by admin | Aug 7, 2020 | Blog, Uncategorized
Recently I’ve been asked how I manage the vacation situation in my childcare business. After so long in the daycare world, I’ve learned that I am a workaholic and I need to take a break. And I’m sure you’re the same. It’s really hard to step away from the day-to-day running of our businesses because we’re so involved and because we care!
So how do I handle it? How do I ensure that I take a proper break, that my team gets a fair vacation, all while keeping clients happy.
Well here’s a few things I’ve learned along the way that might help you.
Give as much notice as possible
It is super helpful if you can get your dates out to your daycare families and to your team as early as humanly possible. This allows everyone to make plans and come to terms with the dates you’ve set.
You want to get it out in a newsletter in advance of the year ahead. I send a notice out to all my families in November, ready to for the upcoming year. This gives them plenty of notice to find temporary care, or to book their own vacation time from work. It even gives them a chance to book travel!
Be predictable
As much as possible, keep roughly the same date. This doesn’t mean plot out exactly what you’re doing for the next five years on precisely the same dates, just that it makes it easier to remember if you have a vacation in the same month each year. Perhaps you go away for spring break, or for a fall getaway, or you might take a break every August like I do.
Taking a vacation at a similar time each year makes it more memorable for families, ensuring that they can plan ahead and not forget.
The families who’ve been using my services for a long time always feedback that it really helps them figure out their plans. They know that every summer I take a week off in August where I close all my settings and my team also has a break.
Should you close?
As I mentioned above, I choose to close my business for one week each year. It wasn’t always this way. What I used to do was say I was taking a week off, not closing, and letting my team take the reins. However, the reality was that I couldn’t switch off my boss brain. I’d find myself checking in after a couple of days. My break ended up being more like working from home. Which isn’t my idea of a vacation! So a couple of years ago I decided enough was enough. We all deserve a proper vacation time.
As a smaller childcare business, it may be beneficial to close the whole childcare for your vacation time. It’ll save you stress, and ensure you come back refreshed, motivated and ready to be boss again.
A break for everyone
So we now close each year in August. Just for one week. Not only can I recharge my own batteries, it also means that I can ensure that my whole team gets a well earned break, because we all know that if we’re not made to take a break, we’d all just keep on going right?! They need time with their own families, to catch up with friends and maybe even head off on a camping trip.
In terms of organization, it’s also a massive breath of fresh air! No need to schedule in a few days here and there for each member of staff, figuring out if you’ve got enough adults to fulfill ratio requirements. The timetable for staff vacations could give anyone a headache, and if you’ve got more than one childcare facility, that is a guarantee! So trust me when I say it’s been a game changer to just close and all take a break at the same time!
Give an incentive for parents
It might seem like a big ask, but your families know you need a break too. They understand and are nearly always receptive. As long as you’ve given them plenty of notice, they’re appreciative and they love you coming back with a renewed zest for their kids!
You can ask them to partner with you for vacation closure. Offer them a discount on care or even a free week, if you think it’ll ease the blow. Generally I haven’t had to do this myself, but I know it’s helped other childcare owners bridge the gap with their families.
All in all, by taking care of the vacation situation well in advance, you’re making it easier for everyone involved. You can breathe and rest fully on your designated break, in the knowledge that your team are doing the same. Your families all know you’ll be back in a week to welcome them with open arms, and that you’ll be a lighter, brighter team for the time off!
I hope you found that helpful. If you liked this, I wonder whether you’ve found the Childcare Ninja Facebook group yet? We are 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 a part of the community? Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!
by admin | Jul 27, 2020 | Blog, Uncategorized
“Vision board” – it’s a term that’s thrown around like confetti in the entrepreneurial online space, right?! All the big names are talking about them! But have you ever made one with the purpose of growing your business?
I’m Siobhan Strode, word witch over at This Sister Scribes. And I’ve been asked by Ms. Nyckie to write a blog on vision boards because since I’ve been using them I have seen a huge change in my mindset, and my copywriting business has grown from strength to strength. And we thought it would be fun to share how and why they work!
Don’t be put off by the idea if you’re new to it, or the “woo” freaks you out. I felt like this once too! So bear with me and have a read of this blog…I think you’ll love what I’ve learned.
So, what exactly is a vision board?
A vision board is a visual representation of where you want to go in life.
