I am really hurting financially right now since I lost kids after we moved a few weeks ago when the parents decided they didn't want to drive the extra distance. I was told by 3 out of the 4 parents within three days that they won't be with me much longer

I have my ad on craigslist, go on care.com and sittercity everyday and have no luck. I am 7 months pregnant right now so I am soo worried that I won't be able to get anyone because of me expecting.

I plan on having a kids sale/garage sale this weekend to hopefully bring in some $$, I was thinking about putting out my daycare flyers and business cards to try to get new clients. Any of you ever have any luck with doing something like this? Thanks

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I would directly hand a business card or flyer to every single person that stops by who looks at kids stuff/has kids with them. If they don't need your service, they might know someone who does!

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Sounds like a great idea! Greet everyone who comes to your sale with a smile and a business card/flyer. Good luck!

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I'd do it. We have an annual Kids Swap Meet in my community and I participate in it every year to get rid of my kids old stuff and my old daycare stuff as well so a lot of items that I sell already has my business info on it (books, games, boxed sets etc all get mailing labels with my business name and phone number on them). I've had several calls each year from them and have gotten 3 clients sign up this way all from people that bought by old books or games. Try doing something like that.

You can buy the plain white labels at any office supply store and make them at home. Just add your daycare name and info on it and stick it to any kid items that you are selling at your yard sale. If you have extra plastic bags have them handy so that if people buy multiple items you can put their stuff in them and then just add a business card or flyer in the bag.

Take advantage of the traffic you may draw to your yard sale to try to get some business. Don't forget to make a CL ad for your yard sale tomorrow and re-post it on Saturday early morning also.

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Sounds like a great idea. Just a thought, we have a local childcare group on FB where you can list your openings as well. You might look into that. I have had some contacts through there. Newspaper ads here are expensive IMO so I try and leave that to my last resort.

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I just moved recently and several weekends in a row my husband and I went through our neighborhood and introduced ourselves and gave people our flyers. There is a homeowners committee in this area that sent us a flyer with a list of "do's and don'ts" in the community. We called them, met up and formerly introduced ourselves and gave cards and flyers. We just moved here in April and already picked up two families from this effort.

Oh put your lawn sign out in front and keep updating your craigslist ads.

Good luck and congrats on the move.

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If your on facebook, try posting on there. I just did that and a few of my friends "Shared" it.

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Here are some things I have done in the past...

When I first opened I went door to door for about about a 10 block radius and put my flyers in mailboxes..

I put together a letter introducing myself and my services and mailed it too all the local businesses and HR departments (banks, restaurants, schools, hospitals, real estate agents etc)

I had a friend who was a part of our local mothers club..I asked her to post something about my Childcare and openings that I have.

Every year the local mothers club holds a preschool information night where local preschools set up information booths, I participate in that every year.

I have a website and a FB page.

But by far the best advertisement is word of mouth. Send out emails to all prior clients, tell them about your openings, ask them to post something for you on their own FB page for you, with a link to your website or FB page (if you have one)

Hope some of this info helps. Keep your head up. I find the Summer tends to be slow, but usually picks up right before the fall

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Amen to the lawn sign. I filled 8 spaces in a month with one! $25 at vistaprint I also have a website, fb, and make sure to chatwith anyone I have ever met about how much I love my daycare kiddos The lady at the dollar tree has been on my waiting list for moths because I'm in there every week buying stuff for my themes!

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I just did this a few weeks ago. Although it didn't result in any immediate clients (and I'm in a very small town and was only open for about 5 hours on one day), I did have a preschool teacher say she would definitely call me when school starts back up for her 3 yo. She seemed very interested, but although she seemed interested doesn't mean she will follow through.

I'd definitely give it a shot...I think it's an excellent way to get new clients. Also, I only handed out business cards and really didn't give out many. Didn't think about an actual flyer or sign or banner or anything like that. I didn't even think about the business cards until the last minute.

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This helped me also. I finally recently made a separate Facebook page for my center.

Also, I made an inexpensive sign from foam board (Wal-mart-$2.25) and dollar store punch out bulletin board letters. I put it in my porch window. Cheap and effective!

I also got a car magnetic sign from vistaprint-$12.95.

Like others have posted - put up flyers at your sale, even put signs on the table where the children's items are so they don't miss it!

Good luck!

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Thanks Ladies! I do need to make a website, I don't have a facebook account set up. I plan on printing out my flyers tonight. Hanging up flyers and placing them near kids items at my sale is also a great idea I also need to get a yard sign made up, we were thinking about using vistaprint...Hopefully I get some clients soon, I will let you all know if this works out for me

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