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I called the city to ask because I wanted to put a sign on my wooden swingset that could be seen from the main street behind us. I was told no signs on the property.Comment
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Well I am all the way in New England and I'm not full either. I had a mother come by in May with her husband and were really excited to start their son in September. I told her great but I would need a deposit to hold the spot. Mom said that was no problem she would give it to me by June 1st. Contacted her in July and she said she would pay me in a couple of weeks. Tried calling her today no answer. From the sounds of it I know I am probably better off but I just want her to confim Yes or No, plus I had to term a child last week so September as of now I only have 1 FT. I feel your pain.Comment
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10 Ideas to help with Vacancies
First, hang in there and keep moving forward. Second, I agree with others that advertising/marketing/exposure is where you may want to focus some of your time. Currently with the extra energy and not necessarily spare time, but perhaps reduced workload, there are things you can do to announce your presence and services to the community. A few hours here and there could have a long lasting impact.
Order business cards to hand out and leave behind - vistaprint.com has free business cards available
Remind your friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers what you do and how well you do it. Don’t be shy about asking for referrals.
Introduce yourself and what you do at large organizations in your area. This could include the head of the local union, the HR person at nearby businesses, Head of the PTO, Presidents of local clubs, as well as saying hi at the local Police, Fire and Rescue stations. In other words, find where the masses gather around your town and let them know your expert care services are available...and with that last line, I’m reminded to let the congregations around you know you’re available.
Ask for a written reference from past and current parents. Obviously only ask when you know you are going to get a positive response. It may help to provide a few questions for parents to help gain a better response. These are great to have as an ego boost, but they will provide great comfort for new parents considering you.
Place a sign in your yard - check local code for approval. Remember that an outdoor sign reflects your business so think beyond cardboard and a marker. :-)
OK, enough of the offline suggestions, here are the online ones. If you are a technophobe, do not panic at all. This is all very easy and help is always nearby.
Think of a domain (yourname.com) so you can have business email and a website. By the way, “I’m too small”, “It’s just me and I don’t have the time”, “That stuff is just too complicated for me” or “I can’t afford it” are all things of the past. There are very easy to use, inexpensive tools that are available for day care providers that make this very easy. Clearly you use the Internet - so do your future parents. It is essential to have an Internet presence so that your community has at least a chance of finding you online.
Search online for local online communities, bulletin boards, forums, associations, even larger sites may have sections broken down by zip code.
List your services/website where applicable. Perhaps the Chamber, local business directories, daycare.com, etc...
Remember to search for where potential parents will be, not where you would like to be. For example, your first choice may not be to join the “local welders discussion”, but you may find that many welders need daycare providers. Point is to think outside the box.
Create your website - again very easy with the right tools. Start with something basic: Home page, Your Services (with testimonials), Contact page. In time and when you have time you can always update with more content, features, pictures, colors, etc...
Join communities such as Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and/or dozens of other ones to let people know you exist and that you have openings (or to announce you no longer have openings). You can get lost for days in some of these sites so remember the basics. Set up a profile, state your services, link back to your site. Once profiles are set up, check back at your leisure to update and edit.
And finally, some overview comments. Stay positive. You can’t do it all at once, choose a couple of items that work for you and follow through with them. Perhaps a mix of an online and an offline activity to get you started. Focus on your goals, use the right tools and engage in the right activities and you will fill up your vacancies and create a great marketing foundation for your business for years to come.
So there you have it, 10 ideas that could help fill current and future vacancies. Hope something here might be helpful.
Full disclosure, my company, RTW Mobile is an Authorized Google Apps Reseller, specialize in providing Google Apps for Day Care - essential, easy to use online tools for day care providers.Comment
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I think most parents who do have the money to pay for your child care services would be "Googling" a daycare provider that they need... Just an educated guess, because the parents who can pay, really needs the TIME to get things done. So most probably, they would look for a day care near their area through searching the net. Since that is most convenient for them.
