Start A Day Care - Ultimate Marketing Event

When opening a day care you are constantly and desperately looking for ways to market your new business. One of the most effective marketing events you can organize is an Open Day. I held one when opening my day care and it proved to be my most successful marketing endeavor reaping rewards to this day.

When you start a day care you should plan to hold this event just prior to, or shortly after opening. Showcasing your amazing day care service is the primary reason for holding an Open Day allowing potential customers to view your facility and ask questions. My big day was particularly fabulous and impressive (I’m very modest) so I figured what better way to give you some tips than to detail exactly what I did to create the perfect Start a Day Care Open Day.

- Prior to the event, I contacted my local radio station and arranged to run some advertising for a couple of weeks. I arranged to have the ads run during drive time when I knew my potential clients would be traveling to and from work. - The radio station threw in a guest appearance by their fleet of personalized, fun cars plus staff handing out fun gifts. They really added to the festive, special feel of the day. - I had promotional flyers printed and paid a few kids to distribute them locally. My intention was to entice people in by providing a fun, family day out and to that end I arranged; - A bouncy castle. - Face painting. - Story telling. - Clowns. - Snacks for everyone. - Local politician to do the official opening ceremony (so all the local newspapers came to take pictures and do a feature - free!). I opened my day care for tours so people could see first hand what I had to offer; - The day care is on show so excellent presentation is vital. Every playroom was laid out to best showcase the space and equipment. - Staff were positioned in all the rooms ready to talk, answer questions and hand out business cards. -I personally floated around, greeted people and addressed queries. - We also arranged a raffle and asked people to provide their contact details (nice little database thank you) with the prize being a voucher for the day care. The results of that wonderful day are still felt today as many of my enquiries remembered attending the event or hearing about it. Word spread like wildfire as people who attended told friends and relatives. Take the time to fastidiously plan and organize a perfect open day and you will reap the rewards. Impressed people will return or will spread the word to those they know to be seeking childcare. Use this amazing marketing tool and have fun as you open a day care watching it fill up quickly with little kids.

Fiona Lohrenz has been running her own day care for the past 10 years and is the founder of a childcare website that offers articles and resources for child care providers and parents. She has also produced ‘Start a Daycare Business’ DVD all about Day Care. Fiona can be reached at her website on Child Care

- Rene Sandan