Websites!!

[Rootchildren]

Hi everyone!

Does anyone use a website to promote their home daycare? I know some say they find their clients through their websites but I just don't understand how. I used a website with a free domain (vista print in the past) but never found myself getting clients through my website.

Is it better to pay for a domain and if so how does a client find you. It is better to pay to get a free domain with weebly?

Thanks !

[BlueRose]

I use weebly.com There is a free option. Its basic and all you really need. I did end up upgrading to the "starter" but I wanted to do more with my site.
Weebly has unlimited pages (some other free sites only offer a few pages). It is very easy to use.

Paying for a domain does make you look more professional, but isn't a necessity. But if you do pay for a domain it is a write off.

[kindertime]

I don't think I "get" many clients with the website. I have a Facebook page that links to it and vice versa. I set them both up at the same time for that purpose. I use the website for the general info, pictures, etc. for the daycare but most importantly, all the paperwork that I use for the daycare is on there too. I was tired of handing out paper copies of my parent handbook and calendars, etc., only to never see these people again. And the Facebook page is easy to refer people to. I had to join Facebook to do this, but I really only use it for daycare anyway.

I use Webs, also a free site, although I did upgrade to get more pages (5 are free) but I also wanted the custom email address. I already owned my own domain name for the daycare, so I used that and it allows me to not have the .webs.com in the web address. I got the domain through domainsatcost.com for about $14/year many years ago, but didn't know what to do with it until last year when I found Webs. I also bought my personal name with the .ca, but the .com was already taken. I think it is worth having a custom web address, if you can do it cheaply.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think I could have gotten it free through Webs, anyway, though. Check your particular service. Also, with the Webs, (and others, I assume) you can use "Meta Tags" on all your pages. It allows you to list tag words for your website and particular pages that will show up on search engine results. I have used all possible words that I could think of for people to type in looking for daycare in my area and now, I'm pretty high on Google searches.

I have not had to pay Facebook for promotion, though. Don't even know how much that would be. I have found that just getting friends to "Like" the page and reposting once in awhile helps a lot. In the last two months I've had about 15 inquiries from the Facebook page and website. That's a lot, considering the really small population here in the country.

Oh, and another word about Meta Tags. On Facebook, when you make a post and have a link to a website, there is often a box that pops up below the words you typed. The box has a picture and a title and some words. This is info that Facebook gets from the web page and it's particular Meta Tags. Pictures that you upload to your site can have names, but with Webs, (others too?) if the picture's name is two or more words, (example, Johns shoe) the picture won't show up in this little box on the Facebook post. But if it has a 1 word title (johnsshoe)it will. Also, the Title is what you have designated it in the Meta Tags along with the description of the page.

It could also help to get your website listed on other websites. Register your daycare on Google, for one. I didn't end up doing this, though because I was unwilling to put my address up, since it is my home. Facebook, however, (in daycare groups for your area) and other sites like a chamber of commerce in your town, or the local library, schools, parent groups, etc. Look around the internet for websites for businesses in your area. Likely there are some that you could put a link or ad for your daycare on. Good luck!

[BlueRose]

Where I get lots of people finding me because of my website. Even if they find me elsewhere they have to go to my website to request an interview. I have a form (pre interview questions) everyone has to answer before I will grant an interview. One of the question is How did you hear about my daycare. the answers are: google (my website), facebook and on occasion daycarebear.

But it really depends on where you are located and how you promote your website. I have a facebook page as well and it helps me find clients as well.

I am also on google maps. Its not hard to get on the map.

[Rootchildren]

Oh my goodness how in the world did you guys figure this out?!?! I am not computer crafty at all! I'm currently purchasing my domain and created a Facebook page. But how in the world does this megatag work and at the while linking of websites I don't even understand lol would anyone find helping me. I don't mind paying for help I just no there's no hope for me to get that all up lol

[Van]

well when I first set up my free website I had no idea what I was doing!!!! LOL
but as I kept trying and trying I loved it as it got easier the more I tried to set it up.
Now that it is all set up I don't have to do too much just write in when the next spot will be available
try a free website ...mine is webs.com and it is easy as it has a video to show you how to do it

[Rootchildren]

What is a sample of meta tag words? I live in a big city so does one use their location, words like daycare or childcare, do you use phrases or pair words? That's the hardest part I am have problem with. Does everyone post their rates on the website?

