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Online Tutoring Advertising Ideas

By Patty Zimmerman

I believe that one of the most intimidating things about tutoring is simply getting clients. How do you advertise? How much should you spend – if anything? Will you get enough clients to satisfy the amount of hours that you want to work?

I started thinking about all of the tutors that I have worked with and how they advertise their services and I put together a list of some ideas that you may want to consider:

1. Print Business Cards – This is a MUST. Make sure that in addition to your name, email address, and telephone number, you indicate the subjects that you are willing to tutor.

You can even include a discount code to encourage people to pass them around for you. If a new client gives you the code when they sign up with you they AND the person they got the card from can get some sort of discount.

2. Get an email address that is easy to remember and indicates that you tutor. Ex. Mathtutor101@yahoo.com.

3. Post fliers and/or business cards in locations where students and parents are likely to visit. Great ideas are libraries, grocery stores, community centers, and gyms. Consider places where parents wait for children to practice – gymnastic and tennis centers, etc. Also, visit teacher stores and ask if you can leave your business cards on their counter or post a flier on their window/bulletin board. I know a tutor who went to Staples on their annual Back-to-School day and introduced themselves and handed out business cards to each teacher waiting in line to get in! Some were very receptive while others were indifferent. Give it a shot!

4. Talk to people at the local schools – principals, classroom teachers, guidance counselors. Provide them with copies of your flier and business cards so they can hand them out to struggling students. Visit often so they get familiar with your name and face.

5. Talk to members of the PTA. Let them know that you are available and are enthusiastic about helping members of the student body.

6. Get involved in school activities. Volunteer to read in the classroom, work in the library an hour or two a week, help out in the classroom, show up at school functions such as Back to School Night, etc. The more a school staff member gets to know and trust you, the more likely they are to recommend you to one of their parents.

7. Try to get your name/email address on the school’s website. It would be great to get a link from the school’s website to your webpage or email.

8. Try to get employed by the school system as a “homebound” tutor. You will get paid by the school system to tutor their students that are unable to attend school for one reason or another. This will get your name and face out there and make school staff members more likely to recommend you.

9. Order yard signs and post them near the school.

10. Get familiar with dates for progress reports and report card distribution, Back to School night, Parent-Teacher conferences, and step up your advertising efforts around these times.

These tips will help your tutoring business explode if you take action today!

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