Hannah Burnett, writer
Have you been considering running your own childcare franchise? It’s a fantastic time to get into this always thriving sector, but - before you do - it’s important to consider all the ways you can help ensure this fresh new business venture is a success. One crucial thing to investigate and understand is how best to market your childcare franchise effectively. Read on for tips on how to make this happen.
Like many sectors, the childcare industry was impacted by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. But with the world reopening and working parents returning to the office, childcare services are once again in high demand.
In recent years, it was estimated that in the UK there are around 23,500 day nurseries, 9,600 preschools and sessional creches, 59,500 childminders and 15,000 out-of-school childcare providers [British Education Suppliers Association]. With more people settling down and starting young families, that number is set to rise - and keep on rising. There’s really never been a better time to make a career change with a childcare franchise.
4 tips for marketing your childcare franchise
Once you’ve selected which childcare franchise you want to invest in, a clear and strong marketing plan is essential to ensure your new business is a success. Keep reading for some of our top tips on making your marketing plan a winner right from the outset.
1. Build and maintain an engaging, beautifully designed and informative website
It might seem like a no-brainer in the modern world, but it pays to remember that the first place potential customers are going to see your business isn’t always its bricks and mortar building - it’s the website you build for it online.
When doing your research into the top childcare franchises in the UK, be sure to investigate thoroughly what is included in their training and support offering. If this isn’t something you’ll be trained in on the job, then it’s something you’ll want to look into as a matter of priority when you get your franchise up and running.
A professional looking, easy to use and well designed website adds instant credibility to your brand and invites potential customers to put their trust in you and your services. If your content is SEO friendly, it’ll also ensure that your offering is reaching the widest audience possible.
A good website should have:
- Clear and relevant images showcasing what your business does
- A bit of information about you (and any other staff) to add a personal, human touch and build trust
- Third-party testimonials that prove you deliver a quality service that existing customers are happy with, further building trust
- A record of any awards and achievements your business has earned
- Perhaps a few short blog posts detailing any exciting upcoming news or recent successes
>> Read more:
- Make a Difference in the Lives of Future Generations by Running a Nursery Franchise
- Child’s Play Franchise Opportunities in the UK
- How to Start Your Own Child Care Agency
2. Reward customer loyalty and incentivise referrals
Along with job security and longevity, and the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from working with children, there’s lots of advantages to running a childcare franchise.
One of the biggest advantages is that users of childcare services tend to be regular customers and, if they are happy with your service, are unlikely to go anywhere else. If you reward customers for their loyalty, you’ll ensure their business is here to stay.
The key to a successful business is satisfied customers. In fact, 72% of buyers will share a positive experience with six or more people. Meanwhile, unhappy customers are more likely to share their poor experiences with fifteen or more people. -Entrepreneur Handbook
Asking customers to refer your services to other people - with the incentive of money off or a free session as a reward for any new business they earn you - is a low-effort but high-impact marketing strategy. When implemented correctly, you’ll soon experience a domino effect of new business rolling in.
3. Establish and maintain a strong social media presence
Another thing on the must-do list for business in the modern day world is the correct use of social media to implement marketing strategies.
Social media is a quick and easy way to communicate with your existing customers, reach out to potential customers, and personalise your brand. It’s predicted that the number of social media users will reach 51 million by 2025 [Statista], so it’s very apparent that this particular trend is here to stay and only likely to grow. If you want your business to remain relevant and appear trustworthy to customers, maintaining a social media presence is key.
The advantages and opportunities afforded by promoting your brand across its social media profiles is limited only by your imagination. A few of the key benefits include:
- The opportunity to raise awareness of your brand
- The chance to draw in potential new customers with engaging content
- The ability to promote local awareness about the specific location of your franchise
- The ability to quickly, effectively and inexpensively promote any deal or new services your franchise is offering
- The opportunity to drive increased traffic towards your website
>> Read more:
- What is the Marketing Fee and Why is it Necessary?
- Developing an effective franchise marketing plan
- Try Out These 8 Outside-the-Box Marketing Ideas to Grow Your Business and Engage Your Customers
- 10 Tips for Building Truly Effective Social Media Marketing Campaigns
- Franchising 101: 8 Essential Marketing Strategies for Promoting Your Business
- Franchising 101: 6 Tips for Building Customer Loyalty Through Marketing
4. Promote your franchise as unique and keep ahead of the competition
Whilst it is true that the childcare sector is a thriving market with lots of competitors thrown into the mix, you’ll always be able to find a way to ensure your franchise stands out from the rest.
When researching how to become a childcare provider, you might have known from the outset just which avenue of this broad sector you wished to go down. Or, you might have found inspiration struck whilst you were doing this research, and you found the answer along the way.
Whichever it was, it comes as no surprise that there are many, many different franchises that branch off from the childcare industry. As such, there is always a way to make your franchise appear unique and stand out from the rest. Always keep one eye on the competition, ask yourself where they are lacking and where you can do better.
Marketing your franchise correctly is the first step to success in the childcare sector
If, following reading this article, you think you’ve got what it takes to run a childcare franchise, there’s no better place to start than right here on Point Franchise. Read up on the top tips for how to run your childcare franchise successfully and - armed with all the knowledge detailed above - you’ll be good to go.
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Hannah Burnett, writer