Imagine it’s a sort of map that guides you and pushes you forward. You piece together a creative collage of images and texts which help to stimulate your imagination and develop your ability to visualize your goals. The board is a visual representation of the dreams and goals that you aim to achieve.
It might be a digital board, where you copy and paste images and words that you feel drawn to, but I love something I can touch. Something I can pin up on my wall, and add to as time goes on. To me, it’s a prod or poke to remind me where I’m headed and how I’m going to get there.
Let yourself try it!
After spending a couple of years ignoring the suggestion by numerous coaches, I finally let myself try it in 2017. Slowly, I began to really believe I could build the business of my dreams and a life where my values are centered. And since then I’ve achieved so much. I’ve helped 100s of female founders find the right words to say in their businesses; I’ve held writing workshops and spoken in groups; every day I write for some phenomenal women! I started a feminist podcast “This Sister Speaks” and began hosting writers’ retreats in my Airbnb guest space.
I’ve begun to be the female leader I put on my vision board. I have built a blossoming political career alongside my business – I became a Councillor in December 2017 and I ran for UK Parliament in December 2019; I’ve set up community groups, run campaigns to raise awareness around education cuts and changes to the social security system…Honestly, looking back makes me feel so proud.
And all this is because everyday, I’m reminded of my soul goals and the steps I needed to take to get there. Each morning, I look up from my desk and see the empowering words and mantras, the pictures that align with my future self. I allowed myself to believe. Because I can do this. And if I can do this, you can too!
Creating your vision board
First, you’ve got to pause and think about where you’re at and where you want to go. Ask yourself where you’d like to be this time next year, and where you want to be in 5 years. What steps do you need to take to get there? Think about your why. Where do you want to take your childcare business from here?
Once you’ve taken time to contemplate your goals, and gathered up the craft materials – scissors, washi tape, Sharpies, and a glue stick – plus a big pile of magazines and catalogs to delve into, you can begin! Set aside at least 2 hours of time where you can just be in the moment, with no interruptions.
As you flick through the pages, cut out images and words that you feel drawn to. Perhaps you’ve got specific quotes or mantras you want to include. You might have 3 goals you’re working towards and divide the space accordingly, adding words and images that represent that. This is completely personal and for your eyes only.
Creating a vision board with your goals in mind – really putting your heart and soul into it – can be an extraordinary experience. Like you’ve just read from my own journey, they can truly help you focus and will act as a reminder to you every day of what you want to achieve.
Making the vision board work
While making a vision board is fairly simple, what actually matters is making sure that it works. If you’re spending a good chunk of time on this, you want to ensure that it is worth the hours given.
Acknowledge that this isn’t actually magic. It won’t do the work for you. You’ll get the most from vision boards when you’re determined to put in the work needed to reach your goals. Studies have shown that people who visualize themselves achieving their goals and – crucially – taking the steps to get there are more likely to succeed than those who only visualized themselves attaining their end goals.
Therefore I’d like to encourage you to incorporate those steps you need to take! Add more actionable images and dynamic verbs to your vision board.
Train your brain
Display your vision board where you can see it every day. Place it in your bedroom, work space, the bathroom (probably laminate it!) or any other place that you’ll see it repeatedly.
Reason being that vision boards help prepare your mind, getting it ready to take action. Whenever an opportunity presents itself for the accomplishment of your goals, you’ll be less likely to shy away from it because everyday you’ve been presented with an image of your success in this area.
Having consistently given your mind visuals to prepare it, you won’t waste opportunities to head towards your goals. You’ll find yourself taking action. Essentially what you’re doing is training your mind!
Go and get creative, Ninjas!
Hopefully you’ve stuck with me on this and can see how helpful vision boards can help you grow your business. Although I’m creative – I’m a writer after all! – I’m a hugely practical person, who is apologetically ambitious. I don’t want to spend time doing things that won’t give me a return! I’m a busy woman, as I’m sure you are too.
But creating a vision board is something I invest time into at least once a year, and add to it or create a new one whenever a new goal comes on the horizon. I ask myself, does it fit with my values and soul goals? How am I going to do this? And then it goes on the board!
Let us know if you’ve ever tried before! How do you create yours? Nyckie and I would love to hear from you, so leave a comment! Or if you’re trying for the first time, tag us in a photo of your vision board on Instagram – I’m @thissisterscribes and Nyckie is @childcareninjas.
