Running a daycare is a rewarding and enjoyable business. But while tending to the children, there is the business to attend to as well. The back-end stuff may not be your favorite part, but having a way to streamline the process can help.
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One item on your list should be to communicate with parents regularly. That’s where a newsletter comes in. Below, you’ll learn how a daycare newsletter can achieve this, how to create one, and what should go in it.
The purpose of a newsletter for daycare
A newsletter is a regularly occurring form of communication to parents that’s sent via email, posted on your website, or handed out in printed format as they pick up their children. It gets produced consistently—usually weekly or monthly—and communicates what is happening in your daycare.
Newsletters usually contain various content, from announcing upcoming events to showcasing what’s happening at the daycare. They provide a laid-back way to keep parents in the loop.
Why you need a daycare newsletter
While class websites, handwritten notes, emails, and telephone calls are effective ways to communicate with parents, newsletters are becoming a more popular option. According to Scholastic, surveys repeatedly show that parents read newsletters and consider them a useful source of information.
Newsletters are a great way to increase parents’ involvement, keep them up to date, attract more parents, and strengthen your daycare’s brand. When communicating with parents as your “customers,” it’s important to remember that 90% of customers prefer to receive updates from businesses via newsletters versus other formats like Facebook updates.
This is likely because a newsletter feels more familiar and targeted than social media might, and it’s coming directly to them—much like a Facebook private message to someone might mean more than a post. Here’s why a newsletter can be beneficial to your daycare:
Increases parent involvementKeeps parents abreast of upcoming eventsShowcases current happeningsAllows parents to get a glimpse inside the daycareEnsures parents get the critical information they might miss otherwiseBecomes a consistent, reliable form of communicationBuilds trust and solid relationships with parentsHelps retain clients and bring in new ones
Creating your newsletter
Most newsletters need to be extremely short so they don’t lose the customer’s attention, but with daycare newsletters, sometimes more is better because parents want to know what’s going on in their child’s classroom or daycare center. Still, some guidelines make sense.
Example of an email newsletter template, showing how white space, color, and graphics can make your newsletter stand out.
Format
One of the most used formats today is the email newsletter. It is easy to send, can be linked to other forms of communication, and has no restrictions on design or length. After you send it out, you can post it to your social media channels or save it as a PDF to archive on your website. The easier you make it for people to access, the more readership you’ll have.
Frequency
How often you send your newsletter may not seem important, and you’re right: It’s not the most important thing. Being consistent is. Typically, newsletters go out weekly or monthly. Choosing which comes down to making sure parents get the information they need often enough. Whichever you decide to do, be sure to stick with it so that parents know what to expect.
Sending it on the same day each time it goes out is a good idea too. Creating a schedule or using a calendar can help with organization and timeliness. If you ever have something special to send that falls outside of that window, you can send it in a one-off email campaign.
Flow
Creating a flow for your newsletter is important because it helps set up what to expect. Unlike paper newsletters, email newsletters are short and sweet. Including the most important information with links to a website or landing page — what has additional information or details — with calls-to-action (CTAs) like “read more.” Not only does this help with the structure and readability of your email, but it also drives traffic to your website.
Function
Perhaps the most important thing to decide before beginning is the function of your newsletter. What purpose will it serve? Why are you creating a daycare newsletter in the first place? You know it’s important to communicate with parents and create a connection, which is the bottom line for most daycares. But identifying the function will help you determine what content to include.
Content ideas
Knowing what to include can help you create a fantastic, content-filled newsletter that you can be proud of and that parents will read. Here are some top ideas to include in yours:
Menu: snacks, meals, and nutrition tipsCalendar: upcoming events, birthdays, etc.Explanations: policy reminders or daycare rulesSpotlights: news from staff or accomplishments from studentsLearning goals: things kids have learned in the past or what’s coming up nextPromotions: incentives for referrals, a deal for new clients, or a promo for an upcoming open house or tourTips: helpful information for parents in working with their child at homeShowcase: classroom artwork, photos, or anything that captures the actionWelcome: a place to welcome new clientsParent feature: let parents or staff contribute an ad or article Links: for making payments, social media, website, etc.Reviews: a quick ask for reviews of your daycare or to show a recent review
Quick tips for getting started
Starting with a blank slate isn’t easy. Here are steps to give you an idea of what the creation process includes and to help make it smoother:
Outline your must-have content.Design sections for items that will always be included.Write your content and add graphics.Have someone proofread your content.
A newsletter for daycare will be most effective when you keep the following in mind:
It should be clean and uncluttered—leave lots of white space.Keep recurring content in the same spot each time.Use headlines to help break up content and make it easier for parents to locate information.Add graphics or photos to grab attention.Use bold or colored text, bullet points, and shorter paragraphs for emphasis. Match your tone, content, layout, and design elements to your brand.Avoid overwhelming it with too much info, and leave out the fluff.
Ready to craft your daycare newsletter?
If you’re ready to keep your daycare families informed and engaged, let Constant Contact help you do it using all the tools you need, all in one place. Launch your newsletter or email marketing campaign to engage existing or potential parents, make sure your website is awesome, generate more awareness on social media, or boost attendance with ads. Constant Contact is the smarter choice for online marketing. Everything you need is at your fingertips, and we’ll be around to help you achieve your goals. Check out our guide to online marketing for childcare, The Download, to see how it all works together to help your business
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