Discussion 1: Creating a Marketing Plan
Administrators play an important role in marketing the early childhood program they administer. As an administrator, you will be responsible for creating a marketing plan that will help you grow the program you administrate. To create a marketing plan, administrators need to research the market, complete a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis, and identify target audiences. After reading Chapter 16 from the course textbook, please respond to all three parts of the discussion described below:
Part 1: Part 1 of the Discussion focuses on how to create a marketing plan. Review the components of a well-developed marketing plan described in this week's readings and read the resource, Developing a Business Marketing Plan. Describe the steps involved in completing a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis. What kind of information is gained from a SWOT Analysis? How can the information be used to promote your program? How can the information be used to strengthen public relations efforts?
Part 2: For Part 2 of the Discussion, you will focus on how to use a SWOT analysis for strategic planning. A SWOT Analysis reveals potential threats to program quality and growth. What marketing strategies would you use to address these threats and minimize their impact?
Part 3: For Part 3 of the Discussion, you will focus on identifying target audiences to draw interest to your early childhood program. After completing a SWOT Analysis, you will need to decide where, how and to whom to market your program (Sciarra, Lynch, Adams, & Dorsey, 2016, p. 341). Keep in mind that "not everyone sees through the same eyes or hears through the same ears" (Wassom, 2004, p. 6). When trying to market your program to families and stakeholders, administrators need to consider generational factors. With this in mind, what traditional and social media marketing strategies would you use to target Boomers, Generation X-ers, and Millennials?
Discussion 2: Family, Volunteer, and Community Involvement
Part 1: Part 1 of the Discussion focuses on the early childhood administrator's effective communication with families through written materials. Parent handbooks provide families with basic program information. These handbooks are usually shared with families during the enrollment process to acquaint families with the program's philosophy, program structure, activities and services offered, hours of operation, safety and health practices, guidelines for participation, discipline policy, and payment schedules. In addition to the basic information provided during the enrollment process, ongoing communication is needed to increase family involvement and engagement in early childhood programs. Discuss the communication tools and strategies you would use for the program you wish to administrate to inform families of program needs, upcoming events, opportunities for involvement, and progress of the children. Consider face-to-face strategies as well as communicating through the use of technology. What challenges might you face in communicating with busy parents, diverse parents, and demanding parents?
Part 2: For Part 2 of the Discussion, you will focus on the important role early childhood administrators play in seeking services and resources to support children and their families. Describe examples of when it might be necessary to seek the assistance of referral agencies. What types of community services and resources are available to support children and families in need? Describe the steps an administrator should take when working with referral agencies.
Part 3: For Part 3 of the Discussion, you will focus on the opportunities for educating and supporting parents, families, and communities through professional organizations. Early childhood administrators strive to support and engage families and communities. In doing so, reciprocal relationships result. Discuss why family and community involvement is important to early childhood programs. What are the benefits of reciprocal relationships? For the program you are interested in being an administrator, describe the specific strategies you will use to increase family and community involvement? Discuss potential benefits and challenges of involving family and community in your program. What measures will you take to encourage degrees of participation that are appropriate and comfortable to individual family members? How can working with professional organizations benefit the children and families of early childhood programs?
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.