_Child Care Marketing
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Child Care Marketing
Child Care Marketing - A lot of child care owners and directors are quick to blame the economy as the primary reason for their slippage in enrollment. While the economy may play a significant role in parents' decisions about caring for their little pride and joy, consider the fact that very few child care facilities market appropriately.
As a Parent, What Would YOU Search For?
For starters, as you think like a parent, ask yourself what types of terms would you be searching for online to find a trustworthy child care provider in your area? Cue up Google's Keyword Tool and see how many people are searching for those terms today.
Peruse the search results to see what your top online competitors offer through their websites. As you browse over the search results, what criteria will you use as the focal point of your search? If you are unsure, ask a current client what they looked for before deciding to enroll their child with your facility.
How Well Does Your Site Rank?
Next, how well do you rank for those terms in the search results? If you aren't appearing on the front page, you have a problem because 97% of searchers these days don't navigate beyond page one. As you probably already know, it's imperative to rank well in search results these days if you want to grow a business.
How Would You Rate Your Current Website's Quality?
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank your current website in terms of its quality, ease of navigation and value provided to a parent looking for child care solutions right now? If you would rank your competitors' websites ahead of yours in each of those categories, you already understand it's time to consider updating or revamping your website.
Many web designers can upgrade your site to a WordPress based site that allows multiple contributors, attracts the search engines, incorporates social networking and is as easy as operating a word processor to update and maintain.
A good number of child care providers hesitate to update their websites because they fear they either won't be able to maintain them cost effectively, or they'll have to pay ridiculous ongoing maintenance fees. Neither is the case today if you find a reputable designer that will set you up with quality hosting and training to update your site.
Keep Sending Direct Mail
Don't think that just because you rank well on the search engines and have a quality website your job is done. You should invest into sending out some good old snail mail to your potential prospects.
Consider mailing postcards and flyers because they still work especially during down times because your competitors are making the same huge mistake of cutting back due to the economy.
When Times Get Tough, Increase Your Marketing!
A good number of business owners mistakenly believe that marketing is the first thing to cut when times get tough when it should be the one thing you increase when times get tough. Very few businesses go under because their products and services are bad. No, they go under because they didn't generate enough customers. Wouldn't you agree?
Anyway, to rent a list of new parents in a two or three zip code radius shouldn't be cost prohibitive, and many print shops will agree to send out an additional 10-25% if you commit to more than one mailing.
This Paves the Way to a Happier You!
The cumulative impact of having a high ranking site that provides value to your prospects and sending out a semi-regular mailing piece may be just what you need to boost your sales 10-25% over the next few months.
Child Care Marketing
Child Care Marketing - A lot of child care owners and directors are quick to blame the economy as the primary reason for their slippage in enrollment. While the economy may play a significant role in parents' decisions about caring for their little pride and joy, consider the fact that very few child care facilities market appropriately.
As a Parent, What Would YOU Search For?
For starters, as you think like a parent, ask yourself what types of terms would you be searching for online to find a trustworthy child care provider in your area? Cue up Google's Keyword Tool and see how many people are searching for those terms today.
Peruse the search results to see what your top online competitors offer through their websites. As you browse over the search results, what criteria will you use as the focal point of your search? If you are unsure, ask a current client what they looked for before deciding to enroll their child with your facility.
How Well Does Your Site Rank?
Next, how well do you rank for those terms in the search results? If you aren't appearing on the front page, you have a problem because 97% of searchers these days don't navigate beyond page one. As you probably already know, it's imperative to rank well in search results these days if you want to grow a business.
How Would You Rate Your Current Website's Quality?
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank your current website in terms of its quality, ease of navigation and value provided to a parent looking for child care solutions right now? If you would rank your competitors' websites ahead of yours in each of those categories, you already understand it's time to consider updating or revamping your website.
Many web designers can upgrade your site to a WordPress based site that allows multiple contributors, attracts the search engines, incorporates social networking and is as easy as operating a word processor to update and maintain.
A good number of child care providers hesitate to update their websites because they fear they either won't be able to maintain them cost effectively, or they'll have to pay ridiculous ongoing maintenance fees. Neither is the case today if you find a reputable designer that will set you up with quality hosting and training to update your site.
Keep Sending Direct Mail
Don't think that just because you rank well on the search engines and have a quality website your job is done. You should invest into sending out some good old snail mail to your potential prospects.
Consider mailing postcards and flyers because they still work especially during down times because your competitors are making the same huge mistake of cutting back due to the economy.
When Times Get Tough, Increase Your Marketing!
A good number of business owners mistakenly believe that marketing is the first thing to cut when times get tough when it should be the one thing you increase when times get tough. Very few businesses go under because their products and services are bad. No, they go under because they didn't generate enough customers. Wouldn't you agree?
Anyway, to rent a list of new parents in a two or three zip code radius shouldn't be cost prohibitive, and many print shops will agree to send out an additional 10-25% if you commit to more than one mailing.
This Paves the Way to a Happier You!
The cumulative impact of having a high ranking site that provides value to your prospects and sending out a semi-regular mailing piece may be just what you need to boost your sales 10-25% over the next few months.