I agree with Junebug about the craigslist for sitters only...and...creepy!
I have had some weirdos contact me as well.
Men will say they need a live-in nanny to sit for their kids and then to entertain the man when the kids are asleep...nope, don't think so. LOL
I think it should have listings, forums, contracts & forms, red cross info, and links to outside sites that would be beneficial, as well as articles that would be helpful to sitters and parents...hmmm, I think I just may have thought up my next website. If I do it, I'll let you guys know.
---edited to say that I love the forums here so much that if I do the site, I'd rather have a link to the forums here than to create a whole new one, so if I do do it (still thinking), expect to still communicate with me here. ---
This sort of sounds like www.sittercity.com to me. I use that site, and it's very similar to what you described. Parents pay to register, and they have the option of buying a background check.. Parents have the option to buy one for a potential sitter, while sitters also have the option to buy one for a parent. I would check it out, I've had great sucess with it!! they even have petsitting!!
This is sort of off topic but in response to you not getting many parents to contact you that are close-- do a search of families within 5 miles (or whatever your willing to travel) and send them a quick message introducing yourself etc. and asking them to keep you in mind when they are looking for a sitter.
Thanks for the tip. I do that as well. The area I'm in is still inside the city, but so far at the edge that it's almost not a part of it. I try contacting people close to me, but the closest I ever find anyone is 20 or more miles away even in the neighboring cities.
I don't think it has to do with their website. I think I'm just in an odd area. LOL