When it comes to getting your marketing message right it’s really important that you pay attention to what you’re putting out into the world and whether or not it’s being seen.
Nailing your messaging is the key to growing your childcare business and making it the success it deserves to be.
Are you hearing crickets?
Often we find ourselves putting tonnes of effort into our marketing and think we’re really visible. We believe we’re getting our information out into the world and that our ideal clients are seeing. But when we hear crickets and realize we’ve had zero inquiry calls, we begin to wonder what’s going on.
What’s happened here? Is there a disconnect between what you think you’re saying and the message being received by your audience? Or is there an issue with the platforms you’re using?
Take a deeper look into this before making your next move!
More often than not, we’ve missed a trick
And that trick is relatively simple: we have not got the messaging for our childcare business right.
Maybe it’s the information you’re relaying, or maybe it’s not hitting home. But whichever it is, it means we haven’t dialled in on our message well enough.
So how can we clear our messaging up and get people signing up to waitlists or booking in for tours?
What’s your mission?
Imagine you’re at a networking event and you’re in a conversation with someone you’ve not met before. They ask you, “What do you do for a living?” You reply, “I’m a childcare business owner.” Simple enough, right? WRONG!
Telling them what you “do” is absolutely fine. However, you’ve left them with only a vague idea of what you do and it’s unlikely that they’ll ask you anything deeper.
And that’s the same when it comes to your marketing. Don’t be vague and wishy washy. Be bold and make moves! Make it clear that you have a purpose, that you’re on a mission to make a difference. Show them the fire in your belly!
Getting your marketing message just right
So how about if, instead, you answer them with a precise mission statement that explains what you do, how you do it differently and what actually sets you apart from all the other childcare businesses.
That’s the power of getting your marketing messaging correct.
It’s about actually getting your information out there in a way that people quickly and easily understand who you are, what you do, and what sets you apart from the competition.
When you can execute your messaging well, you’ll notice that more people are heading your way and are seeking you out specifically. And that’s all because they’re aware that you’re suited to their needs. They know exactly what they’re looking for from their day care provider.
I want to help you nail your marketing message, and I’ve got just the thing!
We are now welcoming passionate childcare biz owners who want to utilize their passion, skills, and expertise to CREATE and GROW a SUCCESSFUL childcare niche into our brand new course!
This exclusive group coaching will help you break through your fears, frustrations, and overwhelm of starting and growing a childcare business so you can begin creating the freedom of time and finances and start living life on your terms!
WHAT IF…you had a roadmap to help you fast track your own childcare business?!
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I CAN SHOW YOU… you too can have a multi-six-figure childcare business!
SO…you can become precisely who you always wanted to be?!
Ready to get stuck in with me? Learn more —-> HERE.
You can read more marketing message tips and tricks over on the blog, and don’t forget that we’ve got a really active community of like-minded childcare business owners over on Facebook!
Because sometimes being a home daycare provider can feel pretty isolating. Get connected with other childcare owners – it’s a game changer! Gain strategies and tips to move your childcare business forward by joining a community! Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be!
Or if you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips there too. We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup!
When you’re running a smaller childcare business, it can feel like a gargantuan task to find a great new team member. We often look around at these big chains offering the world to new staff, and think we can’t do it. However, you can 100% compete for the best team members if you think outside the box.
Take a look at the benefits and practicalities that your smaller day care brings to the table. What can you offer that those bigger less personable chains can’t?
Have a read and make a note of all the unique ways you can market your business to potential employees…
Compete for the best team members BECAUSE you’re smaller
Being a smaller employer isn’t a bad thing. For the staff member, they’re going to get more attention and support. When they need a hand figuring something out, they can ask a real human in real time, not just send an email to HR.
Make sure your current team feel valued and are singing your praises outside of work. They are your ambassadors, so nurture them and say thank you!
Talk about the team you already have to prospective new employees. When you’re doing a tour, showcase your team’s talents. Potential new team members will love that you’re able to name and highlight the skills your team bring. That personal touch matters. And they’ll recognize that their efforts won’t be diluted and their endeavours will be more noticeable to leaders. Which is a huge positive!
Flexibility is a massive plus!
Being smaller has other advantages too! The fact that you haven’t got hundreds of employees to juggle means that you can be more flexible in your rotas and this might allow new team members to work around their other responsibilities.
