Childminders Club: Problem with advertising...

[KatieMac]

Hi Guys, I advertise regularily at the local PO I pay for the year and just change the advert as necessary.

But over the last 3 weeks I have 'lost' 3 posters. The PO is getting quite cross and so am I.

I have replaced it with a poster with an envelope full of cards (with my details on).

So far (4 days) it has lasted.....but I'm still concerned.

Nicest possible situation someone removing poster so that they have my tel no......worst possible = neighbour who wants me closed down is removing it.....with rival C/M or nurseries in between. (Of course a C/M wouldn't do anything like that)

Any suggestions

What you could try is like in Canada they put up posters with the details then at the bottom put vertically your phone number on strips then each one can be torn off by the client/parent

then they have your number but poster stays there IYSWIM

Cut the stips upwards so yuou have lots of stips hanging down

does that make sense?

Yep KM know what you mean - I'm hoping that the laminated poster with the envelope of business cards will look quite professional.....I'm more concerned with why it went - iyswim

Do you have a problem with your neighbours?

Are there rival C/M around?

Do you mean between the post office and your home?

PO are great they have started to stake out the poster to see what happens

One of my neighbours is a real pain - complaining about the noise/cars and generally whinging . I think he is

I don't think another C/M would do anything nasty - but the local nurseries are a bit......

THe post office should try to keep their eye on it IMHO

Are there a shortage of children in your area?

Your neighbour sounds a real pain

How is the poster held up?

Could they move it slightly so not so easy to take off window or board obviously you want it where it can be seen

Sorry am not being much help but I have never advertised before

I only work with families from DH school

As I only work during term time.

So I get work through word of mouth.

I think people just think - well you're a childminder you

• do nothing all day
• earn loads of money
• children just turn up (from nowhere)
• don't pay any tax don't need holidays (after all you don't work* -do you)

It often treated as a very non job rather than a professional career choice

Oooooohhhh - is this our new club????

That's really sneaky if it's a rival taking the poster.
I've got a laminated one up too and I'm always having to take off the crappy little cards that other advertisers slap on top of mine.
Could you superglue it to the board
Lol at the idea of a poster stakeout - how exciting! I have an image of po staff taking turns to dress up as po boxes with binoculars peeping out of the letter hole.
Hope they catch the villain.

Goosey - an ideas on recruiting children?

KMc could you give out cards to the families you have already?

What about asking at Dr surgery or ask HV if you can put up a poster on their board?

Have you dropped letters and business cards through all the local businesses in your area? Estate agencies and banks and solicitors offices have lots of part time staff and pregnant ones.

Have you got a website? That can help.

Have you contacted your local social services child unit? I have recently got some regular work through them and it's a good contact to have.

It can be surprisingly cost effective to advertise on local radio with just a presenter advert where they talk your ad as many times in the day and at whatever times you want.

Write to local schools and don't forget big secondary schools who have lots of staff who may be needing childcare or know of people who do. A card or poster on their staff notice board may get results.

Send a letter and cards to each ward sister in each ward of your local hospital.

I'll let you know if I think of any more. Can you add anything?

That's loads Goosey - really good ideas

I'm talking to someone on here about a website

I'm going to pass you list on to the girls in my network

I saw a mini bus with "MINDER 'R' US" on the side in Kent a few months ago Now that is advertising!!!!!

But you could put posters in your car windows.

What about playgroups, mother and baby groups swimming pools, gyms.

Go up to pregnant women in the park If you are really brave.

Anti natal clinics in hospitals

Awful HV

Norton what benefits do you feel you get from being on a network and what are the disadvantages do you think?
I am toying with the idea of contacting the local coordinator in my area but something keeps making me hesitate. I think it is the feeling that I will be under their control and to some extent lose some of my autonomy.

What do you think to the name 'Groovy Solutions Childminding'?
I've just bought groovysolutions.co.uk lol

I am being dim but what do you mean you have bought?

After a few minutes I thought that you were it didn't make sense that you could carrry on the conversation otherwise

That sounds very positive. I think I probably will give the network a go. I got a good too and attribute that to all the great info. and support I have found on the net - plus my own perfectionism and attention to detail of course

I have bought the domain name which I will point to the website 'groovy solutions childminding' when I have built it. I've already got my own website but when I saw that mad inventor from Balamory with his groovy solutions I thought what a great name it was so will now build another site and have groovy solutions as well.
If you type groovysolutions.co.uk now it won't go anywhere - but it soon will!!!

Goosey - how long have you been childminding?

Only just over a year Katie, but hopefully I'll still be doing it until the new retirement age of 70.
How about you two?

April 03 - so nearly 20 months I still love it tho' with 4 children on Amoxycillin today - I am starting to wonder..