Interview with The Temporary NannyThis week we spoke to niche nannies. On Tuesday, Traveling Nanny and Newborn Care Specialist Donna Robinson credited Clelie Bourne as the nanny that helped inspire her become a niche nanny. Yesterday, we shared an interview with Newborn Care Specialist Kim Dillon who Clelie Bourne credits for helping her decide to become a niche nanny.
Since Clelie Bourne's name came up in both previous interviews it is only fitting that we share our interview with the niche nanny to learn more about The Temporary Nanny.
When I asked Ms. Bourne what she specializes in she answered, "I consider myself a Newborn Care Specialist. By extension that includes parent coaching, and sleep training and consulting."
When Í asked her how she got the idea to be a niche nanny she shared, "After my father died and we closed the family business I needed a way to make a living."
"I had always done babysitting on the side and for my friends and family so I made it known to everybody that I was available," said the nanny.
She continued, "After working for the assistant of a surgeon whose wife owned a travel agency word spread and I began to build a clientele that employed me anywhere from a few days a week, weekend, a week vacation, or more."
"I eventually worked for eight to 10 families either a few days a week and/or three to six weekends or longer vacations, thus the name The Temporary Nanny, " said the top notch nanny.
When I asked her how being a niche nanny has helped her nanny career, Ms. Bourne explained, "You could say it has made my career."
The Temporary Nanny further acknowledged, "After my web designer, Rhonda Bartlett of RBDesignstudios, volunteered to design a web site for me people from outside my local community found me and I began to travel to provide temporary nanny services."
She continued, "More and more new moms began to ask for help with their newborns, which had always been a passion for me."
"I had experience with many newborns since beginning to babysit as a teen and after college moms at my church seemed to always turn to me for help and advice even though I was not a mom myself," revealed the nanny.
"It wasn't until I started working as a temporary nanny, after working with four sets of twins in one year, along with being introduced to Kim Dillon, that I began to center on what was then called Baby Nursing but we currently call Newborn Care Specialist," shared Ms. Bourne.
"I became a Newborn Care Specialist through lots and lots of experience," said the nanny.
I asked Ms. Bourne how she markets herself as a Newborn Care Specialist and as The Temporary Nanny. She admitted, "Marketing myself is probably the most difficult part of the job.
"My primary means of marketing is my web site, www.temporarynanny.com along with word-of- mouth from satisfied mothers and fathers," explained the nanny.
She continued, "Networking with agencies and nannies at conferences is important as well."
"Just recently I placed a full page advertisement, aimed at high end clients, in a golf and tennis magazine that will be placed in strategic areas of seven local country clubs. In the past I have also placed profiles on several online nanny sites," revealed Ms. Bourne.
As for the advice Ms. Bourne has for other nannies hoping to become niche nannies, she recommends, "I would tell them to ask themselves, 'What is my passion in the nanny world and am I experienced and educated enough to meet the need?'"
She admitted, "That may sound funny coming from someone who does not have a specific nanny or Newborn Care Specialist education, but my education by experience was enough to get me hired 12-years-ago."
The Temporary Nanny admits that she thinks having an education is more important to compete in the niche nanny market today. But her best advice is to network.
She recommended nannies contact agencies, talk to other nannies to help connect with the target market, publish a web site, and use social media to market themselves as niche nannies. She concluded the interview saying, "If you want to stay local to your area tell everyone you know what you offer and then tell them again."
Be sure to click here to check out Clelie Bourne's web site.
Great advice Clelie and I loved hearing your story again. I remember that first travel job where I watched some twins while you ventured further from home. I remember how much you loved the experience and the confidence we all gain from those first jobs. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago! lol
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