It’s often something that people applying for jobs in childcare are afraid to bring up because they’ve been shot down before. Pre-empt that conversation by demonstrating to them how flexible your day care schedule is. Maybe you offer split shifts that allow your workers to collect their kids from school and then come back to work later on, or you have capacity for them to bring theirs with them. So I highly recommend that you give examples of how it can benefit everyone.
I’d suggest asking your current team about the benefits they’d like to see, offering it to them and then recruiting with these offers! Market the benefits of flexible working and call in those marvellous humans who always got the extra mile.
Offer different perks to compete for the best team members
While you might not be able to offer amazing healthcare insurance, a 401(k) plan or other expensive benefits that the big dogs can, you can do better! Don’t get caught up in “but I can’t”! Instead think outside the box. What can you seek out as perks to offer your staff?
Use your local connections and great networking skills to bring alternatives to the table. Small things that are important to people. Do you ensure they get a homecooked meal like the kids in the daycare? Or perhaps some veggies to take home to their families from the garden each week? Maybe you can pay their monthly cell phone bill? Would they benefit from a local gym membership? How about a pre-paid gas card?
Something I’ve seen a bit more of recently is pampering for your team. Do your team love getting their nails done, or do they need more relaxation time? How about a monthly massage?
Don’t underestimate the different perks you can offer. And when you’ve figured it out, shout about them from the rooftops!
When it comes to choosing a job, I know from my own experience – and from my team telling me – it’s not always about the money. Often people are looking for roles that allow them flexibility and support, while using all their skills and valuing them as members of the team. It’s not unheard of for people to leave a well-paid and benefits-rich job to go and do something they’re passionate about that gives them creativity and a chance to grow around their family responsibilities.
So now you’ve finished reading this, have you written down some ideas? What can your lil ol’ daycare offer to entice (and sustain!) new fabulous All Star team members?!
Don’t forget!
If you’re looking to sort out your childcare marketing this year, you’re in the right place! I’m hosting a FREE webinar next week which is going to revolutionize how you’re feeling about marketing your childcare biz.
Sometimes being a home daycare provider can feel pretty isolated and massively overwhelming. Getting connected with other childcare owners is a game changer! Gain strategies and tips to move your childcare business forward by joining a community! That’s why I set up my Facebook group, where you can hang out with like-minded and aspirational daycare owners. Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be!
Or if you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips there too. We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup!
These last few months I’ve been thinking about marketing pitfalls that I come across in the Childcare business. There’s so many! Sounds like bad news, right?!
Wrong! These marketing pitfalls are super easy to overcome, so don’t panic!
Have a read of these 4 most common mistakes I see childcare businesses making in their marketing, and then if you know you need a helping hand, I’d love you to register for my FREE upcoming Masterclass “The Childcare Flip MasterClass!”. In that class I’ll be diving deeper into the pitfalls and how to avoid them. I got you, Ninja!
Anyway, here’s some of the things that you need to avoid doing in your childcare business marketing:
Thinking too small
Childcare Ninjas, it’s time to stop thinking your childcare business is too small. Size does not matter when it comes to childcare! Stop believing the lie that you’re too small to contend with the other day cares in your area, especially the larger chain centers.
It is a negative mindset and false belief that tells you: ”Will people really want what I’ve got to offer?”. Stop listening to that voice when it says: “I’m just an in-home daycare! How on earth am I supposed to compete with a massive daycare center?! One that has all the fancy gadgets and latest kit?”
Instead, position it in a way where it will pique your ideal client’s interest! Here’s your permission to brag about what makes your biz unique! Do kids get to eat your home-grown veggies? Do you offer music sessions that enrich your curriculum?! The little touches matter here. It’s time to stop discounting what makes you unique and amazing and start shouting it from the rooftops!
One of the things to start doing so you don’t fall into that pit of ‘marketing or comparison blues’ is look at what you do well and highlight it.
Even if you’re small you can still position and market yourself so you’re set apart and your uniqueness shines bright!
Pretending to be something they’re not
You’d be surprised how many businesses fall into this trap. But it’s all because of the comparisonitis childcare business owners get, as highlighted in my first point! They worry they’re not good enough or big enough and then try to market themselves as something they are not.
I’ve seen it plenty of times where a home daycare biz owner puts out messaging that builds expectations they can’t possibly meet. From stock images on social media posts and leaflets to language that insinuates a huge corporate company – it doesn’t matter how. What’s important is showing your true colors in your marketing.
