I have owned a child care center and have over 10 years all together from working in the baby room to being the director. If you taking State funds then most of your clients are prob.coming through DCFS. I advertised in the newspaper, on the radio, did target adds where they are only on during times when the people I am trying to reach are listening, like during the times kids are getting picked up from school and when parents are usually going to or from work....not one person came from it. But having my name on the list at DCFS got me nearly every one of my families. Also, the resource and referral agency's did sent me a couple. They don't really advertize either so I didn't get many from them.
You should have a local home care provider group. As Part of your stars program you get added benefits from being a member of that type group. Or for your accredidation. I can't remember which at this hour. Anyway, you can brainstorm with the other owners and find out what is going on in your neighborhoods and what is effecting your businesses. As a Director I attended the local Directors organization and we were able to pass on information too. For instance, if a family left me because they owed their co-pay and they were trying to get in another center, If another Director mentioned a family to me and said something like "The Blanks toured my toddler room the other day, I didn't know they were leaving you" I might say something like "Oh, THAT family"...we weren't saying anything derogitory or anything but conveying a message anyway.
The people I was trying to get to come to my business didn't take the paper, they were busy trying to find money to buy milk and diapers, they didn't have extra money for the newspaper. Most people turn the dial on the radio when the music goes off, they don't listen to the adds.
Try getting your flier to the local Employment office. Laundry mats, Wal-Mart bulletin board if they still have one there, check your local sign ordinances and put out signs, like for a garage sale signs but advertising the business. See if some local businesses that cater to children, like a dance studio or gymanstics place has a bulletin board. What about one of those vinyl signs we see around the fences at sporting events, like soccer. Put a nice size sign in your yard. Make sure your phone numger is large enough that a car going by can see it easily, what about getting an advertisement on a bus bench? Family owned small restraunts, anywhere there are business card drawings put yours in, when someone wins one of the radio contests the stations here announce it on the radio every little bit "The winner to our ......contest was ...who own little kids home day care over on ....st." I can't think of anymore, it's 5:20 am here and my brain is tired. Go free as much as possible. Don't pay for advertising. Poor people aren't going to be reached by anything right now. Too many people are out of work and just not looking. It is sad but it may get worse before it gets better.