Have you discovered the Childcare Ninja Facebook group yet? We are 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 a part of the community? Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!
by admin | Jul 14, 2020 | Blog, Uncategorized
Recently our industry has been recognized as essential due to the pandemic. The need for emergency service staff, food store workers and other “essential” workers to place their children in care with us while they deal with the Covid-19 crisis has been a core part of this. This has been an interesting thing for me to observe, and I was wondering how you’re feeling about it?
As a childcare business owner of multiple spaces, with a large number of staff, I have been watching things unfold with attentiveness. I know that the majority of our parents have always thought of us as essential, but that isn’t always the case, so the realization by the wider public and government feels quite significant.
So this led me to pondering about our mindsets as founders in this business. I’d love to hear your thoughts once you’ve read this blog…
How essential did you feel before?
It’s a funny one isn’t it? Before the outbreak here in the USA I, personally, considered the offerings of my business to be absolutely essential. I heard it from parents all the time. Being there to pick up the pieces when a treasured little human is finding separation anxiety tough, or when we can offer care to cover a night shift for someone whose shifts change last minute…I’d consider those things pretty essential, right? When you get feedback from clients like, “I don’t know what I’d do without you!” Or “You’re a God-send” you feel like they couldn’t do without your business. Or at least that’s what I have always felt like.
But I know that a few other childcare business owners feel like their services aren’t that important. That they’re considered casual or they don’t feel they’re needed – maybe the moms aren’t working and get their hair done while you watch their kids. Some have told me they’re not treated as professional by some of their clients or people in their communities – they’re “just childcare”. From where I’m standing, there’s no “just”! But I do understand that being told constantly that your an afterthought – sometimes even a frivolous expense – must be difficult to hear when the job feels so demanding and is all-consuming.
Which camp did you sit in and how do you feel now?
It’s not all fun and games
One thing I’ve noticed is that people posting on social media have changed their tone. They’ve gone from joking about how easy our jobs are and how we get paid too much for “just playing”, to acknowledging the challenges that childcare business comes with. Apparently they’ve realized that childcare is more than just fun and games!
And it’s dawned on people that trying to work while having a kid in tow is pretty tough…so I saw clients who initially tried to work from home with the children at home, but couldn’t get enough done. Which led to them booking their kids into daycare instead of relying on screens to mind them. Instead they get engaging activities and entertainment in a safe environment that doesn’t disturb mom and dad’s conference calls! And we now get grateful parents who thank us for something they’d taken for granted before.
Has the pandemic changed your business mindset?
The pandemic has hit us all in different ways, depending on where you are and how severe the lock down in your state has been. Here, in Pennsylvania, my business has pretty much carried on as before.
Has your mindset as a business owner changed since we’re now acknowledged as “essential”? Or did you always consider you and your team as indispensable? Are you cheering “FINALLY!” at the top of your lungs? I am so intrigued, because it definitely feels different hearing us being officially described as essential workers.
Perhaps you’re grateful for recognition? Is it like a badge of honor that we can now be held up as our healthcare workers and first responders are? After decades of providing care for thousands of children, we are now being given this accolade – it’s a little strange to think that it’s only just happened.
Where do we go from here?
It is certainly a strange time for many business owners, and I know some childcare owners have struggled – particularly outside the US where lock down has been stricter in some countries. But the change in attitude from the government and the wider public surely means that we have a general appreciation now, and perhaps we can see ourselves in a different light too.
Has it changed the way you look at yourself as a professional? Do you feel more professional than casual? I know that many of the parents I work with have a new found view on us, and I think I’m probably walking a little taller! I feel even more proud of the support we’ve given during the crisis to emergency workers, but in helping families maintain some sort of normality. We’ve been a safe haven for a lot of kids.
Now that we’re officially “essential” will this change the way you approach your work and customer interactions? Have you noticed any difference in you or your team?
I know this isn’t the usual kind of blog post I share with you, Ninjas, but I had to find out from you if y’all are feeling like this too?! Let me know your thoughts in the comments, or drop me an email! I love hearing from you, and these times we’re living in are pretty strange. Don’t be afraid to reach out.
Keep on keepin’ on!
I’m going to open this discussion up on the Facebook group too, so come on over and join in the chat! It’s THE place to meet like-minded childcare business owners, to keep up to date and in the loop about all things early education and daycare related, and to hang out!
