Tips For Marketing Your Daycare Center

If you’ve decided that the child care business is the business for you, then you’re already on the road to becoming your own boss in a lucrative industry that will always have clients.

If you’ve already got (almost) everything you need for your daycare, you should consider these few tips for marketing your daycare center. If you’re saying “But I already have advertisements out,” good for you! This means you’ve already taken initial steps to find your customers. Marketing is different from advertising because it’s the way you present your entire service to your potential clients. If you’ve already asked around and know that there is a need for a daycare center in your neighborhood or community, we have a few simple and easy tips that you could use to maximize your impact in the world of child care.

1) Be professional, look professional – The first thing you want to do to let people take you seriously enough to leave their children in your hands is to look the part. Dress as well as you can. If you’re an everyday jeans and t-shirt type of person, just put on a nice shirt and shoes when you meet your potential clients. This will go a long way to making lasting first impressions that can lead to new customers.

2) Go for pretty -- This applies to your marketing materials. Have a business card with your name and contact numbers made. Create brochures to showcase your facilities and planned activities or curriculum. Take a little time and invest in these things since you’ll be giving them out. A brightly colored, glossy brochure is sure to bring in more clients than a photocopied piece of paper. Not sure you have the budget for it? Be creative! Give away bookmarks or flyers that are handmade, but colorful and useful. Color always draws more attention than black and white—try it and see results within a few days.

3) Take a risk – Invest in a good sized advertisement in your local classifieds or town paper. Run a radio spot or two. Your local radio station will know when to play it so that it’ll appeal to your target audience: professionals with children who need a day care.

4) Use your friends – If you’re starting up, take advantage of the people you know. Why not give brochures to your friend who works at the local elementary school? Ask your relatives who have children to recommend you to people who are looking for daycare centers. Ask your local realtor to tell prospective people moving in that you are one of the daycares in the area.

5) Go past your comfort zone – Not really a web person? Why not try creating a website (there are many free domains and blog services) out there. If you’re a bit shy, try approaching people on the street or asking a local cafe or pub to give out flyers and brochures for you. It can be as simple as giving out your business card or contact number to anyone—don’t be too obnoxious, just let them know you’re willing to provide a good service.

6) Be consistent – Design all your advertisements and marketing materials to have a quietly uniform look. You don’t have to go all McDonald’s and print everything out in the same color. At the same time don’t be too creative and give your business card a color pattern that’s different from your brochure. People will remember you more if you continually the same type of design elements.

These are but a few of the many tactics you can use to market your daycare center. All it takes is a little creativity and a sense of professionalism. Soon you’ll be fielding inquires and attracting clients!

For More: How to start a daycare center