Having a website is important to your business and building a website is much easier, and less expensive than you might think. This resource will walk you through ideas to consider when building a website and will also give you some ideas for making your website easy to find online.

Building a Website for your Child Care Business

Why does my business need a website?

You may wonder: why does your business need a website? Some small business owners do not think that having a website will be worth the time and effort, but nothing could be further from the truth! Websites are important for remaining visible in the busy child care market and for growing your business.

A well-made website can increase your business's credibility. When researching their options, parents and families are looking for evidence that a child care business is well-established and reputable, and a website will allow those in search of child care to see the many benefits of enrolling their children in your program.

Imagine that you had hours to explain all that your business has to offer to each potential family; a website can illustrate the many positive aspects of your business all in one place and can be viewed in a short amount of time. A website will allow parents and caregivers to learn about your business when it is most convenient for them, such as after work or on weekends.

In many ways, having a website is the equivalent of being available 24 hours a day to answer questions, show the environment where their children will be cared for, and help families learn about what sets your child care business apart! A website is a perfect place to show who you are and what you stand for; it allows you to showcase your brand, and that is especially important as you work to attract new business.

What should I include on my website?

Effective websites offer multiple pages of information. You may want to use the following layout as you created your website:

A home-landing page.

This is the first impression the viewer will have of your website, and it is meant to be a friendly introduction to your business. You may want to include the following:

• All contact information (phone numbers, email addresses, links to business social media accounts)

• The physical address of your program, or the general proximity of your location such as the neighborhood or area where you are located

• Hours of operation

• Rates (if you choose)

• Your mission statement if you have one

• Promotions such as multiple child discounts

• Photos that highlight the spaces you share with children. While it is tempting to use generic or stock photos, families want to see your indoor and outdoor spaces

• Calendar updates

• A drop-down menu with links to quickly direct families to frequently requested resources

• The benefits of your participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program provides

• Outdoor play and sports activities

• Approaches to creative play

• Tuition Assistance Policy - This would also be a good place to feature your willingness to assist families in need

An “About Us” page.

• Highlight your years of experience and background

• List your qualifications and certifications

• Share your interests and passions – this helps families get to know you better and make connections

• Include biographies of long-term employees

• Feature reviews from former or current parents and families

As you can see, having multiple pages on your website not only increases its function, it highlights all of the many different great things about your child care business!

How can I create a business website?

Creating a business website can seem like a challenging task, but you do not need to be a computer or technology expert to create one.  Many easy-to-use sites can help you create a website that serves your needs.

A starting point for creating your website is having ideas about what you would like your domain name to be (think of a domain name as your website’s name) and determining where you will purchase and register your domain name. Domain names are purchased from sites such as https://domains.google  or one of the many other sites that can help you purchase and register your website’s name. You can conduct a Google search for “domain registration” and will find many options.  Purchasing and registering your domain name does not have to be expensive, you will find many options available for under $50.00 per year. One thing to keep in mind when purchasing and registering a domain name is that your first choices may be taken, so it is good to have a list of multiple potential website names that are easy to remember and accurately reflect your business’ name. The easier it is for someone to remember your domain name, the more likely they are to reach your site. Consider length and clarity as this domain name may show up on additional marketing materials or business cards.

Once you have purchased and registered your domain name, it is time to design your website. Websites can be created by using services such as Google Sites, WiX, and Squarespace. When deciding on a website-building service, you will need to decide what features are important to you. Determine your budget, if you would like many templates or designs to choose from, and how easy the site is to navigate. You may have other needs or concerns, and as you research services keep your needs in mind.

One important benefit of using website-building services is that the steps are logical and easy to follow. The following steps generally hold true for most website-building services:

• Create an account using your email address and a password

• Answer basic questions about what type of business you have

• Answer basic questions about what you would like to achieve with your website

• Choose a template/layout that reflects the image you want your website to portray, such as casual vs. formal

• Decide if you would like to include images, either your own or stock photos, and leave enough space for the text you’d like to include

• Determine how many pages you would like your website to be

This is your time to have fun and experiment! With most sites you can view past designs and layouts, you may want to design several and then compare your work. Throughout the process, pause designing and observe how your website is progressing to make sure you are happy with what you are creating. When using these tools keep in mind the goals you have for your website and that it includes all of the information that you are hoping to share. Once you have completed your design, it is important to make sure that you set aside time monthly to update the site and keep the content current. You will want to make sure that you know how to make changes to your site and feel comfortable doing so.

If one of your important goals is to use your website to grow your business, then your website must be found when someone is conducting a Google or Bing search for local child care. Upon completing your website some of the initial actions you will want to take are:

• Verify and “claim” your business profile through Google. Once this step has been completed, your business name will appear in a list of local child care businesses with your contact information and links to your social media. You can verify and “claim” your business with Google: How to add or claim your Business Profile on Google - Computer - Google Business Profile Help.

• Once your business has been verified you may want to use the Google service Small Business Advisors (google.com) which can give you step-by-step guidance on how to connect with your intended audience.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this presentation has been prepared by Civitas Strategies Early Start on behalf of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association and is not intended to constitute legal advice. The parties have used reasonable efforts in collecting, preparing, and providing this information, but neither Civitas Strategies Early Start nor Wisconsin Early Childhood Association guarantees its accuracy, completeness, adequacy, or currency. The publication and distribution of this presentation are not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Reproduction of this presentation is expressly prohibited.