And if you’d like to find out more about becoming a Childcare Ninja, don’t hesitate to get in touch. 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!
by admin | Jul 10, 2020 | Blog, Uncategorized
We all know marketing is absolutely key to building our businesses, but it can be overwhelming knowing how much there is to do. So the key to getting on top of the challenge is automation. I’m a huge fan of systems and putting things in place to make my everyday life a little easier, and one of the ways I’ve succeeded in this is in my marketing. This blog is going to show you how to automate your marketing.
Since I made the leap and started planning ahead, using my precious time more wisely and prioritizing getting my childcare out there, I have made huge shifts in my business and in my life. I’m able to give more to my Childcare Ninjas and to the other things that make me feel good, because I don’t have to spend hours each day on marketing and getting my childcare businesses visible!
What will you do with all the extra time?
Want to know how to get there? Here’s the 3 simple steps I took to automating my marketing.
1. Choose which platform you’ll be focusing on
Marketing online has never been easier, but there’s also never been so much choice. So, where to begin?
I’d recommend picking one platform and getting super comfortable with it. Think about your parents and the people you want to attract. Take a moment to visualize your ideal client. Where do they hang out online? Twitter? Facebook? Instagram? TikTok?
For example, if that’s Facebook, get a handle on how marketing will look for your childcare business on there. Look at what your peers are doing globally, and how they’re reaching their target market. Do they have groups as well as pages? Do they post in local “sales” groups? What sort of content do they share? I’ve written more on Facebook ninja marketing techniques here to help you out!
Perhaps your families are Gen X, urban and cool? If so they’re potentially going to be on TikTok. With over a billion users, many childcare business owners are getting in on this game. It’s a really creative platform that can get you seen by scores of people and really create a buzz around your biz. If you’re not yet familiar, it’s essentially incredibly short videos that entertain, inspire or demonstrate something. Find out more here.
Indeed, if you’re a visual person, and know that you’ve got millennial (and older) parents, Instagram is brilliant for building your brand and marketing. Using hashtags and content that will draw in your ideal client, you can develop a following and hone in on what they want and need. You can create a beautiful brand image, and a “link in bio” funnel that’ll have people emailing you about walk arounds in no time!
It’s all about finding the right platform for you and your business, but one that will get you seen by the right people! Do a quick survey of your current families and their use of social media. Once you’ve figured that out, you can really focus and get cracking on Step 2!
2. Get scheduling software
This is a game changer. If you can find a scheduling app that posts for you, so you’re not spending hours each day logging into apps and posting your childcare business content you’re going to be able to breathe easy!
There are a few you can try out for free, and there are some that you pay for. It all depends on what you want it to do and how quick you are to learn new tools. They’re all designed to help you! Here are a few I know have helped other Childcare Ninjas: Later, Hootsuite, Buffer, SproutSocial, SocialOomph… but I encourage you to explore and find the one that works for you.
2 a. So why is scheduling helpful?
Well, by planning ahead you can curate your content better and also maintain consistency across your brand. It means you can post the type of content necessary to reach your goals and grow your business. A social media management tool (or scheduling software) will allow you to schedule social media posts ahead of time. This will make it much easier to visualize and scheduling posts beats having to post everything manually – for sure!
Getting organized and using social management software will help you manage multiple social profiles all in one place. You’ll be able to schedule posts in advance, run contests, track analytics across platforms, and the list goes on! These tools really are game changers for your marketing!
3. Batching your content
After you’ve picked out the automated scheduling system you’re going to use, it’s time to block out time for creating content. When you’re batching your posts for the month all at once, it’s much easier to get into a flow, but also to see what your feed is going to look like to your clients. It’s very easy to lose that bigger picture when you’re having to post two or three times a day manually. Trust me!
However, when you’re running a childcare business, we can barely keep track of who’s working which shifts and when, what the meal plans are and whether the cleaning products are all in stock…so why not take time out each month to plan out your marketing. Think about how often you want to post on your chosen platform, and then plan out how many posts you’ll need and what they’ll look like. Will you be sharing tips, ideas for play, places you love to visit, easy recipes?