People love to buy from people, and they want to get to know you. They also love supporting small, so why wouldn’t they want a more intimate experience for their babies?
So stop pretending and start telling the world who you really are!
Not asking for help
Something I witness time and time again is this “I’m a strong independent woman” mantra from Childcare business owners. I am absolutely 100% down for being strong and independent, but not to the detriment of my business and my mental health! And not asking for help is often caused by this need to appear strong and independent all the time. Which is – in my humble opinion – unnecessary!
Being strong doesn’t mean keeping going till you reach breaking point with something. Showing strength can look like saying no to the things that don’t serve you or your business. It might be that you show strength by reaching out to a mentor or your peers.
So don’t end up making this common marketing pitfall! Instead ask for help when you need it.
Not having a marketing plan
Hands up if this is you?! Are you doing your marketing on a wing and a prayer? It’s okay, you’re not alone. Many childcare business owners don’t prioritize their marketing, don’t bother making a plan, and then find themselves in a panic!
So take some time to sit down and figure out your marketing plan. Set some goals for your marketing. If getting a waitlist going is a priority, how can you let people know you’re there? Decide what the purpose is to your marketing and go from there. Create a plan that is manageable and sustainable!
Not sure where to go from here?! Never fear, my blog is full of awesome ideas for marketing your childcare business.
Put a plan in place for your marketing! Even in-home daycares need one!
Have you noticed any other marketing pitfalls in the industry? Share them in the comments below!
If you’re looking to sort out your childcare marketing this year, you’re in the right place! I’m hosting a webinar next week which is going to revolutionize how you’re feeling about marketing your childcare biz.
We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup! Interested in becoming more involved in the community and to grow your business? Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! Or if you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips there too!
We’re already catapulting our way through 2022 and I know that finances are top priority for many of you. I’ve written this blog focusing on tips for creating a successful finance routine in your childcare biz.
Any of these sound familiar? Perhaps you’ve been struggling in the past to keep on track with incomings and outgoings? Or maybe you constantly miss deadlines for taxes? Does your in-home daycare business have trouble collecting payments from your clients?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above, read on as I dive in and take a look at some ideas to help you get set up for success in 2022!
Time to get stuck into my top ideas for creating a successful finance routine, Ninja!
1. Separate your accounts!
It’s super important that you keep track of your business and personal finances. Set up a different bank account for your in-home daycare so you can manage your money better. Head to your local bank or credit union and open a new account.
Whenever you’re making payments for the business – resources, food, equipment, your team – do them from this account. Pay yourself from here too, so it’s really clear to see where you’re at financially. It helps you see what’s coming in and going out!
It also has the added benefit of making you feel more professional, and present yourself as a legitimate business to your clients. Keeps things on a serious level.
2. Pick a “money day”
One of the things that really helped me when I initially set up my home day care was allocating one day per week to focus on finances. Getting into a routine of checking your accounts, keeping on top of budgets and bills is key to making it all less scary.
Choose a day that’s maybe a little quieter and block out a couple of hours in your planner or Google calendar. Then spend that time going through invoices, paying bills, chasing payments and all of the things that used to get piled up and eventually done (badly) in a panic! Keep on top of your finances like this means that you’ll feel more confident in your decision making and when tax returns are due!
Set the scene for your fab finances day – diffuser on, door closed and keep focused! Let’s get into the habit of checking in on our finances every week.
3. Choose an accountant who understands Childcare!
A good accountant is worth their weight in gold! In my honest opinion though, it’s important to find one who understands how a childcare business works. Someone who is knowledgeable about the childcare industry! They’ve got to know what can or can’t be written off and they’ll be able to help you get the most out of the tax return.
Take the time to find the right accountant for you!
4. Have a budget
You might be killing it on your home budget, but do you keep that separate from your business? No?! Well now is the time to start. You need to keep things neat and tidy, so it’s easy to see what came out of where. Don’t mix up your budgets!
Try to make your day care finances and budget independent from your personal budget! Keep all receipts organized and filed away for your in-home daycare. Have a system in place to store and organize things, making it easier to find things when anyone asks.
It’ll save time and money if you keep things separate! Make your life and your accountant’s life easier by starting now! Keep reading for more tips for creating a successful finance routine!
5. Automate as much as you can!
Y’all know I’m all about the systems and automations. Why wouldn’t I love ’em?! After all, they’ve helped me grow from a home daycare into a multiple facility childcare business! But you don’t have to be bringing in the big bucks to put these things in place.
