Daycare Advertising Ideas: Proven Strategies to Grow Your Enrollment
Daycare Advertising Ideas: Proven Strategies to Grow Your Enrollment
In today’s competitive childcare landscape, standing out is essential. With more daycare centers opening their doors, parents have more choices than ever before. That’s why having effective daycare advertising strategies isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity.
Good advertising does so much more than just promote your services. It builds trust with parents, showcases your educational approach, and communicates what makes your center special. When done right, your advertising efforts not only bring attention to your daycare but reassure parents that their little ones will be safe, nurtured, and engaged while in your care.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to boost enrollment, this guide offers daycare advertising ideas that will help you attract more families and become a standout presence in your local community.
Develop a strong brand message
Before implementing any advertising strategies, clearly define your daycare center's unique value proposition and brand message. Ask yourself:
Why would parents choose your center over others?
What are your core values and educational philosophy?
What makes your program distinctive in your community?
How do you address specific family needs or concerns?
Creating a compelling brand story helps focus your marketing efforts and ensures consistent messaging across all advertising channels. Your brand message should resonate with your target families and clearly communicate what makes your center special.
Create a professional website
A well-designed, informative website is the cornerstone of your digital presence. Parents often begin their daycare search online, and your website is likely the first impression they’ll get. Make sure your site reflects the professionalism and care you provide!
Your site should highlight your services, facility, staff qualifications, curriculum approach, and more. Don't forget to include testimonials and positive reviews from current families—these build instant credibility with prospective parents. At a minimum, the site should include:
An About Us page that communicates your philosophy and team credentials
Contact information, including a street address and clickable phone/email links
Enrollment details and downloadable forms
Testimonials and reviews
Photos of the interior and exterior of your facility
Even if families first hear about your daycare through a personal recommendation, they'll visit your website to research your program before contacting you.
Use social media effectively
Social media provides cost-effective ways to increase your daycare center's visibility and connect with current and prospective families. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok let you reach a wide audience of parents who are actively looking for childcare options.
Use your social media accounts to post updates about your services and special events, share images and videos of your daycare center, and interact with families. Consistency is key—regular posting helps build your online presence and creates name recognition in your community.
Tailor content to different platforms
Different social media platforms lend themselves to distinct types of content:
Facebook: Engage with parents through comments and share essential information about your daycare.
Instagram: Showcase your facilities, highlight daily activities, and share photos that demonstrate your center's warm, nurturing environment.
TikTok: Create short, engaging videos that appeal to younger families. With over 70% of TikTok users under age 34 (compared to 56% on Facebook), this platform can help you reach millennial parents.
YouTube: Develop longer videos like virtual tours of your facility or informational content providing guidance for prospective families.
Be sure to get parents' permission before sharing photos or videos of their children on your social media accounts.
Join and engage in local social media groups
Local parenting groups on Facebook and other platforms are ideal for connecting with nearby families. Join these groups and engage authentically—answer questions, offer tips, and share relevant posts about your daycare.
Avoid direct advertising unless permitted. Instead, focus on building your reputation as a helpful, trustworthy member of the community. Over time, parents will naturally seek out your services.
Consider paid social media advertising
While an organic social media presence is valuable, paid advertising allows you to target specific demographics most likely to need your daycare services. You can define your audience by age, location, interests, and parental status, ensuring your marketing reaches the most relevant potential customers.
Cultivate word-of-mouth referrals
Word-of-mouth remains one of the most powerful marketing strategies for childcare businesses. Parents often trust recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues more than direct advertising because they're based on authentic experiences.
When current families are satisfied with your services, they naturally share their positive experiences with other parents. To maximize word-of-mouth advertising, actively encourage families to spread the word about your center. Consider offering referral incentives, such as tuition discounts or small gifts for families whose referrals enroll in your program.
Generate positive online reviews
Online reviews function similarly to word-of-mouth but with broader reach, allowing prospective families to learn about others' experiences at your center. Actively request reviews from satisfied families on platforms like Google and TrustedCare.
You can repurpose positive reviews by incorporating them into your social media content, website testimonials, and printed marketing materials. If you receive negative reviews, respond promptly, professionally, and constructively. How you handle criticism speaks volumes about your center's culture and commitment to improvement.
Partner with local businesses
Network with local businesses in your community to promote your daycare center. Partner with establishments that cater to families with young children, such as:
Children's activity programs (dance studios, martial arts centers, etc.)
Parent support groups and playgroups
Local real estate agents who work with relocating families
Pediatricians' offices and family healthcare providers
Children's clothing stores and toy stores
Family-friendly restaurants and businesses
Leave business flyers or brochures at these locations, establish referral partnerships, or host informational sessions for their customers. Building strong relationships with community partners creates additional channels for word-of-mouth advertising as they recommend your center to families.
Sponsor family-friendly community events
Support local children's festivals, family fun runs, or holiday celebrations with sponsorships that include your center's branding on event materials. These sponsorships build goodwill while increasing visibility among families with young children.
Set up a booth at these events to promote your daycare in person. Distribute flyers or brochures with details about your services and keep enrollment forms within easy reach to hand out. Consider offering a raffle with prizes as an incentive to get contact information from prospective parents.
Host open houses and special events
Inviting families to visit your facility gives them firsthand experience with your program and helps build personal connections. Consider hosting:
Open houses: Schedule regular open house events (quarterly or monthly) where prospective families can tour your facility, meet your staff, and learn about your curriculum. Prepare engaging activities for children and informational materials for parents.
