Childminders: website/business name advice please!

[MrsGravy]

I am due to start my Childminding course on Wednesday and am thinking I might start setting a website up to advertise myself. I just want something simple as I'm only going to start off on a small scale initially. Would anyone be willing to let me look at their websites for inspiration? Also, does anyone have any advice or recommendations for setting a site up?

Last bit of advice I'm after is whether to give myself a 'business name' or just be MrsGravy's Childminding Services??

Thanks!

www.3mxchildcare.co.uk

The 3mx is the abbreviation for where I live. It's quite a simple site that I edit myself, so there are probably some bits that don't work . I don't get any work from it, but it does give people some extra info before they phone up.

LooneyTunes has a good site, which she might like to share if she comes this way.

www.helenslittleangels.co.uk

Hi HSMM :)

MrsGravy - good luck with it all :) I have a business name but around my own name. I personally do think having a business name is better but it won't put people off if you don't. I think the main thing is you ARE going to have a website, when I first started minding I think I was the only one around here with a site but 6 years later and I've noticed a LOT more do. I certainly DO get a lot of business from it, helped by the fact I appear all over google so it's good to make sure you do whatever is needed to get you at the top! Especially now the central online database parents used to find childminders has gone!

Hope you find my site helpful, it's a bit too full of information so don't feel you need to go overboard like that!

Good luck! :)

Thanks so much both of you. Your sites are great - and your settings look lovely. I feel slightly intimidated now, my house is teeny!

Don't worry, it's taken me 11 yrs of CM to get this far on my website . Looney is much more techie and organised than me.

I have my website name stuck on my car and on my work T shirts, which helps local people. I also have it on my front fence. I like this kind of local advertising, as most of the children I care for are local.

You might also be able to get your website name in your local parish magazine, or school newsletters.

You can get free business cards from Vistaprint.