You can ensure you get paid as quickly as possible by automating! Quickbooks or PayPal (others also available!) can help you set up an automated invoices for your clients. These apps can bill them each month and makes them paying you more simple. They’re super easy to adapt and make changes for those times you’re putting your prices up. And you can set up reminders to ensure parents don’t forget to pay.
These don’t cost too much – a small percentage. But it’s worth it to take it off your to do list!
And finally, I’d highly recommend reading Profit First. Wanna know more? I wrote a blog about it here!
I hope you enjoyed reading my tips for creating a successful finance routine! Do you have any more tips to pass on?
Have you heard that we have a course starting next month?! Yaaaaasss Ninja! It’s time to learn! Find out more about our Phenomenal Foundations Course here.
While you’re here…Did you know that you can schedule a 20 minute chat to see how we can help you start and scale your childcare business?
And don’t forget that you can find strategies and tips to move your childcare business forward by joining our community! You can hang out with like-minded and aspirational daycare owners in there and I go live regularly to talk about topics that’ll help you grow. We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup! Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be!
If you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips there too. Or maybe email is your thang…JOIN OUR 💌 MAILING LIST HERE.
Also if you’re looking to reduce overwhelm, get organized and achieve your goals this year, you can get your 2022 CHILDCARE BUSINESS PLANNING SYSTEM right here.
Like every single adult with kids in their midst – whether they’re your own or your grandkids, or the ones in your daycare – the last couple of months have been all about Encanto. Am I right!? It’s EvErYwHeRe! There’s so many themes running through it that are hard resonating with grown-ups, not just kids.
So when I was talking to a friend about it, I was thinking about how there’s a few lessons in there to use when it comes to running our childcare businesses too.
Curious? Read on to discover the 6 things I’ve learned from Encanto.
1. You can’t carry the weight of everything yourself
This is a lesson that’ll help you build a sustainable childcare business. It’s very easy for us to forget that help is available. We get caught up in controlling everything and being independent. After all, it’s our business and the buck stops with us, right?
However, Luisa in the movie has a whole song about how much pressure she’s under. She’s trying her hardest to protect her family and feels like she’s worthless if she can’t be of service. It’s super important, however to remember that you don’t always have to be the problem solver, and you don’t have to be strong all the time.
Don’t forget that you’re not weak if you show vulnerability. It’s absolutely normal to admit you’re struggling. No one is let down by you sharing the burden of running a business and being honest about it. I know from my own experience that honesty and authenticity will bring your people closer.
So remember: when you’re finding things challenging, you’re allowed to ask for help. You don’t have to do it all alone.
2. Nothing’s ever going to be perfect
Urgh. Perfectionism, be gone! People pleasing, disappear! Something many of us struggle with – especially in the early days of growing our businesses.
In the movie, Isabela tries her hardest to make her family proud. To the point where she’s considering marrying someone she doesn’t love in order to please her grandmother. Yikes.
However, the take away here is learning that you’ll never be good enough for some people. No matter what you do or how perfect you are. Instead of letting that get you down, let it inspire you to do your own thing! In setting up your childcare business, you need to limit whose advice you seek and stop caring so much about people’s opinions. At the end of the day, they’re not the ones who you want shaping the direction of your business.
Lesson? Do your own thing, Ninja!
3. Don’t compare yourself
Oooof comparison is often lurking nearby isn’t it?! You open up your Instagram and there’s the business woman from down the road who’s “smashing it!” Or the entrepreneur you met at networking a while back who raves about their new car. What you’re not seeing is the other side of things. We only see a snapshot on there. That business woman? She’s on depression meds. That entrepreneur has just lost his kids in the divorce.
In Encanto, Mirabel sings about how she’s unable to heal what’s broken and how she can’t move mountains. She’s got a severe case of comparisonitis. She’s seeking some signs to show her which path to take for her life to have some sort of meaning, looking to others. But she can’t see her own magic. Mirabel constantly compares herself to others.
As the old adage goes, “the grass is always greener on the other side”. So the lesson here is stay in your lane! Mind your business and focus on you.
4. Try not to be defined by just one thing
Number 4 on my list of things I’ve learned from “Encanto” you can use in your childcare business is particularly relevant! It’s so hard in this day and age not to get tied down to just one thing. By all means be memorable, but give yourself the flexibility to pivot if you need to.