Once your plan is formulated, get onto Canva (unless you’re a graphic designer or a Photoshop whizz!) and start batching your content. If you haven’t already, I’d recommend setting up a “Brand Kit” on there, so your colours and fonts are uniform and are automatically in the drop downs! Easy peasy! Once you’ve made a couple of designs – use templates! – you can hit “Make a copy” and just redesign that post for the next piece. That way you’ll stay on brand and maybe create a pattern on your insta grid, or just excellent brand recognition.
Spend one day a month batching content for your scheduled social media marketing and I guarantee you’ll be grateful! No more hustling all day every day!
Just a simple, planned out strategy, executed with the finesse of a Childcare Ninja! Yesssssssssss!!
I hope you’ve found this blog useful!
Leave a comment and let me know if you have any other tips for other childcare businesses when it comes to automating your marketing! I’m always interested to see how y’all are doing things!
As you’re here, I wondered whether you’ve found the Childcare Ninja Facebook group yet? We are 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 a part of the community? Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!
by admin | Jul 3, 2020 | Blog, Uncategorized
Have you taken a moment to rethink and reload your financial goals for 2020? It’s been a rollercoaster of a year so far, but there’s no need to despair! Essentially, we’re only half way through so let’s assess where you’re at and get planning!
Y’all know my favorite word is the “p” word. Ms. Nyckie loves the planning! However, you might be wondering, “what’s the point?” You’re maybe even thinking, “Let’s write off 2020 and start from scratch next year”. Who wants to sit back and mope?? Not me! And I want to encourage you to re-look at your financial goals with some positivity and hope!
Why you need to rethink your financial goals
Between a global pandemic causing financial chaos and the anxious state of flux we’re seeing on the international stock market, it’s not really surprising that we might not have met our goals for 2020. But I hasten to add one word to that sentence: YET. You might not have met them YET.
Clearly 2020 is giving us enough reasons to rethink (life, health, family…let alone our businesses!), so why not just go with the flow? We cannot control the way the pandemic is impacting our businesses – social distancing, face masks and additional cleaning are just a few of the adjustments we’re all having to make – not to mention closures for those of us in countries where strict lock-downs have been in place.
What we can control is our reactions and coping strategies. Let’s be pro-active, re-think and reload our financial goals!
Where to start with reloading
It sounds simple, but in the words of Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, “Let’s start at the very beginning”! You made Q1 goals in January, right? And maybe the more savvy Childcare Ninjas among us even set Q2 goals back in March. Since then things have gone a bit haywire, and maybe that line you’re usually so able to predict hasn’t quite followed the path you were expecting.
Look at what’s worked well and where things need some support. Have you managed to stay open during this time, or have you had to close temporarily for everyone’s safety? I’ve been lucky in the grand scheme of things, but I know many childcare business owners elsewhere who’ve had to shut their doors, uncertain of when they’ll be able to welcome their families back and therefore had to dismiss staff. Now some of those day cares are preparing for re-opening and they’ve got to look at rehiring as well as navigate intense new levels of hygiene.
If you’ve been one of the lucky ones and have been able to keep going, take a good look at your goals from earlier in the year. How can you alter the projections you’d made to take into account any changes in the financial climate? Factor in any interest rate alterations and allowances you might have been able to access. You can still dream big, and maybe reloaded goals look more positive than you’d imagined they might, considering the current situation.
Ensure that your goals are SMART.
If you’ve not heard of SMART goals before, this means that you are looking at targets in a more analytical way. While you’re reloading your financial goals, it’s worth checking that they are: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. Due to the instability of everything at this precise moment in time, you might be concerned about the longevity of your business so analyse everything and figure out what you can do differently.
Setting really specific goals, like “Find 3 new families for the day care” or “create new menu on a smaller budget”, will mean you can easily see if you’re making progress. Just be sure to write down detailed plans, to chunk big goals down into bite-size ones, and make a timeline for achieving your goals.
The back up plan for your financials…
If you’re not going to meet your goals, but still worrying about not meeting adjusted targets, what’s your plan B? What are you going to do differently to cover your back? If you’re not fully up and running yet, you could set a new goal to develop your childcare business by training up a team or looking at venues. Or maybe you’ve got to pick up some freelance jobs or babysitting work in addition to running your childcare business, just to tide things over.
You may decide that now is the time to start saving more emergency funds, or that you’re going to make changes in your investment strategy so your money has a better chance of surviving market downturns.
