| Tutoring, whether online or face-to-face, can be a | | | | Inquire about their curriculum and the textbooks or |
| very lucrative business, assuming you have the right | | | | programs that they use. Explain to them that you will |
| number of clients. I recommend sitting down and | | | | be striving to complement what they are trying to |
| determining what your goals are, how much you plan | | | | accomplish in the classroom and that you hope to |
| to charge, and how many hours a week you plan to | | | | impact the school's test scores by improving the skills |
| tutor. You should also take into consideration time | | | | of some of the weaker students. 5. Talk to |
| spent traveling if you choose to meet with students | | | | members of the PTA. Let them know that you are |
| in person rather than online. Once you have an idea | | | | available and are enthusiastic about helping members |
| of how many clients you can comfortably handle, it is | | | | of the student body. Word of mouth is one of the |
| time to help them find you. The key to this is name | | | | best methods of advertising. One happy parent will |
| recognition and building relationships with people. You | | | | mention your name to parents of other struggling |
| need to get your name out there and help people | | | | students and the number of people who know your |
| realize that you are available and willing to help their | | | | name and what you do will increase exponentially. |
| child succeed. Below is a list of advertising | | | | Showing up at PTA meetings will help these parents |
| suggestions that have been compiled by successful | | | | put a name to a face and ask you questions directly. |
| tutors. 1. Print Business Cards - This is a MUST. Make | | | | 6. Get involved in school activities. Volunteer to read |
| sure that in addition to your name, email address, and | | | | in the classroom, work in the library an hour or two a |
| telephone number, you indicate the subjects that you | | | | week, help out in the classroom, show up at school |
| are willing to tutor. Leave them in locations where | | | | functions such as Back to School Night, etc. The |
| parents and teachers will easily find them. For | | | | more a school staff member gets to know and trust |
| instance, many people ask permission to leave a pile | | | | you, the more likely they are to recommend you to |
| of cards at the local library, with school administrators | | | | one of their parents. 7. Try to get your name/email |
| or guidance counselors, at the local gym or YMCA, | | | | address on the school's website. It would be helpful |
| even on a bulletin board at the grocery store. Think | | | | to get a link from the school's website to your |
| about where parents spend a lot of time and inquire | | | | webpage or email. This will probably only happen |
| about leaving some cards there. You can even include | | | | after you have built up a reputation with parents and |
| a discount code to encourage people to pass them | | | | teachers at the school. Be patient but diligent. 8. Try |
| around for you. If a new client gives you the code | | | | to get employed by the school system as a |
| when they sign up with you, they AND the person | | | | "homebound" tutor. You will get paid by the school |
| they got the card from can get some sort of | | | | system to tutor their students that are unable to |
| discount. 2. Get an email address that is easy to | | | | attend school for one reason or another. This will get |
| remember and indicates that you tutor. Ex. Make | | | | your name and face out there and make school staff |
| sure that this email address is on your business card | | | | members more likely to recommend you. 9. Order |
| and any fliers you plan to distribute. 3. Print fliers and | | | | yard signs and post them near the school. However, |
| post them in locations where students and parents | | | | before you do this, look into local laws regarding |
| are likely to visit. Great ideas are libraries, pizza | | | | posting signs. Some areas have specific rules about |
| restaurants, community centers, and gyms. Consider | | | | posting them while other areas outlaw them |
| places where parents wait for children to practice - | | | | completely. 10. Get familiar with dates for progress |
| gymnastic and tennis centers, etc. Also, visit teacher | | | | reports and report card distribution, Back to School |
| stores and ask if you can leave your business cards | | | | night, Parent-Teacher conferences, and step up your |
| on their counter or post a flier on their window | | | | advertising efforts around these times. Notice that |
| bulletin board. I know a tutor who went to Staples | | | | advertisements techniques such as the yellow pages, |
| on their annual Back-to-School day and introduced | | | | the classified section of a newspaper, or even |
| themselves and handed out fliers and business cards | | | | internet ads were not mentioned. This is because |
| to each teacher waiting in line to get in! Some were | | | | they are often costly and not worth your money or |
| very receptive while others were indifferent. Give it a | | | | effort. Try the methods discussed above first and |
| shot! 4. Talk to people at the local schools - principals, | | | | I'm sure you will be satisfied with the number of |
| classroom teachers, guidance counselors. Provide | | | | clients you attract. |
| them with copies of your flier and business cards so | | | | Free Report! Start your own online tutoring business |
| they can hand them out to struggling students. Visit | | | | & earn $25-$75/hour from home. Get your free |
| often so they get familiar with your name and face. | | | | report at TutorFi. |