When It Rains..It Pours

[Provider_Manda]

So I had asked for advice earlier in the week about terminating a family. Well I did it, and so far no issue's with that so very thankful for that. But that was $300 out the door..well I get a phone call today from a family I truly love that dcm is pretty sure she will quit school, and have to pull dcg out. So that takes me from $500 a week to $80 !!! I am so upset, not to mention this is my ds best dc friend. I have been advertising for a few weeks and NOTHING has come from it.

Any idea's on how not to get discouraged and some of the best ways to advertise ??

[MsLaura529]

Ahh! That sounds very frustrating!

I have had good luck advertising on some local facebook mom to mom sites (like swap and/or selling and buying groups). I also got some families from craigslist.

Good luck! It seems to be starting to get a little busier this time of year, at least aound here. Hang in there

[butterfly]

:hug: flyers at the school she's quitting? flyers at the library, laundromat, anywhere really.... Praying things pick up soon.

[Provider_Manda]

Thanks girls, this is the lowest I have ever been since I started 2 years ago. I just hate it is all happening in the same week!!

I like the flyer idea, I will have to make some up..Thanks

[CedarCreek]

Thanks girls, this is the lowest I have ever been since I started 2 years ago. I just hate it is all happening in the same week!!

I like the flyer idea, I will have to make some up..Thanks

I'm in the same boat right now. I'm sorry you're dealing with this :hug:

I am printing up flyers and I have ordered a couple of lawn signs from Vistaprint to put around town. I keep posting on Craigslist but I am getting nothing. I will keep trying though. I have also offered my existing families $50 off for a referral that enrolls and I am offering 1 week of free care to new families. (After the first 2 weeks of enrollment though)

[Blackcat31]

Have you considered doing an open house?

A provider friend of mine does an open house every year where she has a ton of food, games for the kids and all sorts of activities, sort of like a mini-carnival. She puts flyers up all over town, the hospital/clinic, Head Start, college, grocery stores etc. advertising her open house.

She gets new clients all the time that way.

She also starts does special discounts for military families (he DH served so she pays it forward). She gets ALOT of military families that way too.

Other ways to make your name known is to volunteer at Early Childhood events/classes in your town. Put on a Story Hour at your local library on a Saturday afternoon, volunteer to help out at a WIC clinic or a preschool screening...ANYWHERE families with young kids go.....

Network with EVERYONE! Give current families a referral bonus, offer a discount for enrolling....etc...

Sending good thoughts/wishes for LOTS of phone calls to come your way!

[Cradle2crayons]

Thanks girls, this is the lowest I have ever been since I started 2 years ago. I just hate it is all happening in the same week!!

I like the flyer idea, I will have to make some up..Thanks

I live very very rural but we have a few mom and pop shops that locals very loyally support. I have a waiting list and have always had it full.

Simply by putting up a flyer with the detachable phone number strips at the bottom and putting them up at the local mom and pops.
also, flyers at apartment complexes that have the bulletin boards where e mailboxes are?

[butterfly]

I'm in the same boat right now. I'm sorry you're dealing with this :hug:

I am printing up flyers and I have ordered a couple of lawn signs from Vistaprint to put around town. I keep posting on Craigslist but I am getting nothing. I will keep trying though. I have also offered my existing families $50 off for a referral that enrolls and I am offering 1 week of free care to new families. (After the first 2 weeks of enrollment though)

I like the lawn sign idea. I would just suggest to all that use them, ask the owner of the property before you put them up. :: You think that would be common courtsey, but one day I went outside and I had a sign in my yard advertising for ANOTHER person's daycare! I immediately took it down and threw it away. When I went to get groceries I saw the same signs in yards near all the schools. (I live by an elementary school.) It was smart thinking on that daycare provider's part to place their signs near schools, but there's no way I'm going to advertise for another competitor without them talking to me about it first. I am all about helping others and even referring to others if I can, but sheesh... !!! ::

[AcornMama]

also, flyers at apartment complexes that have the bulletin boards where e mailboxes are?

I was out taking flyers to local businesses this week, and was on my way to one when I drove past the only apartment complex in our town. I don't know why I hadn't thought of them, so I pulled in real quick and asked at the leasing office if they had a community bulletin board where I could post a flyer. They didn't, but the manager told me she'd post a flyer in her office as well as put a flyer in every folder of information they give to new/prospective tenants. I gave her all the flyers I had left and she asked for more! So I printed some more and took them by. Now everyone who visits that complex will be handed information about my preschool.

Here's hoping there's lots of families with preschoolers moving in!

[countrymom]

I have a lawn sign, dh built it. Do you know what all the people who call here say, they tell me that because I have a sign and its been here for a long time, they know that i'm serious. They comment that I'm well established in the community.

I don't advertise anywhere else. Just my sign and it does wonders.

[Cradle2crayons]

I was out taking flyers to local businesses this week, and was on my way to one when I drove past the only apartment complex in our town. I don't know why I hadn't thought of them, so I pulled in real quick and asked at the leasing office if they had a community bulletin board where I could post a flyer. They didn't, but the manager told me she'd post a flyer in her office as well as put a flyer in every folder of information they give to new/prospective tenants. I gave her all the flyers I had left and she asked for more! So I printed some more and took them by. Now everyone who visits that complex will be handed information about my preschool.

Here's hoping there's lots of families with preschoolers moving in!

Awesome !! So many apartment managers etc wouldn't do that. But that's awesome advertisement !!

[Cradle2crayons]

Have you considered doing an open house?

A provider friend of mine does an open house every year where she has a ton of food, games for the kids and all sorts of activities, sort of like a mini-carnival. She puts flyers up all over town, the hospital/clinic, Head Start, college, grocery stores etc. advertising her open house.

She gets new clients all the time that way.

She also starts does special discounts for military families (he DH served so she pays it forward). She gets ALOT of military families that way too.

Other ways to make your name known is to volunteer at Early Childhood events/classes in your town. Put on a Story Hour at your local library on a Saturday afternoon, volunteer to help out at a WIC clinic or a preschool screening...ANYWHERE families with young kids go.....

Network with EVERYONE! Give current families a referral bonus, offer a discount for enrolling....etc...

Sending good thoughts/wishes for LOTS of phone calls to come your way!

Lots of awesome ideas!!!

[Jack Sprat]

I have advertised on FB and at our grocery store, gas station, bank etc. I ordered postcards from Vista Print and use those to hang up. Also, we have a HUGE sandbox/playground so people see all the kids running around and know we are a daycare. I also had a huge drop. Went from $400 to $110 a week. I could cry. But, I have two families coming to look around Tuesday so like with any business I guess we ride the waves! Good luck things will pick up!


Oh! A website is helpful too! I put a link to my site on all my advertising. People seem to love websites!

[Laurel]

We are not allowed to have business signs on residential property so check laws first.

[cheerfuldom]

I hired some teens (that work cheap) to pass out flyers in my neighborhood....leaving them in the doors, not the mailbox! got me several kids over the years. some childrens stores (like second hand stores usually) will allow a flyer put up or business cards left. some other kids places will do that too....gymnastics and such. The kids may be older than your program allows but many of them have little siblings