If you've ever thought email marketing was too complicated, this episode is for you. A welcome email sequence is one of the easiest ways to start building trust and connection with your audience, even while you're running classes, replying to messages, or dashing between school runs.

In this episode, I cover:

•What a welcome email sequence actually is, and why it's simply your business saying "hi, lovely to meet you" without you lifting a finger

•Why it matters so much, since interest is highest the moment someone signs up, and a good sequence catches them before they forget to book

•My 6 simple steps to setting it up with no tech overwhelm, from choosing a platform through to testing it properly

•What to include in each of 4 emails, from delivering your freebie instantly through to inviting them to book

•A worked example for a baby sensory class, showing exactly how this could look for your own business

•My pro tips for keeping it simple, conversational, and warm

Key takeaway: once it's set up, it runs quietly in the background, helping new families feel connected and ready to book before you've even met them. That's smart, simple marketing for busy children's activity providers.

Have a listen for the full step-by-step breakdown.

Want to fill more classes?

Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents.

Want to know where you’re at with email marketing?

Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next.

👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

This episode wasn't meant to happen. I'd planned a completely different one, all about ManyChat and how to automate comment-to-DM on Instagram, complete with my affiliate link. But after using it myself for over 12 months, and with several of my clients too, I've changed my mind, and I think it's only fair to tell you why.

In this episode, I cover:

•Why comment-to-DM automation works brilliantly for big accounts with thousands of followers, but often isn't worth it for smaller, class-based businesses like ours

•How pricing has changed, with charges now based on contacts across every connected platform (Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp all counted separately)

•Meta's new restriction limiting Facebook posts to 2 links a month

•What I'm considering instead, including Meta One, Meta's newly launched business subscription for AI-powered replies, plus small targeted ads

•Why email marketing is still the one channel Meta can't restrict or charge more to reach

•Practical ways to grow your email list without relying on comment automation, including freebies, QR codes at classes, and teaming up with other local businesses

Key takeaway: no tool is one-size-fits-all, and what works for big brands doesn't always work for small local businesses. Social media is brilliant for visibility, but your email list is where the real relationships happen.

Want to fill more classes?

Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents.

Want to know where you’re at with email marketing?

Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next.

👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

Running a children's activity business as a busy parent is no small feat, and one of the biggest ways you can make life easier for yourself, and for the parents booking with you, is having the right booking system in place. I've used a range of different platforms myself over the years, and I work with clients across all sorts of systems too, so in this episode I'm sharing my honest take on what actually works.

In this episode, I cover:

•My top picks for events and one-off sessions (like holiday clubs, workshops or pop-up activities), including why DigiTickets is my favourite for its pay-as-you-go model

•My top 3 picks for weekly classes and recurring sessions: ClassForKids, Pebble and Book That In, with Book That In as my personal favourite for its affordability, customer service and built-in advertising perks through Toddle About

Have a listen for my full breakdown and honest recommendations.

Want to fill more classes?

Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents.

Want to know where you’re at with email marketing?

Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next.

👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

Running a children's activity business is rewarding, but juggling sessions, families, bookings and social media all at once can feel relentless. The good news is you don't need a brand new idea every single day. With the right strategy, one piece of content can fill your whole week.

In this episode, I walk you through:

•Starting with one core piece of content, like a blog post, a class video clip, or a parent testimonial

•Breaking it down into bite-sized posts, including quote posts, quick tip reels and photo posts

•Adding behind-the-scenes content to build personality and trust

•Creating engagement posts that invite parents into the conversation, rather than just talking at them

•Repurposing the same idea across different formats and platforms, since not everyone sees everything you post

•A simple example of how to map out your week, Monday to weekend, from just one idea

•Why you still need to actually ask people to book, even with great content

Key takeaway: you only need one good idea to fill your week. It's not about creating more, it's about using what you've already got more strategically.

Have a listen for the full breakdown and steal Kelly's weekly content flow for yourself.

Want to fill more classes?

Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents.

