Word-of-Mouth is a perfect advertising tool. It's effective and it's free. It's the perfect tool, but you need to put effort into spreading the word. Tell everyone you know and everyone you come in contact with that you operate a daycare and have openings you’re looking to fill. A Newspaper and/or the Internet are other options. Keep in mind that when you place an ad in the newspaper it will be alphabetical. So spend some time coming up with a creative ad that will place you at the beginning of the “Daycare” section. The internet has both free and “paid for” websites. You should check out individual websites and choose what will work best for your daycare and your region. A Lawn Sign is a necessary marketing tool. Once you make the initial investment of a sign, it’s a free way to advertise every time you need to. Invest in a durable, professional sign. The sign you place in your yard will be the first contact most people have with your business. It’s important for this sign to tell people that you take your business seriously. Build a Website. There are many resources available for you to build a free website where you can describe your daycare, post openings and show photos of your friendly daycare. Be sure to get permission before you post any photos with daycare children in them. Don’t post your fees. If you attract interest from the website, they will call for your fees and then you’ve obtained the personal contact needed to sell your daycare the rest of the way. If you like my website, you can start a daycare website of your own. You won't find a better host site than Site Build It! They make building a website easy and, trust me, it's fun! Referral Agencies are another free way to advertise your openings. Check your county’s local resource and referral program (CCR&R) and inquire about other referral programs in your area. Network with Other Providers. Introduce yourself to other providers in your area and use each other for referrals. Keep in contact with each other. If one provider is full and receives a phone call, they can refer the family to a provider with an opening and vice-versa. A Flyer or Brochure that you created on your computer can be distributed in your neighborhood mail boxes, posted on community notice boards or distributed in child-laden areas such as the cars in a church parking lot, the laundry mat or the grocery store. Be sure to check your local ordinances for distributing advertising in this manner. Design a Business Card for your daycare. It's not only a great marketing tool, but when you're able to provide people with your business card, it shows professionalism. Take the time to design a card that is both professional and creative to attract attention when given to people. Carry cards with you at all times to hand to people you come in contact with. Have everyone you know carry your business cards with them. I once handed my business card to a mother in the line at the grocery store. She was at the cash register, struggling to pay for her groceries and keep her child in control. I started distracting the child from a distance. The child became so interested in what I was doing; he was no longer a problem for mom. After she paid, we started talking and when she discovered I was a daycare provider, she asked if I had a business card. It didn’t work out between us because of location, but I gave her the card anyway. You never know who she might hand it to. I also give my current daycare families more cards then they need so that they can hand one to people they know. Have Apparel Made with your daycare logo on it. You can advertise your daycare by wearing a t-shirt, sweatshirt or jacket with a logo you designed whenever you are in a public place where children and their parents will be present. You could also have a tote bag made with your daycare logo on it. If you take your daycare children on field trips, have t-shirts made up for each child and have them wear them on the field trip. Ask Your Current Daycare Parents to Spread the Word. Like I said previously, word of mouth is an excellent source of marketing. Just be sure to come right out and ask your current parents to make sure you have their help. Offering a finder's fee or a coupon worth a deduction in their daycare fees might help motivate your families to help you. If You Use All These Resources, you will probably be taking phone calls from prospective families even when you don’t have openings. When that happens, be sure to get contact information from the family anyway. You never know when you’ll be getting notified that a family is moving or leaving for another reason. If you can contact recently inquiring families, they might still be looking for a good daycare. Also, when you're taking phone calls because you've been advertising, be sure to ask where they found out about your daycare so you know which marketing avenues are working best. 
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There are several options to choose from when marketing your daycare business. If finances are limited, a good marketing campaign can be accomplished with some creativity at a fairly low cost. If you're fortunate enough to have an advertising budget, you will be able to get optimum results.
