Whether you are just launching your Early Childhood Education business, or you are a seasoned childcare provider, marketing your business to new customers can be a challenge. Fortunately, marketing and advertising doesn’t always have to cost you an arm and a leg. In this article, consider three easy ways to market your childcare business online without spending a dime. Read on to find out more.

Free Advertising – A Great Place to Start

Before you break out your marketing and advertising budget and begin crunching the numbers for your next campaign, be sure to utilize the following free online advertising tools. You may be surprised at how effective these strategies can be in attracting new clients to your daycare center. The best part is they’re absolutely free.

Google My Business

Do you have a Google “My Business” profile for your childcare program? If not, you will want to set one up as soon as possible. It’s easy, free, and a very useful tool to help local families find out basic information about your ECE business.

First, you will need to create a Google “My Business” account. Then you will answer basic questions about your childcare center, like address, phone number, hours of operation, and so on. Once you complete the Google “My Business” profile, your childcare center will begin to appear on Google Maps when people search for childcare providers in your local area.

Here are some tips for making the most of your Google “My Business” profile:

• Add quality photos of your childcare center to your profile.
• Provide a thorough and detailed description of your business.
• Include a link to your website.
• Get reviews! Ask parents to review your childcare center so your listing will appear along with a high rating from Google Reviews.

Online Business Directories

Spread the word about your childcare business by registering your business information on as many online directories as possible. Local parents who want to find out more about childcare providers in their area often turn to these online versions of the “Yellow Pages,” where they can get basic information about your childcare services, including reviews from other clients, as well as general information. Here are a few examples:

• Care.com
• NextDoor.com
• Yelp.com
• Town and City Directories
• Local Childcare Resource and Referral Agencies

As with your Google “My Business” profile, register your childcare business with these online directories using as much information as possible. Make it easy for prospective clients to find out more about your business and how to contact you, including your street address, phone number, and website. Remember, too, that pictures are worth a thousand words.

Website Blog

Have you considered adding a blog to your childcare business website? Believe it or not, posting to your company blog can be a very effective way to attract new visitors to your website and encourage visitors to keep coming back for new and relevant information. You can promote new blog articles on your social media pages and in your parent newsletter. Choose one of your childcare team members (or yourself) to write brief, engaging blog posts covering topics that would be of interest to current and prospective parents at your daycare. After all, you and your team are the experts on things like:

• “What to Look for in An Early Childhood Education Program”
• “Tips for Soothing a Fussy Baby”
• “How to Begin the Transition to Solid Food”
• “Gentle and Effective Discipline for Toddlers”
• “Questions to Ask Your Childcare Provider at Your Next Parent/Teacher Conference”

Not only are these topics useful and interesting to your current families and prospective clients, writing about them can help position your childcare business as a local expert on all things related to Early Childhood Education, child development, and parenthood in the early years. Give a company blog a go, and evaluate its effectiveness in your recruitment efforts every quarter, six months, or one year.

It goes without saying that social media is also a great, free tool for advertising your childcare business. As with your other online profiles, be sure your social media pages look complete and professional. Check them on a regular basis to see if you have any messages or comments from prospective or current clients. Use these platforms to engage your online community with exciting news and meaningful updates from your childcare center.

We hope these tips help you make the most of free online advertising for your childcare business!

Which of these strategies have worked well for your early learning center? We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts with our community in the comment section below.

The Honest Buck Accounting team is dedicated to providing professional accounting services to Early Childhood Education companies. Schedule a call with us to speak with one of our experts. We look forward to hearing from you.