Having trouble getting people enrolled. Here's my website: http://www.hollyspetitemaison.com/ anything on there that might be driving them away?

What things have you noticed that keep parents from making that step to tour and then enroll?

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Your website did not link....

I find what makes a parent decide or not decide to enroll is often personal and individual to what they are looking for and what you offer, but some universal deal breakers:

• unclean environment
• safety concerns
• personality between provider and parents don't meld
• cost
• policy conflicts

I will say it takes longer to fill spaces in my program because I only accept children 2-5 years, I only offer part-time hours and my tuition is high. If I had to critique my program I was say my outdoor space leaves more to be desired but I attempt to make up for that with the park being directly across the street..... and us visiting daily weather permitting. I am okay taking a bit longer to fill a spot to have what I want though.

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http://www.hollyspetitemaison.com/

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And do you mean policy conflicts as in, they don't agree with them?

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After every walk-through I e-mail parents and thank them for meeting with me. I tell them I will get back to them in X amount of time if I decide to offer them the spot. If I do, and they say no, I usually send a follow-up e-mail saying something along the lines of "I am sorry we are not a good fit for your family, I do hope you find the right place for you! May I ask what your deciding factor was?" Usually it comes down to hours for us, but if it is something you wish to change you will know for the future!

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2 things that I think may be turn offs: On your "Mission" page-the font is difficult to read (it's cute, I get it, but I doubt many are reading it). I'd try to find another font that is easier on the eyes.

Your photos: I COMPLETELY understand what's going on, but parents may not: the one with the kids in highchairs-I'd retake that with ZERO clutter in the background. Move the dog crate, make sure that it looks PERFECT. My own house can look like a tornado hit during daycare, so please don't feel insulted, but for photos-I'd make everything look absolutely neat as a pin.

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Yes. It could be the policies of a program that parents don't agree with, it could also be the tone of a program's policies...

In example, my program contract allows for ample family breaks and holidays throughout the year - this obviously would not work for every family. My program also requires children to bring lunches from home which also would be a deal breaker for some families, etc. - those are examples of potential policy conflicts.

Also, I also have found the tone of some contract / handbooks to be negative in tone and that can be off-putting.

In example, a provider can say:

"We provide all inclusive care including diapers, wipes, supplies and all meals so no additional items are needed. For the safety of all children please do not bring individual items or bags from home."

alternatively a provider could say:

"We do not allow any outside food or supplies from home."

Both convey a similar message but the tone is different. I personally do not feel either is wrong. I will say you have to know your community and clients. In my community the second wording would be off-putting but my best friend who is a lawyer would rather that wording so you have to know your audience.

(These comments are not specific to you.... just general feedback from moms in circles I know in regards to their experiences.)

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I didn't read the other comments. Your website is very pleasing to the eyes and has a nice, colorful feel to it.

My only suggestion is to remove the videos and use more photos. Sometime people have a greater expectation with videos. Photos leave more to the viewer's imagination (which will be better than what you can produce on video).

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The echo the providers above who commented on the fonts, quality of photos and wording on the site, etc. Looking at your site you do have a lot to offer however one has to dig to find it. Instead of listing potential changes to your site I would suggest you do some market research to see if your program would be in demand as a French Immersion Daycare... I could see that being a unique hook especially if paired with organic food and green practices!!

Personally your menu would be a deal breaker for me. As mentioned before, I am the parent of a child with a life threatening allergy and seem to live in an area where allergy concerns are common (two of our three public elementary schools are 100% peanut free) and an area where parents have different dietary practices i.e. kosher, or vegetarian, etc. one universal items is a lack of processed foods. Your menu is filled with red flags for an allergy parent - but that is also a good way to weed them out if you do not want to appeal to that group.

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It was a lot to read and process all at once... is there a way to incorporate some great photos that allow you to trim some of the written information? When I worked on the advertising for my former employer the goal was short and sweet and to the point. Pictures are great because they show your program in action and with a follow up email you can go into more detail. Also, I may have missed it, but since your menu is something you are passionate about, have you taken photos of prepared meals?

I know my house looks messy at points during the day because I stay child focused and then clean during naps and in the last 30 minutes before pick up. When I have taken business photos I've tried to keep in mind staging the photos like you would when selling a house.

I also agree on focusing on you and your wonderful program and not putting down other providers. Stay on the positive side of things.

And for full disclosure my daycare advertising is strictly word of mouth ( I am in my 12th year of business ), my advertising experience was when I worked at a multi-doctor practice. My advice might totally miss the mark when it comes to advertising for daycare.

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I would get rid of the child sitting up in a rock n play (safety) and the photo after of the child playing with toys on the table and a dirty bowl right next to him.
Some of the other photos I would crop in to feature more of the kids and less of the environment if there is anything that isn't perfectly neat (like another poster mentioned).

