Advertising ideas ?

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

Hello all, I was wondering if any of you have any tips/ideas that you would be willing to share when it comes to getting good responses from your advertisements. I believe that I've covered most of the common sense stuff - my ads are clearly written, no spelling errors, my credentials and hours are listed as well as where I am located, and a few pictures showing some of our crafty creations and other fun things we do here. I'm just wondering if there's more that I should be doing ? I've thought about creating a web-site but I don't know how much work is involved in setting one up, and in maintaining it - not sure if I want to go that route.

[Momof4]

A website was the best thing I ever did to become successful. I highly recommend it and people can contact you directly from your website. I use freewebs.com and started small and kept adding and adding until I perfected it. It's free.

[BlueRose]

a website is a good idea. I use weebly.com It is so easy. My 60 year old mother who is horrible with computers was able to put a website together on it. its point, click, type. It has a free version (which I use) and a paid upgrade if you want. with the website you can put as much or as little in it as you want. S depending on what you want on it, depends on how much time you work on it. I spend a lot of time on mine, but i fine working on it relaxing.

business cards are good to have. make you look more professional. (vista print.ca is a good place to get them) they also have lawn, widow, car signs. I am thinking about getting one of there hooded sweat shirts with my daycare's name on it and a hat.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Awesome advise already on the website - I'd only ad that PHOTOS are worth a 1000 words ... many people are visual learners so being able to see the program and take a virtual tour of the program and so forth can help when clients are choosing who to contact - show them the fun and learning their child will have in the program!

[sweetiepia]

WEBSITE, they are the best. i also have business cards that i pin here and there, i also have shirts and pens haha (yeah my hubby works in business)

but if i have to say one, its a website, and its not because its a daycare you need to have huge bright colors and the pooh plastered all over, trust me, 2 colors max, simple and clean is the best if you want people to look at it more then 2 min

if you speak somewhat a tiny bit of french here is mine (but even if you dont read french it gives you an idea)

where i am from there are daycares by the handfull and so many are looking for kids but funny enough my daycare is full and i have a waiting list and people still calling. and i asked what brought them here, they all said my website attracted them:

lesmillesourires.ico nosites.com/

[Momof4]

Also, I always tell people to get their friends and family to spread the word and recommend them to others who will be returning from mat leaves soon. Check with anyone you know who works at a large company and see if they will place your ad on the internal electronic systems where they buy/sell, etc. You reach tons of people that way, hospitals, colleges, universities, factories, large corporations of all kinds have these systems.

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

Thank you ladies - good ideas. Merry Christmas to all of you, and I'll let you know whether the website idea helps generate a few new leads. =)

[BlueRose]

I just added my daycare to Google Places. So when you go to Google map and type in "Ottawa home daycares" I come up. I am hoping it will help.

[DisneyPrincess]

Very kiddy colourful flyers indeed... and place them at mail box and local bank and depanneur, places where alot of ppl visit. have Home Daycare in big bold letters so ppl can see from far.

Add on kijiji turns out it help me more then in the local paper !

[cfred]

Yup, website is a must. Mine has been invaluable in getting clients. Most have commented on how professional it looks and so on. Also, if you don't have any testimonials from current and past clients on here and other advertising sites, get them. Most of my interviewees commented on my testimonials and that was part of their deciding factor when making their 'short list'. It's akin to having 'references' front and centre