Touch 1: Personalized text within four hours
The same-day text is the highest-leverage touch in the entire enrollment funnel. While the parent is still emotionally warm from the visit, send a two-sentence text from a real number (not a marketing platform) that references one specific moment from the tour. Example: "Hi Sarah, this is Maria at Sunshine Daycare, really enjoyed meeting you and Olivia today. Olivia lit up at the music corner, that room would be hers if you decide to enroll." This single text drives a measurable lift in callback rate compared to a generic thank-you message.
Touch 2: Short email within 24 hours
The next morning, send a short email with the enrollment packet attached. Keep the body to four or five sentences. Restate the start date the parent mentioned, the program (infant, toddler, preschool), the tuition for that program, and one line about the next step. Avoid corporate footer clutter. Do not attach a thirty-page handbook. The goal of the email is to give the parent something concrete to share with the other decision-maker (typically the other parent or grandparent) who was not on the tour.
Touch 3: Day-five check-in call
If the parent has not enrolled by day five, call (do not text) from your direct number. Open with the specific reason you are calling: "Hi Sarah, just checking in to see if you had any questions after the tour Tuesday. I have a spot in the toddler room that two other families are also looking at, wanted to make sure I gave you a chance to claim it first." This combines a real reason to call (a real spot, not a fake one) with a soft, time-bound nudge.
What to skip
Skip the drip-email sequence. Skip the "just checking in" email at day three. Skip the automated review-request text in the first week. These read as marketing, and parents are extremely tuned to the difference between a human follow-up and a sequence. Three high-quality human touches will outperform twelve automated ones every time.
When to stop following up
If the parent has not responded after the day-five call, send one final two-sentence text on day ten: "Hi Sarah, last note from me. The toddler room spot opened up to the next family on the list. Wanted to give you the courtesy of knowing. Door is open if anything changes." This closes the loop respectfully and often prompts a same-day reply from the parents who simply lost track.