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Original poster

Childminders Club: Advertising and Branding

60 replies

KatieMaChristmas · 15/12/2004 21:15

OK - so I'm on a big advertising kick for January I have 10 'days' to fill.

A very kind mum at school has just drawn me a 'logo' with a tree on it and a squirral eating a nut in the middle.

This is 'cos I use Childminding @ Walnut Corner as my trading name (not sure about the legalities of this).

I am also setting up a Before & After school club and a holiday playscheme - I thought to call this Squirrals @ Walnut Corner (BTW Walnut Corner is the name of my house), but I'm concerned that this will only appeal to the Mums and the kids will be embarassed.

I am also going to push occasional minding - I was origional (earlier in the year) going to call this "Katie Pop-ins" after very helpful suggestions from Mumsnetters - but now wonder whether I should 'Brand it' like the others? - But I can't think of anything

Any thoughts/ideas anyone??

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KatieMac · 27/01/2005 17:46

Quite honestly if a Mum referred a friend for a F/T place they would get a lot more than a free day......but I think you're right I should make that very clear to them.

Thanks

Twiglett · 26/01/2005 09:43

have you thought of a refer-a-friend scheme?

ie if a friend takes up a f/t place then the parent will get a free day's childcare?

KatieMac · 26/01/2005 09:29

I have decided against this idea....The HV uses a drop in and the antenatal have their own card.....so no babies really get appointment cards - generally if they see the Dr the phone on the day.

So there was not much point

Never mind

KatieMac · 25/01/2005 19:47

No Twiglett - they aren't in my area...never mind....still no decision.

£4 a week is nothing if I get 1 F/T but it's a H*ll of a lot if I don't.......

Twiglett · 25/01/2005 19:27

families magazine

don't know if it covers your area .. but they tend to be everywhere there's post-natal / young children in our neck of the woods

RTKangaMummy · 25/01/2005 19:13

what about bounty bags?

someone here worked for them I think

or what about advertising in the red/blue folders for anti natal notes?

RTKangaMummy · 25/01/2005 19:12

oke doke then I think it may be worth it

because if you have enquires and can then offer places then that is worth doing

But if you have enquires then cant give them a place then no it isnt

I guess they wont let you put up one of your posters

KatieMac · 25/01/2005 18:56

Sorry KM - they are the vacancies I have

2 f/t now plus 2 f/t within a year

(I have 2 f/t plus 4 p/t currently.....but I know nursery is approaching)

Twiglett lots to think of.....I'm hoping that the antenatal care will be my primary target

and the surgery is in the slightly more affluent area than we are in

What is the Families magazine?

Twiglett · 25/01/2005 18:27

to truly know what its worth you need to know how many patients on the register and whether they can tell you what percentage are your demographic .. eg parents with children aged from 0 to (whatever age)

the 40,000 cards will not go to 40,000 individuals remember

Twiglett · 25/01/2005 18:25

how many days work would you have to do to raise £400

You need to think how targeted will the appointment cards be .. personally I would've thought that it would go to too wide a target audience .. not just parents but senior citizens, children, singletons

for £400 you could probably take out a series of adverts in your Families magazine or do a targeted leaflet drop or have long-term advertising in your local library (ours is 75p a week so that would be 10 years of advertising for the same price)

HTH

RTKangaMummy · 25/01/2005 18:24

so sorry for being dim

but how many spaces are you left with empty?

KatieMac · 25/01/2005 18:20

I've currently 2 f/t and expect 2 f/t within 1 year.

Plus all the out of school (probably from school) and the holiday vacancies...

Hmm sounds less viable that way

On the other hand £400 over 2 yrs is £4 a week (ish)

Well I'm confused

RTKangaMummy · 25/01/2005 18:14

I'll get back to you but

How much work can you fit in in next 2 years?

How many spaces are you expecting to loose and need filling?

If you have alot of space then yes

good way of getting mums and dads

KatieMac · 25/01/2005 18:08

I've been offered a chance at advertising in a local (ish) GP surgery

It's on their appointments cards and will cost about 400 (over 2 years) in 6 installments

It will go on 40,000 appointmet cards...What do you think?

Is it worth it?

KatieMac · 08/01/2005 13:09

I'm hoping to get one from a very nice MNer in Feb or Mar

ssd · 08/01/2005 10:07

Just a thought - do you have a website? That might bring in some business.

ssd · 08/01/2005 09:15

KatieMac, I think your advert is brilliant. As a stressed mum too I wish you were nearer me so I could childmind in peace .

Hope you get some business from this.

KatieMac · 08/01/2005 00:11

Yup
Night

kmc

kangamummy · 08/01/2005 00:07

I am sure about that

addict is my middle name

KatieMac · 08/01/2005 00:05

Thanks for being concerned....I'll get over it

See you Tomorrow
KMc

kangamummy · 08/01/2005 00:03

sorry don't know how to help really

I am a prize procrastinator

KatieMac · 07/01/2005 23:57

I've just got too much to do
too much to think about
too much to decide on

and if I don't get going on it all no-one else will.....

Look at my indecision over this ad etc (I must have posted about 3/4 different threads and brought it up on loads of others)

You know me by now - I act first and think later - this is so unlike me

kangamummy · 07/01/2005 23:53

I was a bit unfair gloating on still being on holiday

is there anything i can say to help you?

KatieMac · 07/01/2005 23:50

That look really rude - I didn't mean it to be - I'm just a bit brain dead and trying to get all my troubles out of my head (by reading other peoples)

I really wasn't being a cow (well intentionally anyway)

Sorry

kangamummy · 07/01/2005 23:46

oops silly question