I’d be happy to chat over in the Facebook group with you about how things are going, and the other childcare business owners will have ideas about how you can adjust your strategy to reach your new goals, in the new normal (whatever that looks like for you!).
Before you go, have you found the Childcare Ninja Facebook group yet? We are 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 a part of the community? Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!
by admin | Jun 26, 2020 | Blog
You’ve got your website all set up ready to go, but how exactly are you going to tell people about your childcare business? How will you get them to see what services you have available? What are you going to do to get Ninja marketing results? On a limited budget…
This is where the wonders of social media come into play.
But what does that look like, really?
I bet you’ve heard all the big dogs talking about their “social media managers” and “scheduling”, right? However, you need to know what YOU can do to with social media to become a marketing ninja. So I’m going to share my strategies with you for getting the word out about your programs and offerings!
Group inside Facebook for your parents
For many businesses, it’s becoming pretty normal to have a Facebook group for your customers. Running a childcare business is a little different than other industries, but Facebook groups (along with other platforms) are there for you to use and it’s totally FREE! Quite often, marketing can come with a hefty price tag. So we’ve got to be savvy in our choices and seek out the ones that work best and cost the least.
A Facebook group is easy to set up, and you can allow parents access once they’ve enrolled their child. This can then be a private group where you can share photos of the daycare goings on or information about events you’re running. This space can become a really brilliant community for parents, especially for families new to the area. It can even be a super selling point for your childcare setting. Give it a go!
Sharing is caring
Social media is a cheap and easy place to share news and information about your business. You can promote your day care or a new service via an open Facebook page. Use it to explain the different programs you have available or share when enrollment opens up. Even when you’re advertising staff vacancies, Facebook is great for reaching different audiences.
You can use Twitter to get your name out there too, following trends or sharing fun activities you’ve tried with the children. By using relevant hashtags and building your own following, you’ll quickly gain traction and become a resource for the local community.
And of course there are other platforms to get into, especially if you’re really creative. Instagram is fantastic for creating a true “feel” for your childcare business, so parents get to know you and what you’re about. And there’s lots of fun to be had on TikTok if you know some younger families who might be interested in your daycare offerings.
Of course there are other ways to be seen – I’m no stranger to the old school methods – but social media has such a huge reach nowadays, it’d be daft to dismiss it. And I’ve got a free Ninja Marketing Guide for you to check out as well.
Market research
It might sound silly, but researching ideas using social media is an easy way of finding out what people want and need. You can use the search tools to get information about what services local people require. Plus you can check out what competitors are offering. There’s options for asking questions in local community groups. For example putting a poll out to find out if families are in need of overnight care for their children.
By doing your own market research on social media, you can save energy and money that you can instead invest elsewhere in your business. I’ve found that sounding out local parents before I launch any new services has meant I have knowledge of what they want. I can then provide a more tailored childcare. And of course if you want help and ideas with a project to grow your business, there are always people who you can reach out to online.
As someone who’s been in the game a while, I can tell you that social media is resoundingly successful in helping me both communicate & grow as a business owner.
Stay connected
Funny enough, social media sort of does exactly what its title portrays! It’s a key way of making connections and interacting with your community. This might look like a Slack chat with your awesome childcare team. It might be in your Facebook group letting parents know that there’s a bake sale in the daycare the following day. Or it could be a notice on your main daycare page that there’s a local road closure…
Whatever you do on social media, the more you interact positively and socialize, the stronger your relationships with those people will be. Be a helpful resource; be an online cheerleader and supporter of community groups! Get a buzz going around your childcare and everyone will want to champion your business in return.
Once you’re more established, you’ll be able to consider a strategic Facebook Ads campaign. For now though, I’d recommend spending some dedicated time to researching, connecting and building a community with local families you serve in your childcare. Social media is a valuable resource to Childcare Ninjas like you and me!
Ready to become a Ninja Marketing Boss?
If you want to learn more about marketing, I’ve got a free guide to marketing available to you right now! All you’ve got to do is click here.
Leave a comment below to tell me how you’re using social media for marketing. Join like-minded childcare business owners in my free Facebook group, where you can connect with other amazing women and share ideas. You’ll find more tips on how to take your childcare business to the next level!
And if you’d like to find out more about becoming a Childcare Ninja, don’t hesitate to get in touch. 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!