The easiest way to get GREAT photos of your place is to take them when the children aren't there. You could then stage a few photos where the environment is PERFECTLY neat/clutter free to include if you feel you need children in them. I've found that I don't need any photos with children in them, however. Photos of the environment for a tour is more than enough.

Good luck!

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I love your colors on the main page! Love the purple, orange and green. Love the crayons against the dark background.

I also really like the font on the main page. It's all really inviting.

I think in the video " Meet Miss Holly" you are very well spoken and explain your center in a confident and knowledgeable manner. It was impressive! I do think it's too long though.

I can tell you are passionate about what you do!

Some of your photos are beautiful like the girl pulling the wagon. I'd pick out 5-10 great photos and leave it at that. There's really a lot of photos. Sometimes less is more.

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I've made some changes based on others ' opinions. My kitchen isn't as cluttered as it was in those pictures now, so I'm taking them down.

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First, your website gives me the impression you are educated, loving and dedicated to making the children in your care become better people. Sounds to me as a provider and parent of many years myself, you know absolutely what you are doing and I would leave my kids with you. However, small details of a first impression can trigger things in all the different parents out there. Like photo's, videos, your opinions and sometimes you can share to much. While you would like parents to like and agree with everything you do and believe in, there are some details, with every parent they could use against you before they get to know you. As most mentioned, clean up the photos. Clean rooms, no kids in them, make sure the environment looks safe. While I loved the look of your food photos and it made me starving, I have picky kids of my own and have had picky daycare kids who's parents would feel their kids would starve having to eat, "NON KID FOOD". While that is a healthy choice for you to serve, you do not have to market it that way. Simply saying you cook healthy home cooked foods should make all parents happy. Some mentioned taking out the video, maybe, or at least clean it up as well, not quite as long and detailed and a shirt without cleavage showing as well. Also, I am one who thinks my parenting style is the right way and would love to tell parents how to parent, but parents do not like that. Having a link on your daycare site to a blog with info on how to parent would turn me away. While your opinion on parenting sounds great, there are many ways to parent and do a good job. The fact that it looks from your site, you are a mother of young children and you say in your video you are a new provider, does not show that you have enough experience to say that your way of parenting will raise children the right way. As you cannot know that yet without having raised wonderful children into adulthood yourself. Again, I want to share my opinions of the perfect way to raise kids myself, but non of us really know what that is or want to hear it from someone else. Maybe have your blog for people who want your parenting advise but not, linked to your daycare site.

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I've looked through every picture and i have no idea what you're talking about with cleavage.... i don't wear any clothes that have cleavage and haven't for like 8 years....

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My blog is more to establish my vestedness in this industry. It shows commitment, longevity, and also helps parents that may be dealing with certain issues at home. It's not gospel, but it's a place to start and try something new.

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NOT agreeing with poster but in your intro video where you are shown discussing what you want for your program (around the 3:25+ mark) you are wearing a V-neck t-shirt that does show your cleavage.

Again I am NOT agreeing with the poster but assume that is what they are referring to. Some parts when you are speaking, you sort of bend forward and although I don't "see" anything I suppose it could be taken as if you are.

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I think you were looking way too much into my content, to be honest. But my point is that I do things other programs don't. And I believe I am one of the better home daycare providers in the area. If they had my services, they would agree.

And children only nap when they feel comfortable. If a child is scared, they won't sleep. That was my point.

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Are you replying to me?

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That may have been what you meant, but it is not what is implied especially since you follow it up with that being the results you live for. I'm not trying to be mean, but you asked for help, so please think about what people are saying. Referring to getting children to nap as "results you live for" sends a certain message, and it's not that the children are comfortable enough to sleep at your home. The message it sends is more like, "I know how to make your kids nap, and I'm proud of it!'

And even here you continue to say that if they (parents) had your services, they would agree (that you are one of the better home daycares in the area). That may or may not be true. Different strokes for different folks, right? I happen to see what you are trying to do and I think it's great (really, I do), but personally, your projection of your own supremacy is a turn off. That is probably why you are not filling your spots. Tone it down a bit. Talk less about yourself and more about what children will be doing in your care.

If you hate me after this, I think it's because you don't want to hear the constructive criticism I have kindly offered and if you read the other comments, many others have said similar things, but in a different way.

Good luck. I hope you find plenty of little ones to fill up your daycare.

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Sorry I'm new here and don't know how to quote or multi quote. I did mean the video and absolutely did not mean at all to imply you were a floosie. If you'll notice I started my comments out with lots of compliments on what kind of person and provider you were. Your post was just saying you had trouble getting kids and I was trying to look as deep into your website as I could to give you hints for the many different critics that may be out there. As Black Cat said, you do not need to change things just because one poster said something. These are just things for you to look at and decide what you want to do with it. Hope I didn't hurt your feelings, I was just trying to help!!!

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You did ask for opinions.

