Hello, I am a SAHM and I provide childcare out of my home. I was wondering what is the best way to advertise for babysitting services. I posted an ad in our local paper a few yeas ago, which was pretty expensive. I recieved no phone calls from that ad. The kids I have now were through word of mouth. Should I try the newspaper again? Thanks for your advice
Word of mouth really is the way to go! Offer a free day if you get a referred child? Have you tried Craigslist?
I would call the licensing agency in your area and make sure you are not risking getting fined or in legal trouble. You said babysitting not licensed home child care so I am assuming you that's what you meant.
In many states there is a limit to how many children you can watch in your home before you have to apply for a license. Licenses are very easy to get, if you aren't licensed the ask the people for the handbook to tell you the regulations that you would be going by.
This one explains it, a small home can have up to 6 children and not be licensed but more than 6 must be licensed...
http://www.occrra.org/ohiolaw.htm
I would say if you fit within the guidelines then go for all the advertising you can do. I would say that most people who work don't get the opportunity to sit and read the paper. I never got a single response to any ad I ever ran.
I did however get good results from a local agency that was through one of the tribes, it is a childcare referral agency. I kept them up to date with my openings and they referred parents to us.
The state also gives out lists of licensed child care providers in Oklahoma, don't know about Ohio. There are lots of places that allow people to post notes about services provided, Wal-Mart used to have a bulletin board up front for that. Laundry mats, other places like that still have them.
You can register with Sitter City. I believe it is free for sitter's to register and then you have the option to have a background check available (unless they changed that). It might also be free for sitter's to look for jobs available. I found my current sitter via this site and there were some sitter's in my area that said they provide small in-home care.
Craigslist and sittercity.com are two places I look first.
Put the word out to anyone you know -slip it in to conversation at the grocery store, school activities, etc
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A local daycare here sponsored the a coach pitch girls' softball team. Her daycare name was on the back of the girls' tshirts. She also had a magnetic sign put on her vehicle with the name of her daycare on it. She has a website where she talks about the fun activities the kids do at ther house and the field trips they take, etc.
A local pizza place has a message board with offers for babysitting, businesses, etc.
Do you have kids in elementary school? The most information I get about anything I need comes from the internet and the other parents at school.
I guess I would try some of the other options first, before the newspaper. I don't know of hardly anyone who still reads the newspaper. Especially for as pricey as you said it was. Maybe your money would be better spent for signage or subscription to babysitting websites (if they require it)
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Good luck!
Craigslist. That's how I found our home-based childcare provider. It's free, so you have nothing to lose.
As someone looking for sitters i also use(d) Sittercity.com.
If you are licensed (or registered is the term in TX for home care providers) get on the list of your local NACCRRA agency - it is child care resource and referral service that parents call and can access at no cost.
Also, look at local early childhood education organizations and see what they have available in terms of resources.
This is in addition to the great suggestions listed already.
newspaper
postings at local laundry mats
postings at local grocery stores
postings at a friends place of work
even try putting postings at a local library
or even some of the resturants you like to eat at