HOpe this helps!Comment
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Do you accept all ages and a later closing time? Those are 2 main reasons why I can't get more kids in. I don't take anymore kids under 2 yrs and I close at 5:00. I have had 3 calls this week alone for a 4 month old, a 2 month old and a newborn. I just can't do it. Now in a couple yrs those kids would work well for me but they will be placed I'm sure. Everyone seems to be having babies!Where are the kids? Where are the hard working parents who need reliable, fair priced daycare? Can anyone find them?
Feeling frustrated. Trying to grow my buisness and things have just seemed to stop. I've got 2 open spots and some preschoolers who would love another playmate.
Hmmm...I have been open for 10 months. I have 2 full timers and 2 part timers. And 2 open spots to fill. Ladies who have been in the biz for a while...is this kind of enrollment for the first year average, good...or whoa lady you arent gonna make it.
Now that I am not pregnant for the first time since opening my buisness..
...::
I have lots of energy and want to make this profitable.
I just want to be successful!! What gives??? Where are the kids?Comment
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I care for 6 weeks to 5 years and am open with opening hours but will close by 5:30. I just ordered a sign to put out on the corner in addition to the one that is in my yard.
I have tried to update my buisness in the yahoo yellow pages but it never appears. I even paid for the web advertisement through vistaprint and I made another website which I had to pay for and I cant figure out how to get web access. I am on this site and care.com but I dont want to pay any additional money on these website and I havent had much luck with them either.Comment
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I have used flyers (WIC sites, clinics, schools, grocery stores, laudro-mats, college bulletin boards, YMCA's, apartments lobbies, etc)
I have sent out advertising postcards using bulk mail rates (mailing lists were from ECE classlists, WIC receiptiants, Social Services etc)
I have also given current clients discounts for referring a new client.
I have donated T-shirts with my logo to area fundreaisers as door prizes and drawing gifts.
I have partnered up with friends who sell Party-lite, Avon, Tupperware, Scentsy and other things for then to hand out my flyers and give my T-s away as party gifts.
I've even done an open house in the past with some success. My provider friend does a neighborhood funhouse party where she rents a bouncy castle, sets up party type games on the lawn, cooks free hotdogs and cotton candy and throws a block party to basically advertise her business. She does it every year on the first day of summer. It is tax deductible and fun for everyone!
I also have a large fence banner and yard signs that I put randomly around town like garage sale signs. (I move them to new locations that coordinate with community events)
My current daycare parents also sport window clings for me.
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Dont be discouraged. Some of it is the economy, some of it could be just taking some time to get the word out there. I am so full I cant stand it but this is my THIRD time to try to open! I treid twice before and I wouldnt get enough calls and so then I would pick up more hours at my second job. Then one day my mom calls and says "would you watch this ladys dd?" I said 'well itll have to be Gods will mom cause I have tried twice before with no results!" well it must be his will cause the I got flooded!:: But the first two times, nothing 
I was so discouraged and upset. Dont give up! Something might just click for you. For me two daycares in my town shut down within 6 months of each other (both providers moving) and all the kids started heading my way.
Maybe think of the few employers in your town that are hiring and see if you can cater to thier employees. Maybe you can advertise to them also?Comment
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If you were serious about the pregnancy thing then that could be a part of it. Most parents are not willing to take the chance on a provider who is expecting their own child. It means that there will be a maternity leave, possible complications with the health of mom and baby and possibility that mom cant
handle it all.Comment
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Have you tried hooking up with a local real estate agent--or a few of them? Try going around to some open houses or if you are really lucky, the model home of a new housing development. Lots of real estate agents prepare "Welcome Home" kits with important local information and some are happy to include your business card!!!Comment
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Thank you for the tips! I must live in a strict community. The library wont let me put anything up, the grocery store just tears them down, the pediatrician offices say that I cannot leave them...my local church even said no!
I ordered a sign and my husband said he would be in charge of moving it around town and I think I am going to ask my church again!
Thanks for the support.
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