Unique. Clever. Memorable. It’s hard to come up with daycare marketing ideas for your child care business that meet each of these criteria – especially when you spend most of the day indoors caring for children.
But I have some ideas so let me help you.
Below, I will share with you some daycare marketing ideas that have worked for many childcare providers to promote their business.
Doesn’t matter if you’re just getting started or if you’re an experienced child care provider looking to attract more clients, these daycare marketing ideas will help you create a marketing plan for your business.
List of Daycare Marketing Ideas:
1. Design a daycare business logo
Once you have a name for your daycare business, you need to get a logo for your childcare brand.
You can buy a premade logo or have a custom logo made for you on Etsy.
Or use Canva.com to design the logo yourself.
Canva.com is a site you can use to create and design marketing material for your childcare business. They have a free and paid version, but the free features are plenty to start.
2. Create a website for your daycare business
A website for your daycare business will help you market your services and build credibility. And it’s where people interested in your services can go and learn more about you and your business.
To learn more, check out this post: How to start a website for your small business.
3. Create a Business Card
This one piece of material is perhaps one of the most inexpensive and useful pieces of marketing material. Make sure you create a business card for your daycare business asap.
You can start handing them out everywhere you go and to everyone you meet.
Include the basic stuff about your daycare such as business name, license number, phone number, website information, etc.
4. Ask for referrals
Word of mouth is one of the easiest ways to get new people interested in your services. Always ask for referrals from past clients, current families, friends, family, etc.
You can even offer current families a referral fee for anyone they refer and successfully enrolls in your care.
The referral fee can be anything from a $25 dollar discount off their tuition to a Starbucks gift card. Whatever you’re comfortable offering.
5. Build your Google Business Profile
Besides starting a small business blog for your daycare, setting up a Google Business Profile is one of the most important things you can do to be found by people in your community.
This profile is FREE to set up and it will make it easy for local people looking for your services find you in Google search, and Google maps.
So you’re basically setting up a second homepage for your daycare business.
Having this set up a person can:
- Call or book an appointment/interview
- Read and leave reviews
- Read, ask and answer FAQS
- View photos of your daycare business
- Become familiar with your brand and experience
- Link to your website
6. Get on Social Media
The most popular social media platforms for daycare business are Instagram and Facebook.
But you can also use any of the other popular social media platforms as well.
When creating your accounts try to get matching handles across all the social media platforms you intend to use. Also, make sure you fill out every field available so you can be found by potential clients.
7. Partner with local businesses
Look for local businesses or entrepreneurs you can partner with, such as real estate agents, loan officers, daycare providers, hair salons, etc.
Ask if you can leave your business cards in their place of business, and you can do the same for them. You will notice that many people will be willing to work with you.
Also, don’t think of other daycare providers as your competition but as partners.
Build relationships with other providers because you want them to send clients to you when they no longer have space to accommodate new families. Obviously, in return, you will do the same for them.
8. Film video tours of your daycare space
Once you have your daycare space set up, record a tour of it to put on your website or social media.
The more information your potential clients have about your child care program, the more familiar they will become with you and your business.
Quick note: If you need help setting up your daycare environment, go here and see what equipment I used to set up mine.
9. Collect testimonials from previous clients
Ask previous clients to write a testimonial about their experience with the service you provided. Then, add it to your website or other marketing material you create.
Doing this will help establish credibility and trust because you’re using real people to show success in your service.
10. Invest in branded clothing
Have a few shirts, sweaters and hats made with your daycare business information such as logo, website, phone number, etc.
Wear these whenever you go out into your community. And let the world know you operate a daycare business!
Just make sure you are always in your best behavior and look tidy when you’re out in public representing your business.
Related post: How to Dress Like a Professional Daycare Provider
11. Giveaway freebies at community events
This is perhaps the most commonly used marketing strategies by business owners, entrepreneurs, etc. You purchase a few custom-made things with your logo and contact information to give away at community events.
You can give away pens, notepads, frisbees, calendars, hats, reusable tote bags, etc.
It depends on your budget. But get things that won’t immediately make it into the trash.
That way, anyone interested in child care in the future will still have your contact information or have seen your business name long enough to remember it.
12. Host Seminars
Do you specialize in child care topics such as positive discipline, potty training, sleep training, bottle weaning, etc.? If so, you can share your expertise and host seminars or workshops at your local church or public library.
