Hi Courtney
As far as getting my name out there, I've done the majority of my advertising on Kijiji and word-of-mouth. There are all kinds of things you could do like set up a website, online advertising, advertising around your neighborhood, etc. Patience really is a virtue though because it all depends on what the parents are looking for. I've had a full house and I've also had an empty house. The process can be lengthy depending on when the parents are requiring care. Some need immediate while others start looking months in advance. Keep in mind that parents are looking for many factors: location, fees, quality of care, qualifications, experience, etc. I make sure that I am very thorough about who I am and what I offer, in my ads. Adding photos of your play space, sleeping space, children, their artwork, etc, is also very helpful. Remember that this is a business so you want to be professional but, also welcoming and fun. And that can totally come across in an advertisement. Your goal through advertising is to get them to want to come by for an interview.