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by Catherine Pruissen

Caregiver Tip

Cheapskate Marketing Tips and Tricks
It may have worked for Field of Dreams, but just because you build it doesn't mean they'll come in droves to sign up for your child care services. Well, at least not unless you market your services to the masses.

Marketing certainly doesn't have to take

• Have a business card and business stationery made up -- immediately. Let prospective customers know you are a professional who takes your business seriously. Get your business cards into as many hands as possible. Hand them out to everyone. Post them everywhere. Use your stationary for brochures, flyers, etc. and circulate them to every business and organization in your vicinity. Don't forget to send on to the Chamber of Commerce.
  
  
• Use testimonials on your flyers, brochures, parent handbook, even on the back of your business card. A small tesimonial from parents or your ECE teacher is you're just startin gout will work wonders, such as "I don't know what I would do without the great care Tanya profides for my child." Don't be afraid to ask parents for a testimonial.
  
  
• Use the Word of Mouth process. Tell anyone and everyone about your business. Talk to family, friends, associated, former employers, etc. Ask your spouse to spread the word to his associated and work buddies.
  
  
• Join your local child care association or family daycare provider's network. These groups happily refer each other to parents in need. Look around your community for other groups to join who could benefit your cause such as the parent council, school association, etc. Now is not the time to be shy.
  
  
• Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency and find out how to get on their list.
  
  
• If you can (check with your local zoning regulations first) post a sing in your window or somewhere it'll be seen by all who pass by.
  
  
• Put a sign in your car window or on the side of your vehicle. You can make one up yourself or your local stationary store can do one for you relatively cheaply.
  
  
• Hold an open house. Broadcast the news everywhere you can; on the radio (public service announcements), on the free cable listings, on local media Web sites (who have public service announcements), plaster posters everywhere, put a small ad in your local parenting paper.
  
  
• Make up a fun button to wear on your blouse or coat that has your business name and logo. You could even say "Openings available" on the button.
  
  
• Put your ad online everywhere you can, including in childcare.net's Member Classifieds (watch for our free registry coming soon).

These are just a few cheapskate ways ways you can market your daycare. Do you have a low-cost idea or tip for marketing your daycare? Share your information in other childcare.net visitors in our Discussion Forms, a popular Member Services feature.

Looking for ideas to get parents more involved in your program? The National PTA invited teachers across the country to submit their "best ideas" for involving parents and families-whether it's at home, in school, or in the community. Some ideas submitted include:

• Send "Take Home Bag" to parents that includes instructions for a hands-on activity. Bag can include all the "ingredients" for the activity or just a list of what is needed. Directions can be printed on a laminated

• list of what is needed. note card that is returned when the completed project/activity is brought back to school.
  
  
• Create a weekly teacher's notice or class newsletter to highlight the week's studies and to make suggestions for at-home activities. This communication tool can be sent home with a weekly packet of student's work for parents to review.

For more ideas on parent participateion, visit the National PTA Web site, or you can purchase their book: Building Successful Partnerships , from Amazon.com .

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1. Let us know how our Web site can be improved by sending us
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2. E-mail us at info@childcare.net, if you discover any broken links or
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3) Support our research and development by purchasing any of our
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4) Linking to us and include your Web site in our links area.
5) Send us your articles, news and craft ideas so we can share them
    with other visitors.
5) Joining in our discussion forums and chat.

However you choose to help, we sincerely thank you! Your contribution to the Tip Jar will help reduce the overall costs involved in providing the many valuable services found on childcare.net.

Did you find this information helpful? If so, please let us know, either by sending us an email to info@childcare.net, or by dropping $1.50, $2.50, $3.50 or $4.50 in the childcare.net Virtual Tip Jar. Please help us to continue serving you!

What are some other ways you can make childcare.net better?
1. Let us know how our Web site can be improved by sending us
    your comments, ideas and suggestions.
2. E-mail us at info@childcare.net, if you discover any broken links or
    typos.
3) Support our research and development by purchasing any of our
    Exclusiuve Products.
4) Linking to us and include your Web site in our links area.
5) Send us your articles, news and craft ideas so we can share them
    with other visitors.
5) Joining in our discussion forums and chat.

However you choose to help, we sincerely thank you! Your contribution to the Tip Jar will help reduce the overall costs involved in providing the many valuable services found on childcare.net.