How Did You Get Families When You Opened?

[Calikate]

Hi Everyone!!!


Question : How did you get your families and kids when you opened?? Were you able to pre-enroll? Did you advertise? Use craigslist? Would love to hear back on the ways that worked for you!

Thanks!!

[melilley]

Honestly, the only thing I did was advertise on CL and that's where I got all of my families. I opened in Jan. of last year and was full by the beginning of March!

I do have one family replacing a child next month and they were from word of mouth of friends.

I also made a website and business cards. I have gotten a few inquiries from my website.

There are a lot of threads on this, just put in a search and I'm sure you'll get lots of ideas!

[mountainside13]

I have used craigslist and care.com. I have never received even an email from care.com but lots from craigslist.

[Lucy]

Our local newspaper. Small town, and only came out twice a week then, but once a week now. I was still working, and advertised for 2 weeks. I was able to get 3 kids to start the Monday after my last day of work, and 2 more that started a week or two after that. This was almost 20 years ago - so no Craigslist or care.com

[craftymissbeth]

I was lucky in that right when I was opening my sister was closing her daycare so I got one of her dcg's. I've only actually taken one child from a person who has seen one of my ads. Everyone else's needs have been way too special for me. Everyone else has been either family or through word of mouth.

[blandino]

We opened 10 years ago, and started with signs posted in our area. We got a few calls from that, and then referrals from there.

If it had been 2014, I would have for sure placed and ad on CL, and started a FB page for your daycare and invited everyone you know. Word of mouth is a great thing.

Our most popular ways of getting new clients are referrals, CL, personal contacts, and the DHS childcare locator.

Out of our 13 current families:

CL: 6
Referral: 5
Personal contact: 2
DHS Childcare locator: 0

[melonieb]

Flyers, business cards, word of mouth, and craigslist. Opened in July(3families), registered by October(3families), and now I am full(4families). I am already taking families for summer time. Trial and error, have learned a lot. Too bad my family that I started with had to move.

[TaylorTots]

Hi Everyone!!!


Question : How did you get your families and kids when you opened?? Were you able to pre-enroll? Did you advertise? Use craigslist? Would love to hear back on the ways that worked for you!

Thanks!!

I used a local facebook moms and day care providers. I screened everyone who posted needing care and messaged the families a mini-about me message. All families interviewed that I contacted, and every single one asked for care. I declined a couple and pre-enrolled to be at full capacity opening week. No other advertisements.

[TwinKristi]

I started out as license exempt with a friend's DS and then another friend wanted me to watch her DD which is why I even got my license to begin with but that only lasted 4wks and she decided to stay home instead. Then I got a referral from my neighbor who does DC but was already full for infants so she called me and it worked out until he went to Jr Preschool this month so 14 mos? I got another DCB from our R&R agency but she ended up quitting her job to stay home after 6wks! She was actually offered a promotion but it required more hours and occasional weekends and she didn't want to do that, plus had already booked a long trip to Mexico for Dec. I was full at that point but he left in Sept, one of the originals boys I had before I was licensed just 2 days a week ended up going to FT PreK in Oct. I have been advertising on Craigslist since AUGUST to fill the first spot, and then the 2nd and now 3rd!!! Ugh! I have had most of my calls from R&R and a few from CL.

[Blackcat31]

I worked in the early childhood field prior to opening a child care so I knew tons of families needing care.

[Calikate]

Okay, awesome advice ladies!!!

Do any of you know how you would be able to get a flyer delivered through the mail?

[GKJNIGMN]

I have gotten a couple off of craigslist and one referral from an acquaintance. The rest I have gotten have mostly been from the local childcare referral place that issues our childcare assistance.

The market is pretty tight around here so I get calls a minimum of a couple times a week even though I am full and they know I am full.

[Blackcat31]

Okay, awesome advice ladies!!!

Do any of you know how you would be able to get a flyer delivered through the mail?

If I remember correctly Vista Print does direct mail services. I think you can design a flyer or post card through them and then do something like target marketing and have them sent to all families with young children in your area that could potentially be in need of child care.

http://www.vistaprint.com/mailing-services.aspx?txi=16629&xnid=TopNav_Postcard+Mailing+Services_Marketing+Products&xnav=TopNav

[Jack Sprat]

Word of mouth and I'm a former teacher so when I turned in my notice I was sure to spread the word myself.

[mom2many]

Word of mouth - I was blessed, because my very first client was involved with Las Madres and had a huge circle of moms that she knew. She was also a child psychologist and had many professional contacts as well. She referred many families to me and kept my business thriving!
I never advertised at all and relied strictly on referrals from current and past families.