Want to know where you’re at with email marketing?

Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next.

👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

Following on from last week’s episode on funnels and freebies, this episode goes a bit deeper… how to actually create one that attracts your ideal customer and builds trust, rather than pushing people away.

You’ve probably come across it yourself online… “take this free quiz” or “download this free checklist,” only to find the actual results or resource are locked behind a paywall. It feels frustrating, and for children’s activity providers, where trust is everything, it can do real damage.

In this episode, I cover:

•What makes a freebie genuinely ethical (you promise something, and you deliver exactly that, for free)

•Why the “promise free, then paywall” approach backfires, including unsubscribes and lost trust

•Side-by-side examples of manipulative vs ethical freebies, including quiz results and meal plans

•5 simple steps to creating a freebie with integrity: being clear in your promise, giving a quick win, connecting naturally to your paid offer, respecting people’s inboxes, and thinking long term

•Why this matters especially for children’s activity providers, whose audience is often already cautious online

Key takeaway: a good freebie should attract the right people to you, not push them away. Ask yourself, will they walk away with value even if they never buy from you? If yes, you’ve got it right.

Have a listen for the full breakdown, and some practical examples you can apply straight away.

Want to fill more classes?

Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents.

Want to know where you’re at with email marketing?

Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next.

👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

Funnels and lead magnets… you’ve probably heard everyone talking about them, but if you’ve got no idea what they actually mean, you’re not alone. The good news is they’re much simpler than they sound, and once you get your head round them, they can save you time, grow your audience and bring in customers without you ever feeling pushy.

In this episode, Kelly breaks down:

•What a lead magnet actually is (hint: it’s just a little gift in exchange for someone’s email address)

•What a funnel is, explained simply as the journey from someone finding you to trusting you to buying from you

•Why this matters for children’s activity providers specifically, so you’re not relying on the algorithm to be seen

•A simple way to get started: picking your lead magnet, setting up delivery, writing a short welcome sequence and sharing your link

•A everyday example you’ve probably experienced yourself (that discount code at the checkout)

Key takeaway: a funnel isn’t some big complicated system, it’s just a friendly pathway that takes someone from “I like what she’s saying” to “I want to work with her.”

Have a listen and let this be the episode that finally makes funnels and lead magnets click.

Want to fill more classes?

Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents.

Want to know where you’re at with email marketing?

Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next.

👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

Ever wondered how influencers and big brands get that slick “link in bio” page that sends people exactly where they need to go? You don’t need a website (or any tech skills) to do the same thing for your activity business.

In this episode, Kelly shares two completely free ways to set up a simple, professional link in bio page in under 30 minutes, so you can stop losing bookings to a website people can’t quickly navigate, and start directing people straight to your current offer, class, or waitlist.

In this episode you’ll discover:

•Why a link in bio page can outperform your website, even if you already have one
•A free way to build a branded one using Canva
•The best free tools if you want something even quicker (plus which one to pick if you want analytics)
•The 3 things every link in bio page needs to actually convert

If you’ve ever sent someone a DM link or told them to “check your bio” and hoped for the best, this one’s for you.

Want to fill more classes?

Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents.

Want to know where you’re at with email marketing?

Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next.

👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

If the thought of building your website has you drowning in Google searches about funnels, SEO and lead magnets, this episode is here to simplify it.

You don’t need a 10-page site or fancy design to get started. You just need one simple page that gives people the confidence to book or get in touch, and in this episode I break down exactly what that page should include in 5 easy steps:

1. A clear statement of what you do and who you help

2. A simple about you section, so people can get to know the person behind the business

3. What you offer and why it’s great

4. How to book or buy, made as easy as possible

5. Your contact details, even if you already have a booking system

I also shares a quick tip on the one extra thing worth adding if you have time, and why it makes such a difference to trust.

Have a listen and let this be the episode that finally gets that website off your to-do list.

Want to fill more classes?

Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents.

Want to know where you’re at with email marketing?

Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next.

👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.