[kindertime]

Do you currently have a website? You mentioned you were with Vista Print before. That will help. I can only explain the Webs set up. If you don't currently have a website, maybe don't worry about setting one up again. Just start with the Facebook page. If you do have one set up now, what service are you using?

[Rootchildren]

I have my old one through vista print. I figured out where the meta tags go but I don't really understand what words to use.

I also set up a business page but again I don't know how to use this to benifit getting clients. I only created a Facebook account to get be able to set up a fb page so I can't even get any likes that way.

[Rootchildren]

Kinder time what did you mean in you last paragrap? About adding your sites to other sites? How does one do that? Should I pay for facebook promo?

[Van]

What is a sample of meta tag words? I live in a big city so does one use their location, words like daycare or childcare, do you use phrases or pair words? That's the hardest part I am have problem with. Does everyone post their rates on the website?

meta tag words i used was ....care childcare daycare baby kids cheap etc
I don't post my rates on the website but list my email and phone so they can phone for the rates without posting them on the website

[kindertime]

Kinder time what did you mean in you last paragrap? About adding your sites to other sites? How does one do that? Should I pay for facebook promo?

Is there a chamber of commerce in your area? Does your city/ area have a website, a business improvement association? This is what I meant. I put my daycare listing on the local chamber of commerce website. I submitted the ad to the website and they approved it and put it up. And this is actually the listing that comes up above my own website when I google key words. It lists my email address, web address and Facebook link.

As for using Facebook, I don't know if you should pay FB, I haven't and can't see why I would. It is up to you. But first try the free stuff. Using the FB search look for daycare groups in your area. Also, some local Buy/Sell groups will allow posts for daycare. Some won't so be aware of that. There are parent groups and school groups, etc. Use the FB search, try it several times, with different words, I find the search on there doesn't always give the same responses all the time. And, once you have the business page set up, FB will do some recommending for you too. "Pages you might like" or "Your friends like these pages" are common. And make sure you link the FB page to your website and vise versa.

Key words... child, children, kid, kids, baby, infant, toy, play, parent, home, daycare, childcare, care, preschool, preschooler, toddler, and anything else you can think of that would apply to your daycare.

[kindertime]

Also, with FB, the more you "tell" it, the more the algorithms will recommend for you. So, go on and, as your page, (not your personal name if you're keeping them separate) and "Like" other pages. Try Happy Hooligans, Kitchen Fun with My Three Boys, and your local library, local elementary school, the toy store down the road, etc. Once your daycare business "likes" other businesses of particular types, these are things that will be recommended to you.

[Rootchildren]

Thank you! When you use meta tag words or phrase do you need to repeat it? For example is I had a meta words like Toronto, home, Dayccare. Would I need to use the phrase "Toronto home daycare" or no because I already har thr words ?

[kindertime]

I would keep them separate, I think I had to anyway. Each word separated by a comma and space, then the next word. daycare, home, Toronto, etc. That way, if the person is searching "daycare in Toronto" it will still come up, because you have the key words, but not in that order.

[RedWagon8823]

Is a website recommended

[BlueRose]

Redwagon8823 - I personally wouldn't run a business these days without a website. It is a great way to speak with your potential clients without having to actually speak with them.

Some providers keep there websites very simple.
some providers don't have a website at all
Then there are providers like me. lol. My site has over 50 pages, covers all my policies, fees, and lots of other information. I want to be up front with any one looking for care. My site makes it very clear what I expect from my clients and what I offer.

