Is it really cheeky for me to post this here?

[agalch]

Hi,i'm fairly new to posting(been a lurker for a bit tho.The 2 mindees i have just both gave me notice!! Eeeek. One i think was a family tax cheat thing(had probs getting fees for notice period etc).My other one's granny retiring so taking over soon.Not getting any offers of work and panicking a bit,is there anywhere i can post a vacancy on mn? many thanks

Hi you can 'advertise' vacancies under nanny shares. hth

Where are you based?

Here's a list of online places to try....(just copied from my list)......

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

Good Luck

I'm in Livingston in Scotland.Thanks everyone,i have never been this quiet before,suppose i just want to have something in place before 2nd mindee leaves.

hellybelly can I just ask do you know if any parents have contacted you after seeing your adverts online and also any from your website. I am trying to work out whether it is worth advertising online or create my own website, thats why I'm being so nosy TIA
Sorry agalch for hijacking the thread

I always ask the people where they found me. My first mindees mum couldn't remember but thinks it was just a google search (my website is everywhere I can think of ) but the rest have always told me.

Oh yeah....I also advertise on ebay but have yet to have an enquiry from that (although all my website business has come from childminders seeing me on there so it's not been a waste of money )

HTH

p.s. I get a fair few email enquiries from people who I'm pretty sure wouldn't have rung round at this stage (putting feelers out in advance as not needed yet!). I'm the sort of person who does as much by email as poss then phone when need/want to so I wanted a lot of online adverts aswell as posters, business cards etc. Everyone is different!

Thanks hellybelly for your list,will try them today.And thanks also lrkids for your suggestion,have posted there.How busy are you all normally? Do you ever get really quiet?

I get I'd say 75% of my new clients via my website , with the rest coming via recomendations.

Therefore for anyone considering having a website, it is worth the investment. However, it does take a while to become established, so do not expect instant results.

A website need not be expensive, you can find places that provide FREE webspace, or you may have some webspace provided free from your Broadband provider. A commercial website, that is your own domain name plus webspace which does not carry any third-party advertising, costs from £30 per year (domain name typically £10 for 2 years. Commercial Webspace from £25 per year)

Having parents make the initial enquiry via e-mail is also great, as you spend more quality time with the children, rather than taking phone calls.

Hope that helps give you an idea of costs involved in getting your own website for your childminding business.

I agree with nannynick, it's worth the investment IMO (and no, I'm not saying this to try and get more business! )

I got my certificate for childminding on 29th May and by July, I'd already got 5 children I was looking after. These all came from my site but since then I've also received some calls from other adverts.

Also make sure you are advertised on the childcarelink website (CIS do this). A tip you may already be aware of is changing tiny bits here and there to get you bumped to the top of the list!! Just see where you are on the list when your area is searched! Does that make sense?

Good luck

Thanks nannynick,just had a peek at your website,it's fab.Will have a think about doing something.Hopefully i can get something in the meantime

I think a lot of my work has been through recommendation and also meeting people at various child-related groups - I talk a lot! If I know I have a space coming up, I tend to "put the word" out and, if I'm lucky, the grapevine starts working.

I have worked consistently through the last 10 years and lots of work has come from word of mouth but i have had only 2 enquries in the last 3 or so months.And they were for after school only,but i really need at least 1 ft mindee or whats the point? I can see me in asda on the till at nights soon i would never see my dp and i do like my job most of the time.Will give it another month and see what happens

Like HellyBelly and nannynick I get lots of enquiries through my website and am able to immediately post out an information booklet by email which helps answer parent's initial questions without taking up too much telephone time. I also build websites for other minders and they often say that they get enquiries straightaway through them once they have advertised on other websites such as those Helly lists. If you can build your own then it can be very satisfying. Please look at my portfolio of other minder's sites for examples of how others have sucessfully projected their services through this medium.