You have open spots, and the phone is quiet. My take: most parents don't pick a daycare from an ad. They pick from a gut feeling on the tour, after reading what they can find about you online. So your marketing has one job: earn the tour.
My take: parents check a daycare closely: license status, ratios, how long staff have stayed, reviews, and photos of the real rooms. Put it all in public: license number, ratios by age group, teacher bios with real tenure, daily-schedule samples, meal policy. My take: the center that answers parents' worried questions before they call is the one they want to tour. “Call for details” can read like you're hiding something. Ask every current family for an honest review, the same way, and let them write whatever they want.
Make requesting a tour effortless: a form with real available times, same-day response, confirmation that sounds like a human. During the tour, the marketing is the place itself; after, a warm follow-up with the enrollment steps and honest waitlist status. A waitlist helps too when you're honest about it. My take: saying “we're full for infants until June, here's how the list works” shows parents you're in demand and fair.
Google Business Profile complete and current: hours, photos of rooms and outdoor space, and a kind reply to every review. Google says “Businesses with complete and accurate info are more likely to show up in local search results.” A site with programs, ages, ratios, sample day, tuition ranges, and enrollment process in plain text. My take: parents ask search engines and AI assistants things like “daycare near me with prices,” and a page that says it plainly gives them an answer. My take on what to skip: stock photos of children who don't attend (it reads false), discount enrollment promos (a price cut can make parents wonder about quality), and any claim you can't back up on the tour.
My take: mostly referrals from current families and search. You win both by being open: license and ratios in public, how long teachers have stayed, honest reviews from current families, and an easy way to request a tour with a fast reply.
My take: ranges, yes. Many parents check the budget before they tour. Hiding prices can lose families who would have fit and bring in tours that don't. Prices in plain text also give search engines and AI assistants something to read when parents ask about cost.
The place and the programs: art projects, the garden, teacher spotlights. Only post a child's photo with the parent's written OK. My take: steady and warm beats posting a lot; two real posts a week is plenty.
Be honest and steady: post current openings by age group, explain how the list moves, and check in when a spot is coming up. My take: a clear waitlist keeps more families than just saying call us.
Not sure if people searching for a daycare in your town can find yours? Email alejandro@ojedaworks.com and I'll check for free.
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