Does the word “website” frighten you? Do you relate website design to complicated programming, complex html / java scripts? Ever wondered how a small daycare centre can afford to setup a website?
Website designing has evolved since the start of internet. What used to be a complicated task, fit for a computer programmer, has now been made easier. Most web hosting packages now comes with web builder programmes that enable non web designers to setup a professionally looking website without any/little knowledge of computer programming languages.
Here’s how you can easily develop a website for your daycare centre:
Step 1 – Purchase a domain name (www.YOUR-DOMAIN-NAME.com)
You can buy them from many domain name providers that is available on the web. Go to Google / Yahoo and key in “purchase domain name” and you’ll have a list of domain name companies trying to promote their services to you. Domain names are usually charged annually. It can range from as cheap as $1.99.
Step 2 – Sign up with a web hosting company
Many web hosting companies offer free domain name registration for as long as you host your website with them. Web hosting packages are charged monthly but many web hosting companies will offer you a discount if you were sign up with them for a number of years. There a number of things you need to take note of when selecting a web hosting company. How much space? How many email accounts are permitted? Does it have a website design software?
Step 3 – Write your website copy
The most important and sometimes challenging task of building a website is to write the website copy. Fret not. It can be relatively pain-free.
First and foremost, I would suggest spending some time to surf the web for good examples to copy. The rule of thumb is, if you like it and find it attractive, then most likely your customers will as well.
Here are a number of suggested information to include on your website.
• Home page – This is an introduction or welcome page for your daycare visitors. Visitors normally land on this page first so you should make it easy for your visitors to navigate through. As they say “First impression counts” so ensure that it is attractive. However, don’t overdo it and put too many pictures because it will take a very long time to load.
• Core value and goals – As providing daycare services is a delicate profession, core values and goals of the daycare centre are extremely important.
• About us – Include a photo and short bio of all the caregivers. If it is too tedious, then have at least the daycare centre manager’s / principal’s information.
• Programme / Curriculum - List down what subjects you offer as part of your curriculum.
• Schedule - Include a schedule of the centre’s daily activities. If possible, even include a menu.
• Photo Gallery - Snap some photographs of the children at play, during storytelling, etc and include it in your photo gallery. Some website design software already have a photo gallery function included.
• Rates and charges – Some owners may not like the idea of publicizing the charges, so it’ll depend on your preference. Personally, I feel that it helps to qualify your customers.
• What’s New - If possible, have a “What’s New” section where you can include short writeup about your centre’s activities or make announcements of upcoming events such as open houses.
• Contact us – In your contact page, list not only contact details such as address, telephone and email but include a map as well. It will be useful for parents who wish to visit your centre.
Step 4 - Follow the step by step tutorials or guides to setting up a website.
Most website design software comes with tutorials on how to develop a website step by step. It varies from software to software. I won’t lie to say that is a piece of cake but you’ll get better with practice. Just think of the amount of money you will be saving by doing it yourself.
Remember to publish your website only when you have checked it thoroughly. Preview it first to ensure the layout is fine. Check the spelling. Nothing is worse than a website that is poorly developed.
Step 5 – Promoting your website
The first thing you should do is email to all your friends and family and let them know about your website. Encourage them to forward to as many people as possible.
Next is to include your website address on everything; on your namecards and all your marketing materials (brochure, flyers, posters, advertisements and banners).
Get your website listed in as many places as possible. There are also many web directories which you can list your website and not forgetting the metroguides. If you have purchased a franchise, ask if the franchisor will allow a link from their website to yours.
If after reading this, you find it too cumbersome, there are 2 alternatives. One is to have someone professional do it for you for a fee. Second is to forget about having a website for your daycare altogether.
Related Articles
Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Daycare
By: Ant Onaf | 29/03/2008 | Parenting
This article provides you with useful information for choosing the best daycare facility or child care center. No one wants to leave their child in the hands of someone incompetent or abusive that is why it is important to do your homework before hand. This article will give you some precautionary items to verify before trusting the caregiver.
How to Reach Qualified Prospects Through your Website
By: Sebastian | 22/07/2007 | Online Promotion
Without traffic you will never make money, simple as that!!!
There are many ways of driving traffic to your website. Here’s a list of the most popular and effective methods:
Signs It's Time to Redesign your Website
By: Erin Ferree | 05/10/2007 | Internet
Designing your first website is a stressful undertaking. It requires you to dig deep into your business in order to write the copy for your site. You need to work with a designer and go through the process of creating a site that looks unique and works well. And finally, after all that, you're finished and it's time for the site to go live. Unfortunately, websites don't last forever.
The Search Engine Trinity
By: Erin Ferree | 03/04/2008 | Internet
Like Cajun food, getting a small business listed on the search engines also is based on a trinity of components. These components give your search engine efforts a base to be built off of, and ensure that you'll be successful. Those are: the ease of getting listed, the effectiveness of your listing, and then finally, the level of placement.
Do You Really Need to Come in First Place?
