Childminders Club: ADVERTISING TIPS.....................
(49 Posts)
Morning ladies
Some of the newer mumsnetters are in need of advertising help so I thought I'd start a new thread with the info from the previous one (to save scrolling).
The first list is for online advertising, below it are other suggestions. If anyone has any suggestions to add, please go ahead 
TIP (online adverts)......
When advertising with descriptions, put your area but also mention surrounding local areas, like this for me:
.......in Spencers Wood, Reading (near Shinfield, Arborfield, Swallowfield, Three Mile Cross, Lower Earley etc.).......
This means that other areas will be picked up when people search on google and other search engines. All my business so far has been outside my own village so if someone is searching their area and say you are the village next door, as long as it's in your adverts, you should appear on the search!
Does that make sense???
BTW, most of these things take a little time to appear online so be patient
Some of these allows links to websites (IF you have one) for free, others charge and others don't offer it. Anyway, get yourself on as many as possible and you should find (given time) that you appear on things like searches on google.
I.e. if you put 'Childminder in Spencers Wood' (that's me ), you should see me listed loads!!
www.gumtree.co.uk
www.nannyjob.co.uk
www.scoot.co.uk
www.ukvillages.co.uk
www.britinfo.net
www.yell.com
www.118118.com
www.childalert.co.uk
www.practicalparent.org.uk
www.familiesonline.co.uk
www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com
www.mumsnet.com
www.touchlocal.co.uk
www.netmums.com
www.askyourneighbour.co.uk
www.childrensdirectory.com
www.tinies.com
www.192.com
www.childminder-uk.co.uk
www.childcareindex.co.uk
www.thompsonlocal.com
www.childcareplaces.co.uk
www.childworks.co.uk
www.kyotee.co.uk
www.familyrapp.co.uk
www.babydirectory.co.uk
www.upmystreet.com
www.thelocalweb.net
www.babyworld.co.uk (can't advertise but can reply to requests for care)
www.justformumz.co.uk
www.ufindus.com
www.movethat.com (London)
www.village-links.co.uk
www.childcareresources.co.uk
www.earlyyearsonline.co.uk
www.simplychildcare.com
www.ufindus.com
www.vivastreet.co.uk
Other advertising ideas:
Posters/postcards (our CIS give out their proper postcards to use if helps) etc. in:
Newsagents
Post Office
Local Shops (one of mine lets me put business cards on counter)
Supermarket Notice Boards
Local Village Notice Boards (outside village halls etc)
Toddlers Groups
Pre-Schools
Library's
Staff Notice Boards (ask your friends if they have one at work)
Health Visitor
Dr's Surgery (mine doesn't have facility but some do)
I wouldn't worry if you don't have loads of competition in your area then stick with the free stuff. I build websites anyway which is why I have one. Plus, my village is small and I wanted to get myself out further than just the local villages (I used to have 3 children who travelled a bit as they saw my advert in Asda and checked out website and decided they preferred me to other minders in their area). Looks like you'll do fine though. Business cards can be very cheap but I wouldn't say they'd work any better than the stuff on my list to be honest. Takes more time for that method to get you business.
Good luck with everything, good that you've had interest already! Don't know how that works as I couldn't advertise til I had certificate and no one knew I was registering. You must be doing something right 
Agree with happymumof2 - netmums is another good one!
HTH
p.s. if you ever decide to get a website in the future, let me know as I do special rates for childminders and will add extra discount for mumsnetters
That's good - I was working another business at the time I started registering so I never got to toddlers as mum until I stopped that and was pretty much registered! I must admit word of mouth does seem to be the best way!
Nannynick - I love your advertising on car I would love to do same but as my son is the owner of 'our' car (and knowing what these boys are like with their toys) I don't think he would agree to this type of advertising on his beloved vehicle with quad exhausts ; I have been permitted to place A5 ads in the car 
.
helly belly- how much does it cost to have a website??
you can email me at nikkicampbell@ntlworld.com if you dont wish to discuss it on here, thanks
I will email you with my prices and see what you think. Will probably do this in the morning as I'm off to bed in a mo!
nicki83 - I've just emailed my prices to you. Can you let me know if you don't receive my email. I forgot to list some sample sites for you to look at so I'll just list them here instead. They are quite similar in layout as this is what makes me be able to charge the cheaper prices:
mine
jennytots - wanted a sweetie theme
silvanaslitterascals
impsandangels - wanted lots of imp/devil and angel images
sunshines childminding - not live yet
These should give you an idea although I can do a completely different look altogether so just let me know if you want any further details
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