Craigslist Ad .... What To Include??

[Crazy8]

ok, I think I'm going to give CL a try and hopefully not get a bunch of weirdos!!
I have one spot open for September. At the beginning of the summer I had 3 openings for Sept. so I did ok on my own but I'd really like to fill that last spot.

So.... what should I include and what should I leave out? I really don't want the crazies calling me. My website has my phone number on it and if I use my business name they can google and get my number. Should I leave that info out or just screen the calls well???

I just checked my areas listings and there is one for a small center in town, (their prices are about the same as mine) and there is one ad for a mom looking to put kids on the bus in our elementary school district. So its not like its flooded with daycare ads.

[cheerfuldom]

I leave off any contact info or name. Parents can contact me through the CL email system and that weeds out some weirdos. Once you get their specific needs, then you can decide to direct them to your site. My prices are firm as are my hours so I do post those because I don't care to haggle with people that can't work within what I already provide.

[GotKids]

Pictures!!! I don't use kids in the shots but I have pictures of my layout and I also list my price and what it includes. I put my hours and a brief description of my program. I use the anon email and I don't include my name or number.

[Crazy8]

Pictures!!! I don't use kids in the shots but I have pictures of my layout and I also list my price and what it includes. I put my hours and a brief description of my program. I use the anon email and I don't include my name or number.

ooohhh, good idea - I didn't think to include any photos!! I didn't know about putting rates on there - I don't even have them on my website because it varies by their needs.

Once you reply to an email you lose the anon email and they have your "real" one, right??

[GotKids]

ooohhh, good idea - I didn't think to include any photos!! I didn't know about putting rates on there - I don't even have them on my website because it varies by their needs.

Once you reply to an email you lose the anon email and they have your "real" one, right??

Yes you lose the anon to the person you reply to. I have a separate email address for my childcare. I have never had an issue with spam from CL either.

As far as rates go I only offer full time so my rates are flat, posting them helps weed out the ones looking only for a CHEAP daycare. Between that and having pictures I have never had an ad up for more than a week and so far every person who toured (only done after hours) started.

If you are concerned about weirdos I would communicate a good bit through email. Ask them to tell you about their child, their current care, what hours they are looking for, what they are looking for from a provider. I have my husband home for interviews but he is usually upstairs watching tv

[Crazy8]

so would it be wrong of me to state in the ad that if you are just fishing for rates I will not reply???? ::

[familyschoolcare]

My Craigslist add includes; My qualifications, what I provide, a General location, My full time rates, and contact information.

It is very detailed and I find that while a get very little calls all of them are very serious and set an initial interview with the first phone call. Most of the parents calling have told me they love how detailed my add is.

I list my business number and hide my E-mail, I used to include m E-mail through craigslist but found that the E-mails I got where not serious.

Hop this information helps.

[GotKids]

so would it be wrong of me to state in the ad that if you are just fishing for rates I will not reply???? ::

I would keep it as positive as possible. After all what real harm is there in them knowing your rates. Good childcare isn't nor should it be based solely on rates. I know that there are many childcares that are cheaper than mine and I sure I have been approached by some online posing as parent. I like to think that I have the great families I do not because of my rates but the program I run.