You can establish yourself as the expert in your community while selling your daycare services to your attendees.
Related: Looking to learn more about early childhood education? Here are a few book recommendations to get you started.
13. Write articles for community newsletters
Besides hosting seminars about child care topics, you can write short articles, tips, and advice about caring for children in your local publications.
Think of these like ads in disguise for your daycare.
You will share helpful information for parents, but in the end of each article you will put your name, title and contact information.
This will help you reach a wider audience, build instant credibility, and you will be known as the local expert in all things child care related.
14. Outside Signs
If your town or HOA allows you to put signs in your front yard or windows, consider getting one for your business and put it up with your daycare phone number or website.
15. Magnetic Car Signs
Consider putting a magnetic car sign on your car to market your business when driving around town. Or you can add a car decal with your business information and make it more permanent.
If you prefer to be able to remove the sign when you don’t feel like being in business mode, a magnetic sign for your car might be your best choice.
16. Local Newspaper Listing
Buy a small ad in one of the local newspapers, community magazines, newsletters, etc.
17. Host a fundraising event for a local charity
Is there a local charity you feel passionate about? Get involved and help out!
You can help raise money for the charity and promote your business by doing simple things that won’t take away from the main event.
You might even attract media attention such as photos on websites, newspapers, radio, etc. This positive publicity will enhance the image of your daycare business.
18. Participate in local parades
Does your town have any parades or festivities you can participate?
Where I live, we have a fruit theme parade every year, and local businesses sign up, pay a small fee and show off their business to thousands of people.
If your town has something like this, perhaps you can invest in decorating a parade float and participate?
I’m thinking of a small parade float that is bright with your business logo, contact information and with lots of bubbles!
19. Volunteer your location for play groups
You can always volunteer your daycare space to hold a few play groups during the year.
For instance, you can have a playgroup for new moms to bring in their children so they can meet other new moms.
Or invite a yoga instructor to hold a yoga class for parents and their children.
Another idea is to host a mommy and me (or daddy and me) arts & craft activities.
The ideas are many, but the point is to get people into the front door of your daycare and get to know you.
As you know, the more people interact with you, the more likely they will trust you with their children or recommend you to others looking for child care.
20. Community Bulletin Boards
Create flyers and pamphlets about your child care program and post them on local community boards: universities, churches, schools, library, etc.
21. Sponsor a Local Children’s Sports Team
In short, a sponsorship is when your business funds an event or organization for mutual benefit. For instance, you can fund a local children’s sports team or league, and get your logo printed on their uniforms for branding.
Or you can sponsor a local event or charity and ask for a link to your business on their website.
22. Talk to Random People you Meet Everyday
I don’t know about you but every time I go anywhere people strike up conversations with me.
If this happens to you too, or if you’re the one that starts the conversations, then don’t be afraid or too shy to tell them you own and operate a daycare business because you never know who is looking for your services.
Even if you’re an introvert (like me) that struggles with small talk. Try your best to get out of your comfort zone and have a conversation with people you bump into and meet.
23. Email Signature
Email signatures are a powerful way to increase brand awareness and convey professionalism. Add your contact information, links to social media, and your name and professional title to the end of your emails.
Many people prefer to communicate by email, so you want them to have all your information available for them at all times.
24. Start a little free library
Start a little free library outside your daycare or donate books in the little library’s around town. Add a sticker on the back of the books you donate with your logo and website address.
You can use labels like the ones here and print something like:
LOGO
This Book was donated by Best Home Daycare
Interested? Visit us at www.besthomedaycare.com
Where to buy promotional marketing materials for small business?
Here are some of my favorite places to buy and design marketing materials to promote my business:
- VistaPrint.com
- Canva.com
- Amazon.com
- Etsy
- DollarTree
- Walmart
Daycare Marketing Ideas
I am so excited to share these marketing ideas with you!
I hope you can use some of them to promote your daycare business.
Remember to ask people who contact you where they heard about your business. Doing this will help you decide what marketing strategies are effective and which are not.
Be sure to bookmark this post to come back to it for more ideas!
Are there any marketing ideas that have worked for you and your business that you would like to share with other providers?
If so, please share them with us in the comment sections.
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