Are you thinking about becoming an online tutor? If you’re patient, articulate, and love to help others learn, this job could be the perfect job for you! There are many advantages of being an online tutor. For one, you can set your hours and work from the comfort of your own home. You also have the potential to earn a great income by helping others learn.
There is often a lack of positions for tutoring in the UK, but with so many people wishing to teach online, it can be challenging to know where to start.
If you’re interested in becoming an online tutor, here are three tips to get you started.
Choose your subject
Choosing a subject to teach can be tricky ‒ on the one hand, you want to choose something that you’re passionate about and have a lot of knowledge in, but on the other hand, you also want to make sure there is a market for that subject. The options are many and you can choose between Maths, Physics, Chemistry or maybe some language like Spanish, French or English. Here are a few tips to help you make your decision:
- Do your research ‒ take some time to look into popular niches and see which ones interest you;
- Consider your strengths ‒ what are you good at? What do people often come to you for help with?;
- Test the waters ‒ once you’ve narrowed your choices, try offering these services for one or two of them and see how it goes. This will give you a better idea of which subjects are most in demand and which ones you enjoy tutoring the most.
Training needs to be interactive and saturated with the right topics, images and discussion questions and tasks to make progress, especially if you want to prepare them well for their GCSE.
Choose your platform
Choosing the right one is critical to the success of your new business. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing, including:
- The age and level of your students;
- The subjects you are tutoring;
- The features and functionality you need;
- Your budget.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you choose:
- Platforms that cater to younger students may not have the features and functionality you need. Conversely, ones that are designed for older scholars may be too expensive for your budget;
- Make sure the one you choose offers the subjects you teach. Some of them specialise in certain subjects, while others offer a more generalised approach;
- Consider the features and functionality you need. Do you need video conferencing? A whiteboard? Real-time chat? Make sure the one you choose offers the features you need to deliver an effective experience;
- Don’t forget to consider your budget! They can range in price from free to several hundred dollars per month. Choose the one that fits your budget and offers the features and functionality you need.
Set your price
As an online tutor, you will be responsible for setting your prices. There are a few things to consider when setting your price, including:
- The subject you are tutoring;
- The level of experience you have;
- The market rate for the subject and level you are tutoring.
When setting your price, it is important to be competitive with others in the market. You don’t want to overcharge or undercharge for your services. Once you have set your price, be sure to stick to it. If you find that you are constantly negotiating your prices with clients, it may be time to re-evaluate your pricing strategy.
Try to be patient and friendly when students don’t understand something and pay special attention not just to them but also to their parents.
А few more things to pay attention to according to TutorExtra
Promote your service
As an online tutor, you need to promote your services to get clients. There are many ways to do this, and the best way depends on where your potential students are located.
If you think your potential clients are active on social media, then create a profile on a platform and post about your services there. Make sure to include your qualifications, rates, and contact information. You can also use social media to reach out to specific individuals who might be interested in your tutoring services.
Another way to promote your services is through online directories. These are websites that list teachers in specific subject areas. Many of these directories allow you to create a free profile, which should include your qualifications, rates, and contact information.
Get students
There are a few key things to keep in mind when you’re looking for someone to tutor. First, identify your target market. Are you looking for elementary schoolers, high schoolers, or college ones? Once you know your target market, you can start looking for places where they congregate online.
For elementary and high schoolers, social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram can be good places to start. Look for groups that focus on education or parents with kids in school. You can also search for services that cater to these age groups. College students are more likely to be active on ones like Reddit and Twitter. Again, look for groups that focus on education or search for hashtags related to your work. The good thing about online tutoring sites is that when you have good results, you will get good feedback that will bring you more customers.
Tips for Success
As an online tutor, there are a few things you can do to set yourself up for success. First, make sure you have a quiet, well-lit place to work. This will help you focus and be more productive. Second, set a regular schedule and stick to it. This will help your clients know when they can expect you to be available, and it will help you stay on track. Third, be organised and keep good records. This will help you keep track of your student’s progress and ensure that you are providing them with the best possible service.
There are many platforms out there, and each has its own set of tips and tricks. Once you’ve found a good one, make sure to create a profile that showcases your strengths and experience. And finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to people who might need help – after all, that’s what it is all about!
The skills that a tutor should have are, first of all, being patient, always being on time for the private lessons, and having a well-developed plan for the learning process. Also, a very important thing is to always be well-prepared for your student’s questions and answers. Organise your time well and give enough breaks during the lessons. Tutoring should have well-established rules and you should not allow distractions during the lessons.