winter 2009 v2

What do these economic problems have to do with you? As a caregiver, keeping families that are already your clients may involve:

Increasing your value

Adjusting your price

Increasing your value means thinking of what is valuable to your clients. What are your special talents and gifts that would be of value to your clients? What can you do to make their life easier? How can you become indispensable to them when they think about cutting costs (and they are thinking about cutting costs). When they think about you, you want them to think, "No, anything but my caregiver. You can't take my (insert your name here) away from me and the children!" Think about what you are willing and able to do for them to make their family life easier.
Suggestions:

Are you a gourmet cook? Or a health conscious cook?

Are you great at organizing closets?

Are you handy with a needle and thread?

Can you teach the children a second language? Music?

Can you help a fourth grader with a science project?

Do you love to iron?

Another way to keep families requesting you is to consider a temporary price adjustment. A sale for a limited period of time. If you normally would charge $14 an hour, consider charging $13 or $13.50. Families will see this as your sincere desire to work with them and appreciate your thoughtfulness, even if they do not take you up on it. It will be viewed as a gesture of good will on your part.

Next Newsletter: How To Get New Clients From A Friend of the Family