For those with websites

[AcornMama]

I have a question for those of you who do licensed in-home childcare and have a website:

How much personal information do you put on your website? Do you provide your full name and address?

I can understand that it would make sense for a potential dcp to know your address ahead of time and know if the location would work for them before getting to the phone call or interview step.

I can also understand someone who doesn't want the exact address out there for just anyone to find.

And it seems to me that if you have your full name on your website, people can pretty easily track down your address.

Any thoughts? How have you handled this?

Thanks!

[wdmmom]

I have a question for those of you who do licensed in-home childcare and have a website:

How much personal information do you put on your website?
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Do you provide your full name and address?
I list my name and my cell number. I do not provide a physical address or any distinguishing landmarks until prospective families make initial contact.

I can understand that it would make sense for a potential dcp to know your address ahead of time and know if the location would work for them before getting to the phone call or interview step.

I can also understand someone who doesn't want the exact address out there for just anyone to find.

And it seems to me that if you have your full name on your website, people can pretty easily track down your address.

Any thoughts? How have you handled this?

Thanks!

If I post an ad on CL, I usually identify my location with landmarks such as hospitals, malls, or main cross roads. I never, ever disclose my address unless an interview is scheduled.

When families make initial contact with me, I ask them where they work, where they live and where their ideal vicinity for childcare would be located. If I'm not anywhere near their work or home or in the vicinity of where they suggested, I suggest they contact Childcare Resource and Referral for a list of local providers that may be able to help them.

[AcornMama]

If I post an ad on CL, I usually identify my location with landmarks such as hospitals, malls, or main cross roads. I never, ever disclose my address unless an interview is scheduled.

Thanks for the feedback! I was wondering if that was an okay way to do things.

[daycare]

in my state, my homedaycare is public information because in order to run a legal in home childcare, we must be licensed. This means that my information is listed on the county website. My full name, address and what not....


But I still don't post that information on my website...

[MarinaVanessa]

Thanks for the feedback! I was wondering if that was an okay way to do things.

It is okay to do it this way if you prefer. Personally I see more benefits from advertising and adding my address because then I can take advantage of FREE listings such as Google Places, Google Business, Yahoo listings etc. If you do not post a physical address you cannot list your business. This is a HUGE way for me to get free advertising and to let people in my community know about my daycare. A parent goes online and searches for "daycare in [city]" or "daycare center in [city] and my daycare pops up in the search and in maps. Additionally I add a link to my website to my free Google and Yahoo listings which then takes them to my website. My website has TONS of pages which talk about TONS of different aspects of my daycare and the way it works. They can get pretty much any and all information they want from it which helps me out because by the time they call me I KNOW they are actually interested.

Having a website in general is a great idea but then you have to find a way to direct traffic to it. How are you going to get people to find your website?? One way to do it is to make CL ads or ads on child care websites like Daycare.com or Care.com and list your website if that is an option but to me that is very limiting. Listing your daycare on free business listings for search engines (like Google Business and Yahoo Local) simply widens your exposure but requires that you add your physical address (no PO boxes).

My biggest source of interest comes from people searching for child care via the internet. They search and my listing pops up and they click on the link which takes them to my website. When they call after reading my website info they know where I am, my rates, my hours, how FT, PT and drop-in works etc. and have the option to download and read my contract and policies in advance. Pretty much the first initial call can then focus on what their needs are (age of children, how many, schedule they need etc). My calls then usually always lead to an interview (if I have room) and then during the interview they can see my space, ask more questions and I go through my policies with them. Having as much info on my website dramatically cuts down on my time that I spend answering questions and weeding out families.

Here's my website of you want to get an idea of what I'm talking about.

[Blackcat31]

I provide ALL my info. Street address, telephone, cell number etc....

I live in a smaller community where everyone knows everyone.

[Lyss]

If I post an ad on CL, I usually identify my location with landmarks such as hospitals, malls, or main cross roads. I never, ever disclose my address unless an interview is scheduled.

When families make initial contact with me, I ask them where they work, where they live and where their ideal vicinity for childcare would be located. If I'm not anywhere near their work or home or in the vicinity of where they suggested, I suggest they contact Childcare Resource and Referral for a list of local providers that may be able to help them.

I don't list my address either but for more personal reasons (family drama) but I use landmarks within the general vicinity of my neighborhood to help parents understand my location and whether I am too far out of their commute or not.

I do have a contact form, my first name, and email as well as pictures of the space.

[AcornMama]

Personally I see more benefits from advertising and adding my address because then I can take advantage of FREE listings such as Google Places, Google Business, Yahoo listings etc. If you do not post a physical address you cannot list your business.


Here's my website of you want to get an idea of what I'm talking about.

I should have known this. My computer geek/website developer hubby would have probably looked at me like I was crazy if I had asked him first. Sounds like not listing your address defeats the biggest purpose of having said website.

<smacking self on head!>

Thank you for sharing your website with me. I'll be taking a look at it.

[AcornMama]

I provide ALL my info. Street address, telephone, cell number etc....

I live in a smaller community where everyone knows everyone.

I live in a small town as well, but not quite small enough for everyone to know everyone. But small enough if I say I live in XYZ town, people will have a pretty good idea of how far away I am from them.

Small enough that when I went to the police station for fingerprints for the licensing background check that the office manager lady was practically begging me for business cards and information on my soon-to-be business. She said she knows tons of people who are always looking for better childcare options than the few centers around here.

[AcornMama]

I do have a contact form, my first name, and email as well as pictures of the space. Here's mine

Thanks for sharing your website with me! I love seeing the pictures of the dck's busy with their activities. I bet the parents, and prospective parents, love that!

[Lyss]

Thanks for sharing your website with me! I love seeing the pictures of the dck's busy with their activities. I bet the parents, and prospective parents, love that!

Thanks, it needs an update and revamp but I'm full and my DCPs just use the calendar link so its not a priority yet!::

[MISSN]

Feel free to look @ my website. I do not put my address, but did put my general area and my phone #

http://justlikehomefamilychildcare.weebly.com/

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have a question for those of you who do licensed in-home childcare and have a website:

How much personal information do you put on your website? Do you provide your full name and address?

I can understand that it would make sense for a potential dcp to know your address ahead of time and know if the location would work for them before getting to the phone call or interview step.

I can also understand someone who doesn't want the exact address out there for just anyone to find.

And it seems to me that if you have your full name on your website, people can pretty easily track down your address.

Any thoughts? How have you handled this?

Thanks!

It has my full name on it.
It DOES have my address on it in one place using small font so that it draws the search engine to it...I can't quite remember what a website guy said to me, but he did say do it. ::

They could easily get my address from the state's website that licenses me. It has my full name, phone number, and address on there (in addition to my inspection reports/e-mail address/hours/website/etc.). Many people have inquired about my business through that website.

I am also on google when people type in "preschool" or "daycare" or "pre-kindergarten." It has my address as well.

I have NEVER had anyone randomly show up at my house because they found my address through any of those places. It doesn't bother me at all. My door is locked during the day and I have an alarm system.