You honestly can't get mad at or upset with those that have a differing view than yours. That's the point of asking others.... they may be other provider's opinions but they are more than likely parents as well. Your target audience.

If you are convinced that one aspect of your website is "your selling point" but some don't see it the same, perhaps you need to remember who your audience is.... YOU can love it... but you aren't who you are selling to.

I don't intend to sound harsh; honestly I am trying to offer some outside perspective but I kind of think you have forgotten who your "consumer" is and are instead too focused on selling your ideal program.

I could be completely wrong but that's kind of the impression I'm getting. Nothing wrong with passion. I get that, I reallly do but the BEST lessons in this career are those we resist learning/accepting.

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Those 2 points are things I have learned over my 40 years of self-employment. Took me about 20 of those years to learn them.

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I just peeked at your blog. To be honest the only posts I would consider removing are the ones on childbirth. That's a very personal experience for women and we all have different comfort zones and different ideas of what is necessary care vs elective. I'm glad you had a beautiful birth experience ( I had 4 wonderful hospital births ) but if I was a very hormonal new mom who might have not had the birth experience I had planned... I would look at your blog and it may be a turn off.

Parents want care that is safe, clean, loving and enriching for their kids. They do not want a lot of opinions. I don't see too much wrong with explaining your parenting method IF you are only seeking out like minded families. If you want to be considered by all parents then you might want to consider not having the blog linked to your daycare. I know the families I have all have very different parenting styles and I'm respectful of each as long as things run smoothly here and they understand what group care means and we work together so their kids have a successful experience in care.

Excuse the lack of punctuation. Busy morning here.

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A few thoughts:

I'd remove the food pictures and just say that you cook wholesome foods from scratch. Like someone else mentioned, some children would not touch food like that, and parents of those kids might worry that their children are starving.

The statement about successfully napping children on the first day may turn parents off because it may suggest that you are rigid and/or harsh.

"If there's a mutual fit, I'm excited to see your face when you see the results that I can bring to your child's development and to your family!" This sentence is awkward, and to be honest, a bit snobbish. I'm sure you don't mean it to sound that way, but I find it a bit uppity. I'd take out the "mutual fit part."

"I think that there isn't enough quality care for children in my community." I'd remove this sentence. It sounds judgmental.

"I believe that children deserve more than to just survive- they deserve to feel loved..." I completely understand why you feel this way as I've seen plenty of day cares in which surviving seems to be the only real goal. However, most parents don't have tons of experience with the inner workings of day cares and therefore may find this statement to be extreme, and perhaps even bizarre. They might even think, "Gee, did the last daycare I chose allow my children to only survive. If so, I must be a lousy parent!" Or, they may think, "This lady is plain weird. Of course children are doing more than surviving in all other daycares in this town."

"I'm a results kind of gal-there's nothing better than the moment when I see my client's face as they are blown away with a new skill their child has learned while in my care." I'm not crazy about this sentence. I think it's a bit over the top. Also, if you decide to keep it I'd put a period (not a dash) after gal and start a new sentence with "There." I think that most parents are not going to be "blown away" if their child learns to tie their shoe or drink from a cup or write their name. They will be pleased, or excited, or happy, etc. but "blown away" seems a bit off for the situation being described.

"These kind of results are what I live for!" I find this statement to be a bit over the top as well. Deep down, maybe even subconsciously, many parents (in my experience anyway) have a less than stellar opinion of daycare workers whom they view as servant type workers. Saying things like "these kind of results are what I live for!" conveys to these types of parents (and I think there are a lot of them) that you have no life and no self-worth beyond caring for children which unfortunately in our society is not highly valued.

The comment on your video about being at a whole different level may turn off some parents. I do think your daycare is on a whole different level, but some parents may find that claim to be an insult to other day cares and that might sway them away from you instead of towards you.
It would better to just state the positives about your daycare without comparing it to others.

I hope none of this sounds harsh. I just want to help

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For a specific example- "Costs : Hospital birth = prenatal care, birth, AND postpartum care (including 6-week check-up) at birth center
It’s no secret that hospitals overcharge for their services. They provide institutional care, over-sanitary environments while still somehow having staph infections happen, treat you like an animal, and have no regard for personal preference. The care I received at the birth center I went to (Inspiration Birth Center in Winter Park, FL) was amazing. The midwife that delivered my baby was perfect for my needs and respected my knee-jerk reaction requests during birth."


You may alienate anyone who works in healthcare and potentially many women who chose and are happy with their hospital births. It is ok to have strong opinions, but you can choose to separate that from business or you can choose to not do that, but the result is you narrow the pool of potential families.

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I learned a few years ago that too much personal information on a website can be bad. You want to "sell yourself" but also have to remember that different people have different thoughts or beliefs and can easily misinterpret what you say.

What personal points to have on the site is simple. Is the point something that could turn people away, and if so, do you want those people to be turned away?

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