My clients love that they can read my policies whenever, at work, at home etc. they don't have to ask me, they just go to my site read my policy then call me to inform me that (example) their child has lice and I have read you policy and have started to take steps to insure I follow the policy before my child returns.

Do you have to have one, no. Would I recommended one yes. you don't have to pay for one. there are many good free sites you can use. I use weeby.com it offers a fee option or paid options. I started off with the free option. I have upgraded to the starter paid option as it better suites my needs.

[Van]

a Free website that you can use in webs.com

[Peacefulbird]

Lol. Since I started many years ago to this day, I have been just advertising "old school"; all your descriptions are like reading another language ��. I think I might need to go back to the college and take some course sessions just to update my computer tech knowledge. I'm lost ��
I guess spending my days making playdough, or arranging materials for crafts or cooking and cleaning and the list goes on, wasn't enough, so this will be also added to my list.

I knew, it would happen we're living in the digital era; and I forgot to keep up��, I did not know it would happen this fast.

[alexbbbb]

I've been currently working on my own website using WordPress.

[Emma and Eva's Mum]

I've used WordPress for a few years to manage my site. It's a little tricky at first, but you'll soon learn how to work it all out. Super easy in the end and perhaps the most way to begin learning about how to manage a site.

[garrry]

Hi everyone!

Does anyone use a website to promote their home daycare? I know some say they find their clients through their websites but I just don't understand how. I used a website with a free domain (vista print in the past) but never found myself getting clients through my website.



Getting people through a free domain website is a good way to find new clients. Try to create a facebook account and also promote home daycare on it. It's free. As for me, I have a website for college students, I help them with homework assignments. Most of them find my site (https://essayshark.com/buy-cheap-essays.html) on Facebook or Twitter. So, think about it.

[DakotaEverard]

I've used WordPress for a few years to manage my site. It's a little tricky at first, but you'll soon learn how to work it all out. Super easy in the end and perhaps the most way to begin learning about how to manage a site.

WordPress has become one of the most popular, if not the most popular, blogging platform and CMS on the planet. There a lot of pros:
- WordPress, and many of the themes and plugins for it, are freely available as Open Source code
- out of all the Content Management Systems and Blogging platforms out there, WordPress would have the biggest community
- WordPress Core has a regular development schedule, with releases these days very rarely breaking backwards compatibility
- WordPress is famous for it’s easy installation process
- there are a number of very good security plugins.

But also there are a cons:
- WordPress has a reputation as a difficult platform to design on
- Limited Permissions Scoping
- Historically WordPress has been designed as Blog platform. As such, the content model is a little restrictive
- A lot of inconsistencies exist with the internal API

In ane case WordPress is a strong content management system because of its origin in blogging. It is very easy to navigate through the pages and content on a WordPress website. WordPress makes it simple to organize content with or without a lot of website management knowledge. But I prefer custom CMS instead of free of charge CMS. You can observe it at my website (https://handmadewritings.com/). All comments and remarks are welcome.

[Bredlen]

Greetings to all. For those interested, I created*a system allowing Childcare Providers to build quick,*simple and free to use websites called circletime.ca (https://circletime.ca)* . It's currently in a beta state as*there are still a few minor adjustments to be made, but it is accessible right now to anyone wanting to create a website of their own. It is designed very specifically for Childcare Providers, meaning there are predetermined fields in a predetermined layout. The goal was to make it simple and practical for busy people to quickly get a website up and running. I based the available fields on my own research of day care websites, trying to offer as many of the most popular pieces of information available.

Just so there are no misunderstandings, this is not designed to compete with sites such as*wordpress, wix or the like. It is also not designed to compete with Daycare Bear;*it is not a listing service or information service (past whatever information you provide on your own Page of course).*

Currently it*offers 10 different themes to choose from, which will increase if the site proves useful and popular. All pages are responsive, and should work on any device big or small, in any browser!

Check it out - I welcome all suggestions and comments!

[nicolericci]

I use weebly.com There is a free option. Its basic and all you really need.

[nicolericci]

Thank you very much!

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