By: Erin Ferree | 05/04/2008 | Internet
Whenever I talk to a client about search engine placement, this track meet comes into mind. The client comes to me wanting to be #1 for their chosen search term. But for many small businesses, being ranked first is not truly that important
Best Website Stats Programs
By: Brandon Hopkins | 09/10/2007 | Link Popularity
Whether you're running a small blog or a large on-line business, you probably want to know who your visitors are, but also get a great deal. There is a range of companies, suited for different users, that allow you to view your statistics.
How to Make your Website Search-engine Friendly
By: Erin Ferree | 18/09/2007 | Business
One of your ultimate goals when creating your small business website will be to ensure that the website can be found by clients and prospects using Internet search engines (for example, Google, Yahoo!, and so forth). But there's not a lot of understandable information available about what the average small business owner can do to improve the number of search engine "hits" their websites get.
All Websites are Arguments
By: Brock Meyer | 12/08/2007 | Copywriting
Because of the nature of all websites, and their global purpose, to persuade, it's reasonable to say that all websites are arguments. This article is an overview of how to treat your website as a rhetorical piece with a short lesson in classical argumentation.
Latest Small Business Articles
Contract Manufacturers, Oem Engineering and Purchasing Professionals to Attend Grand Rapids Amcon Expo Next Week at Devos Place
By: Thomas Cutler | 08/09/2008
Contract Manufacturers, OEM Engineering and Purchasing Professionals to Attend Grand Rapids AmCon Expo Next Week at DeVos Place
Small Business Financing: Where to Find Working Capital
By: Susan M. Keenan | 06/09/2008
Learn about new financing options available to small business owners.
Small Business Succeeds With Advertisement!
By: M.so | 06/09/2008
Do you have a small business? Would you like to turn this small business into a big business? Would you like to be one of these highly rich entrepreneurs?
Cpa Tips for Simpler Small Business Accounting
By: Stephen L. Nelson, CPA | 05/09/2008
Want to keep your small business accounting system running smoothly? One CPA suggests simplifying your bookkeeping by following five, easy-to-understand tips.
Using S Corporations for Real Estate Investment
By: Stephen L. Nelson, CPA | 05/09/2008
The general rule is, "Never, ever put real estate inside a corporation." But in a handful of special cases, a corporation, more precisely an S corporation, can be a useful tool for savvy real estate investors.
A Cpa Explains How to Fire Your Financial Planner
By: Stephen L. Nelson, CPA | 05/09/2008
Do you really need to pay a financial planner five, ten or twenty thousand dollars a year to help you with your personal finances? Some CPAs say "no," as this article explains.
Professional's Guide to Business Incorporation
By: Stephen L. Nelson, CPA | 05/09/2008
Are you a professional--a doctor, dentist, engineer or accountant--interested in incorporating your practice? Use these tips for making the process easier and safer.
Forming a Professional Limited Liability Company
By: Stephen L. Nelson, CPA | 05/09/2008
Small businesses and entrepreneurs often minimize their liability and save taxes by using a limited liability company. Unfortunately, the rules get tricky for professionals (doctors, lawyers and others) who want to take advantage of the LLC option. This article suggests five tips for making the professional LLC setup process clean and error-free
More from Seraphina Tan
What Makes an Offer Binding?
By: Seraphina Tan | 08/08/2007 | Business
Are you aware than a contract need not be in writing? Oral commitments or actions made during certain situations can also be legally binding. The question then is under what circumstances will an oral statement lead to legal obligations?
Legal Implications of a Daycare Director
By: Seraphina Tan | 23/07/2007 | Entrepreneurship
Are you aware of your legal commitment as a director of a childcare? Do you know that, as a director, there are certain code of conducts that you should be adhering to when conducting your business?
How to Effective Sell your Daycare Centre
By: Seraphina Tan | 12/07/2007 | Sales
As an owner to a small business, you will inevitably take on multiple roles; from marketing manager, to operations manager, sales manager to delivery man, and expected to be good at that. This article will share with you some tips on how you can be an effective sales manager of your daycare centre.
Developing a Daycare Business Plan
By: Seraphina Tan | 05/07/2007 | Entrepreneurship
Business plans are key decision making tools and every business, be it big or small should develop one. It sets the goals which the business hopes to achieve, reasons why it is achievable and the specific plans for reaching the goals. Whilst it may sound like a mammoth task, but if you were to break it down into smaller parts, it is actually fairly simple.
The Right Pricing
By: Seraphina Tan | 28/06/2007 | Business
Setting the right price is one of the key success factors of a business. This article will show you some of the consideration of ensuring that you select the right price for your services.
Costing Tips for New Daycare Businesses
By: Seraphina Tan | 21/06/2007 | Strategic Planning
Many new businesses owners shun budgeting because they are unsure about what sort of cost to budget for. This article will shed some light on the type of cost a new daycare business owner is likely to incur.
Attract the Right Daycare Job Candidate
By: Seraphina Tan | 15/06/2007 | Human Resources
After you have drawn up all the pre-requisites of your new hire, you need to ensure that you attract the right candidate to apply for the position. So what’s the best way to go about it?
Key Essentials to Human Resource Planning for your Daycare Centre
By: Seraphina Tan | 07/06/2007 | Human Resources
Planning for your manpower is extremely important. This article will guide a daycare owner through the key steps of HR planning.
Business 
