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!