Childcare - Lansing,MI

Nothing wrong with it. I think it would be better if you handed them directly to the adult that is with the child (attach it to some candy just for them).

I like the idea of handing it to the adults. One time a house we went to handed out water bottles to the adults. That could be a way to do it.

I also think putting a sign up somewhere visible would be good too.

I probably wouldn't do that, myself. You could make a somewhat more visible (and maybe even Halloween-ish) business plaque and display it by the front door. People advertise in their windows and yards with signs for their family daycares, and it could also be a conversation starter if a parent sees it and is interested. That would be cheaper for you, more fun for the kids, and I love any opportunity to add more Halloween decorations. :)

As someone who is in marketing, my response is ABSOLUTELY! The best advertising you can get are word of mouth and referrals. If the parents think you are doing a wonderful job with their child, they should be willing to refer you to other people.

If you need help with making any signs, flyers, etc., please let me know.

Best of Luck!

Go for it. I did something similar last year, as we had just moved into our house, I wanted to let my neighbors know I was a Direct Sales consultant. Not much really happened because of it (I talked to 1 person about it, but nothing became of it), but I still think it was worth the try.

Some people are the type to just throw that stuff away, but others may stop to look at it. I tend to briefly look at stuff, throw it away if it doesn't apply, or put it on my bulletin board if I think I might use that service. It doesn't hurt anyone, so its worth a try.

I think word of mouth is best for your daycare advertising. You don't know where a card might land,.

I wouldn't. I'd try to pass the word other ways. If you go to a nearby church, you could see if they'll run an ad or put a note on their bulletin board. Also bulletin boards of local businesses, your local paper etc. I always found my day care homes thru the state day care licensing folks. The elementary or preschool in your n'hood is another idea.

don't see why it would be inappropriate, it's just advertising, however, i'm a mom that would probably just throw it away...maybe put something in the newspaper?

Advertise any way you can.... it cant hurt anything.

I don't think business cards are a bad idea, but as a mom myself with a daughter in daycare, I would want some more information about the facility before I called. For example, maybe creating a flyer with some key points about your daycare would be more beneficial. Things that I would want to know would be, are you licensed (and how many you are licensed for), if you have any education for early childhood development, do you have a curriculum for you the kids at your center, what your hours are, how much you charge per day/week (does that vary on the age of the kid). I know for me, if you met what I was looking for and you were a competitive price it would be worth looking into. Daycare is expensive and I pay around $650/month right now. I love where my daughter goes, but having a reliable safe place that might be a little more affordable in this economy is always something I am keeping an eye out for.

I have a daycare also. I don`t see anything wrong with your idea. Some other ideas I`ve done: I give flyers to my moms here to put in break rooms/lounges. If you know anyone that works in the hospital, give them a couple and have them put it in the lounges. If you have children in school, put a couple in the teachers lounge. Here we have midlandonline.com-it`s free to put an ad in. I do not take DHS so I always add that to my ad. Large companies, ask if there`s a parent exchange on computer,(Like Dow) and ask them to add you in--BUT, they have to know you. Word of mouth has really been the best for me.

visit vistaprint.com - you can do business cards, banners, etc. as well as VERY reasonably priced car magnets. The car magnets may be a great way to go, cause they're not huge - just big enough to read. They ship quickly so you'd have them in time for halloween, and you can be advertising wherever you go. I think it would be annoying to get a business card in the candy bag, but you could put a sign in your window - passive advertising is the way to go here. If someone asks you about it, by all means, tell them and give them your card.

I would see if you could maybe put an announcement in a news letter of your local schools, or church bulletin.

Hi M.,
I think it's a great idea to put something in the bag. Maybe instead of just a business card, make a small (3x5) flier and put together individual little baggies of candies. As a mom, when I inspect my kids' candy, I will find that and I will read it and if I know someone who needs childcare, I would call. If I just came accross a business card in their bag, I'm not sure that I would pay that much attention.
Good luck,

What about putting a flyer up next to your door so the trick-or-treaters will see it and maybe put some cards out on the table? That way you're not pushing it but the information is there for those that want it. If you put it in my kids candy I'd think you were being too pushy.

Have you advertised on your local craigslist or at the supermarket on the boards?

I like the idea of business cards, although you don't have much time and you need to factor the cost. Someone else mentioned Vistaprint, it is a wonderful website for marketing/advertising tools. A car magnet is great, I think a window decal for your car is better, they are placed higher and easier for people to see. Vistaprint has them as well. What about t-shits, and hats for your family to wear, all from vistaprint. They have many specials where you can get things FREE, just pay shipping. They also have calendars, you can make a wall or desk calendar, and give to parents of your current children, family ,friends etc, or get a calendar magnet for the frideg, again to pass out to people.

I advertise on local sites and get new children from there, but you have to be careful, you never know "who" is out there. Newspaper ads can also be good, but I only recommend a weekly paper to try.

I have a home daycare and an internet business, I use all these methods for both.

I would be a little irritated if I found it and, while I wouldn't go so far, I could TOTALLY see someone calling the cops. Not every parent was their kid to the door...I'd be a little freaked out if I found that in my kid's bag. I'd call you myself to let you know that I didn't really care for it.

You got some good suggestions for alternatives...go with one of those. Post something right on your front door at "adult" height...they can read it while they're waiting for you to answer.

Good luck filling your spots!

That's the same nearly everywhere now, sign regulations had to be made from so many people putting garage sale signs places they didn't belong.

I think you can put the cards in the candy but I don't think many parents will see them, a lot of kids eat their stash on the way home and throw all the trash in the floor of the car or in the street. I think you could advertise in a much better way. I did not get a single person from newspaper ads nor from radio spots. I did get nearly everyone of my kids through DHS, through their child care subsidy program. I opened in April and by the first week of May had about 20 kids then by the first of June I had 48 kids.

I had a few issues with parents paying their part, the co-pay, but overall I had good experiences. The state payment came every Monday night except when the bank was closed on Monday for Holiday, Memorial Day, Martin Luther King Day, Labor Day, etc...then it came Tuesday night. It was dependable if I did my part, which was just making sure the parents scanned their cards.

there are also child care referral agencies. I had some call from their lists and one or two ended up coming to my center. If you are not a member of your local Home Child Care organization I strongly recommend that you do attend. You can find out so much from other home care givers about what worked for them, and they are in your area.

I loved the Director/Owner one here in my town. I got so much support and information about saving money.

I think that is a GREAT idea. I don't mind getting things like that in the kid's candy. And since parents go through the candy you know they will definately get it. Now I'm hoping my kids get a card for dance classes!

We always put "grown up candy" in the buckets. You have to have a little something for mom and dad! Maybe you could tape a dove chocolate to each card.