Seasonal and holiday events: Organize family-friendly activities like seasonal celebrations, summer picnics, or educational workshops that are open to both current families and the broader community. Host holiday events like Easter egg hunts, fall festivals, or photos with Santa Claus.
Parents' night out: Periodically offer evening childcare services, marketed as parents' night out events. This introduces new families to your center in a low-commitment way while providing a valuable service to busy parents.
Special activities: Host special enrichment programs like art workshops, music classes, or cultural celebrations that showcase your center's educational approach and create positive associations with your brand.
Create targeted email marketing campaigns
Building a strategic email campaign can help nurture your relationship with parents, attract new families, and keep your daycare center top-of-mind.
Create a regular newsletter that provides valuable content for parents. Share monthly updates with photos and classroom highlights. Include child development tips, seasonal activity ideas, staff spotlights, upcoming events, and center news. A consistent newsletter establishes your expertise while maintaining connections with families.
To build your email list, add a newsletter signup form to your website and social media profiles. Offer a free resource (like a PDF guide to preparing children for preschool) in exchange for email signups to incentivize subscriptions.
Use video marketing
Video content creates emotional connections and provides authentic glimpses into your program that static images and text cannot convey. Consider these highly effective ways to incorporate video into your marketing strategy.
Create virtual tours: Develop comprehensive virtual tours of your facility that families can view before visiting in person. Walk through each classroom, outdoor space, and special-purpose area, explaining safety features and highlighting unique aspects of your environment.
Record day-in-the-life videos: With appropriate permissions, capture snippets of everyday activities that demonstrate your curriculum in action. Short videos of children engaged in learning experiences, creative play, or group activities showcase your program's energy and approach.
Film parent testimonials: Invite satisfied parents to share their experiences in brief video testimonials. Authentic endorsements from real families carry tremendous credibility with prospective parents who want reassurance about their childcare decisions.
Host live Q&A sessions: Schedule occasional live video sessions on social media platforms where your directors or teachers answer common questions about your program. These interactive events build trust and provide valuable content you can repurpose for other marketing channels.
Showcase your staff
Your team is your daycare’s heartbeat. Parents want to know their children are in capable, qualified hands. Highlighting your staff's professional qualifications and ongoing development can distinguish your center from competitors.
Highlight their experience and dedication through:
Staff spotlights on your website and social media
Welcome videos and staff introductions
Certifications and training achievements
When parents see that your staff is both skilled and caring, it builds confidence in your center’s quality.
Create and share educational content
Offering valuable educational content shows your daycare is a knowledgeable resource for parents, not just a service provider. Use blogs, social media, and newsletters to share helpful content such as:
Child development tips
Indoor activity ideas for rainy days
Nutrition and health advice for toddlers
How to prepare for the first day of daycare
This strategy not only builds brand authority but also keeps your center top-of-mind for families who may not be ready to enroll yet.
Advertise specialized curriculum approaches
Many parents seek childcare that aligns with specific educational philosophies or offers distinctive learning experiences. If your program follows a specialized approach, make this a centerpiece of your marketing.
Highlight educational approaches
If your center implements recognized educational approaches like Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, or play-based learning, clearly explain these methodologies and their benefits in your marketing materials. Include specific examples of how these frameworks shape daily experiences in your program.
Showcase specialty programs
Feature any unique curriculum elements that differentiate your center, such as:
Language immersion or multicultural programming
Environmental education or nature-based learning
Arts integration or creative expression emphasis
STEM-focused activities and explorations
Character development or social-emotional learning
Parents often seek these specialized approaches and may choose your center specifically for these offerings.
Use flyers and brochures in strategic locations
Traditional print advertising can still be effective, especially when placed in locations frequented by parents and families. Consider distributing your materials at:
Pediatrician and dentist offices
Libraries and community centers
Coffee shops, fitness studios, and grocery stores
Ensure your materials are professionally designed, include clear contact information, and use engaging photos or testimonials.
Implement creative marketing strategies
Think beyond traditional advertising methods to make your daycare center stand out:
Offer specialized services: Consider providing unique services like extended hours, weekend care, parents' night out care, or backup care for school holidays to meet specific family needs your competitors might not address.
Develop enrichment programs: Implement special curriculum elements or partner with external providers to offer enrichment activities like language lessons, music classes, or STEM programs that differentiate your center.
Create branded merchandise: Offering branded products not only provides an extra revenue stream but also helps build a strong identity for your daycare and fosters a sense of community and pride among parents and children. Design T-shirts, water bottles, lunch boxes, backpacks, or tote bags with your center's logo and give them to enrolled families, turning them into walking advertisements for your business.
Incorporate technology
Today's parents appreciate technological solutions that simplify communication and enhance transparency. Highlighting your center's use of modern childcare management software can be a significant selling point.
Daycare management platforms like TrustedCare help you streamline billing processes, staff scheduling, and messaging with families. Demonstrating your commitment to efficient communication and modern management practices to parents sets your center apart from less technologically advanced competitors.
Grow your business with effective daycare advertising
Effective daycare advertising is about creating trust, building connections, and showing parents why your center is the right choice for their family. From digital strategies to community outreach, using these advertising ideas consistently will help you boost visibility, grow your enrollment, and make a lasting impression on your community.
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.