This movie is a reminder to us all that humans are complicated beings! We can’t be defined by simply one thing. Your previous career doesn’t define you. Or your family name. Neither do your talents define you. And it’s the same for your childcare business. There are so many brilliant things you could do!
Don’t be afraid to stand for more than one thing!
5. Listen to your heart
All the characters in Encanto are trying far too hard to please Alma – the matriarch of the story. However this behavior makes them feel utterly miserable. It was only when they started listening to their own hearts not all the “shoulds” that they found happiness.
In our businesses it is easy to get caught up in the expectations of other people. Whether it’s investors or pressure from the community, or even your family members, it’s important that you try to focus on w
My takeaway? You shouldn’t feel pressured to do what is expected of you and instead do what feels right to you.
6. You can always bounce back
Right towards the close of the movie the family home falls apart. But it’s not the end of the world because the characters are able to rebuild. I believe it’s a reminder that you’ll be able to bounce back, no matter what you’ve been through.
And this is so relevant to us as biz owners! Running a business can be outright hard. There’s no getting away from that. Sometimes we face real challenges that knock us right down. But you are strong, Ninja. You are resilient. You will persevere. If something doesn’t work, it might just be the wrong time. Don’t give up, try again.
Final lesson – Don’t always assume that one setback means it’s not meant to be.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog! Never thought I’d be writing about 6 things I’ve learned from “Encanto” or any Disney movie, actually!
Ninja, while you’re here, I wanted to make sure you know all about the free resources I’ve created especially for you!
I’ve been creating these to help both start up owners and those further down the road. You can sign-up for them here.
We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup! Interested in becoming more involved in the community and to grow your business? Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! Or if you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips there too!
It was Simon Sinek who did a TED talk about the importance of the WHY in business. And it matters because it’s your motivation to succeed and your reason to persevere. So what’s the why behind your childcare business?
It’s that time of the year where we reflect and consider what we’re grateful for. I’m utterly grateful for the opportunity to bless my family, watch them grow and be blessed and bless others.
The WHY of my business is my family. One hundred percent. And I’m so thankful for it all, especially the ideas and inspiration they’ve been exposed to and experienced through me being a childcare business owner.
Here’s the scoop, Ninja.
As childcare ninjas we have been working hard ALL.YEAR.LONG. I’m not gonna lie. It can sometimes be really tough! Being key workers throughout a global pandemic and helping keep this country moving has not been easy.
But here’s why I do it:
And this is why most of us do it, right?! Our family or loved ones! When I look at this photo I’m reminded of where I used to be and where I am at right now. Through my childcare business I’ve been blessed to live a very nice life and experience some wonderful things with my family. I can provide for them, and ensure they have the best future possible. That matters to me.
Every single day I’m really grateful for what my childcare business has been able to provide my family. It’s a wonderful thing and I’m highly thankful and highly grateful for both opportunities.
But, do you know what?! I’d love to know YOUR big why!
So tell me, Ninja, what’s the why behind YOUR childcare business?
Maybe you’re the same as me and have a brood you want to provide for and be a role model for. You can certainly do that with a successful childcare business.
Perhaps you wanted to create a job that gave you greater flexibility to care for elderly relatives? Is it that you want to build a legacy to leave behind? Or maybe you have dreams of a house by the beach…
Whatever your WHY is, it’s important to keep reminding yourself of it. I highly recommend creating a vision board to help keep you focused for 2022. Keep your WHY at the front of your mind and stay motivated to achieve your goals.
Ever wondered how your childcare business really affects your family?
Well, this week you get to find out! Join me and two very special guests inside as we take a look at so me of the ways our families are affected so that we can better balance family and business for a fully successful 2022.
In case you’ve not snapped up your planning system for 2022 yet, I just wanted to let you know that the price will be going up to $149 soon. Grab yours now at the special holiday price ——–> HERE! My planning system also includes a physical Letter size laminated wire-o planner, so if you’re more of a handwritten kinda Ninja, then that’s for you! For free!
This exclusive planning system is specifically set up to help today’s childcare professionals easily and quickly plan curriculum, menus, social media scheduling and so much more. Let’s get you organized and systematized in 2022!
Getting connected with other childcare owners is a game changer!
Even with the best planning system in the world, being a home daycare provider can sometimes feel lonely and overwhelming. Gain strategies and tips to move your childcare business forward by joining a community! That’s why I set up my Facebook group, where you can hang out with like-minded and aspirational daycare owners. Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be!
Or if you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips there too. We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup!
