Newsletters
Creating a monthly or weekly newsletter for your business is a great way to connect with your parents. We do weekly invoicing at our child care, and our newsletter is on the back side of that. Sounds like a lot of work right? Not really, if you have a basic pattern and keep a folder for ideas!
The Basics
Use Microsoft Word (we have 2007) or an equivalent. They have some great templates available that you can use as a starting point.
Heading
Have a title for your newsletter. We use our business name. Because we use this with our invoices, we don’t number the issues. Instead we use the period of time the invoice is for. Our title spot contains:
Country Sunshine Kidz Kare
Invoice for the week of: Friday, February 12th to Thursday, February 18th
Payments Due: Monday, February 22nd
Contact Information
Have your business information located on the newsletter. This should contain your business name, your name, address, phone numbers, e-mail address, and website.
Calendar of Events
Have a Calendar of Events. You can post upcoming days that you are closed, school is out, holidays, parties, and birthdays. If it’s a special date or meeting that involves your child care-this can be posted in your Calendar of Events.
These basics take up a lot of the page! See how easy this can be!
Extras
Important Information or Notes of Interest
We love our newsletter because it is a tool that when used wisely, can avoid a lot of conflict. If you are having an issue with one parent, including a reminder about policies in your newsletter is an easy way to broach the topic without singling anyone out. Something that we frequently put in ours is: Please make sure your children bring the appropriate gear for the weather! If needed, include what items should be worn for playing outside in the snow or mud.
Sometimes we’ll post a Policy Reminder such as our Late Fee Policy or Sick Child Policy. Things that parents may forget about that are in our contract and Provider Handbook can be included in your newsletter when needed.
Articles of Interest
If you read an article online or in a magazine, or pick up a tidbit from a training, and you think it’s relevant or something your parents should be aware of, include that in your newsletter. Always always always post your source!
There are a lot of places online that you can get ideas and information from also. Our Food Program’s Website has articles that are targeted for parents that we are free to use for our own newsletters. Perhaps yours does this also!
Quotes, Songs, Nursery Rhymes, Other space fillers
If you have a quote that you find inspirational, include that in a newsletter! Some other great fillers are songs, nursery rhymes, brain teasers, or jokes for the kids to tell. Remember, children love to be included in everything!
Projects and Pictures
Include projects, pictures of projects, and pictures of the children in your newsletter. Parents like to see their children’s artwork on display and so do the artists!
Length and Delivery
If you decide to do a weekly newsletter, one page should suffice. Parents are busy people, and so are you. Don’t make this too complicated or a chore. For a monthly newsletter, two to three pages is a good length. You’ll have more news to report and a bigger Calendar of Events.
Coming Soon
I’ll be posting more newsletter ideas that you can use for your newsletters. You can copy and paste them directly to your word program! Also, if you ever want to see what our newsletters look like for ideas, send me a message, I’d be happy to e-mail you a PDF file!
Remember, used wisely, newsletters can be a great tool for your business. Have fun with them!
~Da’Nela
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment