with iron-on transfer sheets.) Hopefully you're in a nice-weathered area.

[AfterSchoolMom]

Is this your ad for the summer? It may just be too soon yet...I find that parents around here don't start thinking about summer care until at least May. I put a Craigslist ad out this month just to cover my bases, but I don't expect anything for a month or two yet.

[Persephone]

Is this your ad for the summer? It may just be too soon yet...I find that parents around here don't start thinking about summer care until at least May. I put a Craigslist ad out this month just to cover my bases, but I don't expect anything for a month or two yet.

Yes it is.

I figured with spring break coming people might be thinking about it.