Marketing ideas for a specific childcare vacancy

“Places available” is too broad to help most families. Vacancy marketing works better when the message describes a real match.

Start with a simple vacancy statement:

Toddler room: Tuesday and Thursday available from late August for children aged approximately 2–3 years. Availability is subject to confirmation.

Then choose channels based on the likely family.

Current families and recent enquiries

These are often the most relevant audiences because they already understand the service. Ask whether existing families need extra days and review recent suitable enquiries. Use personal information only for a purpose that is consistent with what the family was told when it was collected. ^R11

Website and Starting Blocks

Create a current availability section that includes the room, days, start window and update date. Keep StartingBlocks.gov.au aligned; families use it to compare vacancies, fees, inclusions and quality ratings. ^R4

Google Business Profile

Keep the profile complete and accurate, respond to reviews, add current photos and make sure the website and contact details are correct. Google says local ranking is mainly influenced by relevance, distance and prominence; no business can request or pay for a better local ranking. ^R8

Local communities

Use neighbourhood groups, school or playgroup networks and local employers where appropriate. Lead with useful facts, not slogans. Avoid repeatedly posting the same generic promotion.

Paid advertising

Use paid campaigns only when the vacancy value justifies the spend and the audience can be targeted sensibly. Send people to a page about the centre and the relevant vacancy, not a generic homepage.

For every channel, use truthful scarcity and clear fee information. Claims about availability, price or savings must not mislead. ^R9R10

Measure: suitable enquiries, tours, offers and enrolments by source. Do not judge success by clicks alone.

Related guides

• How to get more useful childcare enquiries
• How can a childcare centre be found on Google?
• How to market a new childcare centre before opening