Portraying a professional image and
marketing your child day care go hand in hand!
As a childcare provider you
need to first see yourself as a professional! After all you have
training are experienced! You may be licensed! You are
providing a much needed service that not just any one can offer! YOU
ARE A PROFESSIONAL!
Here are some great ideas and tools
for marketing your child care business and portraying a professional
image.
Name your child care
business!- Not
that there is anything wrong with "Ann's Daycare" but come
up with some kind of name, creative or not and use it! Then create a
logo to go with your business name! Or a slogan/motto.
Here is an example:
Business Cards-
All professionals have
them so you should too! They should have printed on them your
business name, your name with something like -licensed child care
provider under it, your phone number, and put your logo or motto on
it! You can have them made in large quantities at printing places or
try to make your own using a printing program on your computer. Pass
them out to people who are looking for child care, give them to
parents to pass out, leave some at various businesses in town.
Staple them to fliers you post around town or drop off at local
schools and ECFE centers.
Create a Portfolio Put
together a portfolio of your childcare business. Get a three
ring binder and some clear page
protectors and slide in some pages stating your days and hours of
operation, some of the benefits of your program, like if you are on
the food program, what kinds of activities you do, your daily
schedule, pictures of smiling kids (ones from your program! LOL),
and any other things you might like to have in it. Have it out
during interviews for parents to review. Another great product to
make a really high quality portfolio would be to make a book at
Shutterfly that shows pictures of the kids in your program and that
gives details about your program. these books are really sharp!
Marketing Products-
You may find it
beneficial to purchase preprinted products you can give out that
have your business name and logo/motto on them.; Some ideas might be
pens, sippy cups, magnets, stuffed animals. They are great
advertisements however they are sometimes more costly. Try making
your own T-shirts using a computer print program and iron on paper
made especial for computer printers! You can give them out to you
families to wear for traveling advertising! Printing and office
supply companies will often custom print products such as the ones
mentioned.
Mailing, Stationary,
Letter Heads, etc.- These
are nice too and really portray a professional image. Use your
business name and logo/motto if you have them. These you can also
have made at printing or office supply stores, I think Hallmark even
makes mailing labels.
Get great personalized labels
and other products. Put your program name on everything! It's a
great advertising tool.
Creative Advertising-
Providers have been using fliers and news adds for years generally
receiving little success. These things can generate business for you
if you keep a few thing in mind. One thing to remember is to make
them eye catching! Use bold print head lines in news adds (they cost
a little more but they are effective when parents are looking at a
whole page of child care adds), use brightly colored paper pictures
and print on fliers and signs. Be sure to include information that
you think makes your child care outstanding, do you have a large
playroom? big outside play equipment? do you offer field trips? what
kind of activities do you offer? are you on the food program? Come
up with a creative idea for fliers other then the paper with little
rip off phone numbers on the bottom. Be creative... here's an
idea... use a picture of a bear and write something like "Put
Your "honey" in My Care", and have little honey pots
with your name and number hanging from it. Some people put big signs
right out in their front yards! Another great resource is this
medium you are viewing right now! Start a web page for your day
care! It is very easy to do you do not need to know a lot of
programming! Web pages are free at places like Angelfire and Lycos, and they
offer ready made pages you just type info into. Check it out!
Policies/ Parent
Hand Books- If you don't have policies written up or in a
contract you should! To view a sample click on Policies/Contract.
Newsletters- I
think newsletters are a great way to communicate with your families!
I put one out every month so families know what we are doing and
also to serve as a reminder of special events (birthdays, etc.),
holidays, and days I will be closed. I sometimes include copies of
interesting articles I have received pertaining to parenting and
other info I think they might enjoy. I list the themes we will be
doing in our preschool program and some of the specific things we
will be working on. Some times I add a favorite recipe for food or
crafts, or print up a new song or poem we are learning.
Maintain
Professionalism- What does that mean? That means you are
striving to provide the best most high quality care for the children
you care for. You offer age appropriate activities, indoor and
outdoor play, health meals and snacks, and a clean safe environment.
You are always trying to improve your program.
Be Prepared-
Always be prepared for your day! (Easier said then done!) Do not
answer the door when your first kids arrive in your pajamas! Be
awake, dress in clean clothes, (my work attire consists of jeans and
T-shirts but NO sweat pants) hair done (or at least brushed!) and if
you normally wear makeup put some on it will make you feel good!
Greet all children at the door when they are dropped off if
possible. Be prepared means plan ahead...
Plan Ahead-
Always plan a head for your day! (Again easier said then done!) You
will find that if you plan a head the days will run much smoother,
quicker, and be much more enjoyable for everyone. Know what meals
you are making and have all the ingredients you need. Some providers
plan meals on a weekly basis and shop every week. Find out what
works for you maybe you can plan a whole months worth of meals at a
time. Some food programs offer pre planned menu's and shopping
lists. If you offer a preschool program or claim to have planned
activities then do it! Plan the activities, projects, stories, and
games you want to do with the children. Try planning a month at a
time so you can get extra supplies you might need a head of time.
Check out the 2care2teach4kids.com preschool
program. Some people find it more beneficial to order pre made
preschool programs delivered through the mail, however they tend to
be expensive or low quality and may not meet the needs of the
children you are caring for. There are many out there if you want to
go that route so you may find one right for you. If you choose to
plan your own activities there are an unlimited supply of ideas in
books, magazines, and unbelievable amounts of ideas on the web! This
site included.
Know Your Business
Your job as a child care professional means you know the rules and
regulations set up for you to follow and follow them. You do not
have to memorize them but know them well enough that you can answer
questions prospective parents may ask you with out answering I don't
know. Have a copy of the rules set for you for parents to view if
they request it. Have a copy of your contract and policies by the
phone so you can have a quick reference for parents calling about
your child care. To view a certain states rules and regulations for
child care visit Individual
States' Child Care Licensure Regulations
