Marketing methods

There are lots of different ways to market your setting, and marketing need not be very expensive.  If you’ve thought carefully about what message you want to give to potential customers and who those customers are, it may be that some methods are more suitable than others.

Here are some initial ideas for marketing that could be very cost effective and easy to do.  Some of the downloads and links on this page have much more information, so it’s worth spending some time having a browse around for some more inspiration!

Don’t forget to give customers a variety of ways to contact you for more information or to visit the premises. A telephone number is simply not enough and many people prefer to use internet and email these days, particularly those who might be making an enquiry outside normal business hours.

  • Develop partnerships with other local organisations like schools, businesses and shopping and leisure centres to raise your profile and get referrals
  • Link to other local organisations that are supporting parents with younger children, like children’s centres, health visitors, parent and toddler groups etc
  • Write a press release if you have a special event coming up (for example, a Christmas play, a staff member getting a new qualification or a group of 4 year olds “graduating”!) and send it to your local newspapers – don’t forget to get parental permission for photos etc
  • Ask your customers for testimonials and quotes that you can use in adverts and leaflets
  • Make sure that your staff are always “marketing” your setting when they’re out and about
  • Write newsletter for your existing customers about what’s happening in the setting, using e-mail to send out information updates or newsletters is especially cost effective
  • Run a charity or fundraising event
  • Make a database of your customers and potential customers information when they contact you so that you can communicate with them quickly and easily