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Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

CM Club - ADVERTISING TIPS - Fresh new thread...........

69 replies

looneytune · 03/04/2007 11:51

I've put a new thread together to make the lists a bit clearer, with the extra suggestions added on.

Hope this helps some of the newer mumsnetters who are in need of advertising help.

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 allow 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!!

Online 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
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
www.the-business-list.com
www.childcaredirectory.co.uk
www.hallolondon.com
www.ukchildminder.co.uk
www.silkysteps.co.uk

If an NCMA member, tell them you want to take part in their care-4 advertising. They will register you and the following week you can advertise on childcareplaces the reason you have to wait til following week is because they transfer details from NCMA every Friday) Tel: 02082902410

An emergency/adhoc care booking service - emergencychildcare.co.uk

For those of you in East Berkshire, there is a new website called localparent Covers: Ascot, Bracknell, Crowthorne and Sandhurst

Ebay (I have had lots of requests to build websites for other childminders through advertising my childcare vacancies however no enquiries for actual childminding, but you never know! )

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)
Yellow Pages (I appeared automatically as did online with them)
Thompson Directory (I appeared automatically as did online with them)

WORD OF MOUTH - groups etc!!! (probably best way to get recommended)

Mobile Advertising like NannyNick - here

Personalised Car Blinds like this

Hope this is of some use. Please feel free to add any idea's not listed

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
PinkChick · 03/04/2007 19:27

Wow LT, check out the 4 smaller sunshades for £2....ready for colouring in/drawing on!, perfect for mindees as gifts for parents..£2.40 p&p tho

looneytune · 03/04/2007 19:29

Blimey, didn't see that - BARGAIN!

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looneytune · 03/04/2007 19:30

apart from p&p - i must learn not to rush!!

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looneytune · 05/04/2007 08:38

Oh yeah, another one I forgot..........I have a signature strip that goes out automatically with all my emails. Just has my name, Ofsted Reg'd CM, phone numbers, website, email. I've had a couple of enquiries this way - you never know who may see it and think 'oh, I need a childminder!'. I once replied to something on 'Freecycle' and the lady replied back asking if I could look after her twins. I was full but great unexpected enquiry!

OP posts:
looneytune · 06/04/2007 14:02

Just found these ones:

www.letsfind.co.uk
www.nitronsearch.co.uk

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looneytune · 20/04/2007 18:19

Forgot to put this on for some reason...........if you have any new homes being built nearby, have a word with the people on site in charge of sales etc. They may take business cards for you! One of my old mindees mum's worked for xxx Homes and was in sales and said part of her job was to give information on local schools, childcare etc etc.

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looneytune · 23/04/2007 20:46

Don't forget Mumsnet local - look on the home page

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looneytune · 24/04/2007 15:26

Another thought (after seeing someone looking for childminder as moving house)..............how about asking local Estate Agents if you can leave a pile of leaflets/business cards???

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looneytune · 02/06/2007 16:19

bump

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looneytune · 10/07/2007 14:04

Bump

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looneytune · 07/09/2007 18:27

Bump

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hellsbells76 · 14/09/2007 15:17

i work for a CIS and just wanted to add, make sure your details are up to date with your local CIS, add a few lines about your service to make you stand out from the competition, and most importantly make sure you've given them the necessary permissions to advertise you. we get loads and loads of calls from parents looking for childminders...it's a free service so do take advantage!

nannynick · 14/09/2007 18:32

hellsbells - why won't CIS list Approved forms of childcare? Are you being told the same thing as me - it's a iChIS problem, a DfES contractual issue, or are you being told something different? Also, has your local authority started getting the spreadsheet from Ofsted for OCR - and what do you do with the data, seeing that iChIS won't let you enter it!

free777 · 15/09/2007 11:15

Just to add an another London Site Available, (I know looneytune already gave us a good list)

You might also want to try to advertise here:

London-Village.co.uk

tracyb75 · 15/09/2007 22:11

put leafelts on the cars in mums and baby spaces when you go to the supermarket.
do a leaflet drop in your local area.
do some courses and swap numbers with other childminders close by. go to mums and tots groups. tell EVERYONE you are a childminder!!!

Kiddi · 15/09/2007 23:48

I tried our local chip shop. and found they do not charge and there is always a queue.. Neither do the other two I then visited, neither of those do I ever buy from and they advertised for over a month before it got taken down.

looneytune · 18/09/2007 13:09

bump

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bloodsuckingLOONEY · 11/10/2007 11:36

bumpity bump bump

lottiesmummy · 16/10/2007 17:58

brilliant thanks x

looneytune · 12/11/2007 09:27

Bump for EM

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LOONEYplayingachristmasTUNEy · 21/11/2007 18:01

bump

looneytune · 05/02/2008 12:41

bump

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JennaJ · 06/02/2008 07:52

Great list Thanks

Jen

JennaJ · 06/02/2008 07:54

Should have added

www.nannyneeded.co.uk
www.nannynet.co.uk
www.parentscentre.gov.uk

Not all just for nannies have spaces where childminders can post too.

Jen

looneytune · 20/02/2008 15:39

bump

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