All sorts of freelance gigs can turn into a full-time business. But freelance tutoring is one of the most popular—and potentially most lucrative. You can set your hours as a tutor, work from home (or anywhere else with an internet connection), and choose your clients. And while being a tutor comes with many perks, it’s not always easy to get started or find consistent work. That’s why we asked members of our community who currently work as freelance tutors to share their best tips for success.
Here are their top pieces of advice:
1. Promote Yourself
If you want to be successful as a freelance tutor, you need to do more than offer your services—you need to promote yourself as well. This means letting people know what you have to offer and why they should choose you over other tutors.
There are several ways to promote yourself as a tutor. One is to create a website or blog where you can showcase your services and share information about your tutoring philosophy. You can also promote yourself through social media by setting up a profile on sites like Tutor Hunt and spreading the word to your friends and followers.
Another great way to promote yourself is to give free seminars or workshops on tutoring. This can help you attract new students and show them what you offer. It’s also a great way to build your reputation as an expert in the field.
2. Prepare for Your Session in Advance
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s essential to arrive at your tutoring session prepared. This means having all the materials you need on hand and knowing what you will cover in the session. It also means being familiar with the material—you don’t want to be caught off guard by a question from your student.
This prep work will help you stay on track during your session and ensure that you cover all the material you intended to. It can also help build a rapport with your student by showing that you’re prepared and know what you’re talking about.
3. Get to Know Your Student
One of the keys to being a successful tutor is understanding how your student learns best. Building a rapport with your students is key to keeping them engaged and ensuring they get the most out of each session. This means taking the time to get to know them as a learner.
To do this, ask questions about their interests, schoolwork, and anything else that comes to mind. You can also use the Sutton SET 11+ Exam practice tests to help you identify your student’s strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge will help you tailor your tutoring approach to each student. It can also help build a better rapport with your student, making tutoring sessions more enjoyable.
4. Set Clear Goals for Each Session
One of the most important things you can do as a tutor is to set clear goals for each session. This means knowing what you want to cover and ensuring that your student knows what to expect. Having clear goals will help keep you and your student on track during the session and ensure no time is wasted.
It’s also important to be flexible with your goals. Sometimes, there will be unexpected things that come up during a session. If this happens, be prepared to adapt your goals on the fly. This can help keep the session from getting derailed and ensure that you still cover all the material you intended to.
5. Keep a Record of Each Session
Keeping a record of each session is an integral part of being a successful tutor. This means keeping track of what you covered in each session and any notes about your student’s progress. Doing this will help you track their progress over time and ensure that they’re making progress.
It can also be helpful to keep a record of any questions or problems during a session. This can help you address them in future sessions and ensure they don’t continue to pop up. Using different teaching methods in each session can also help you reflect on your tutoring sessions. It can help you identify areas where you need to improve and ensure that you provide your student with the best tutoring experience.
6. Charge a Reasonable Rate
One of the most important things to remember when freelancing is to charge a reasonable rate. This means finding the right balance between charging too much and charging too little. You want to make sure that you’re making a profit, but you also don’t want to price yourself out of the market.
Finding the right rate can take some trial and error, but it’s essential always to be willing to adjust your rates if necessary. If you find that you’re not making enough money, don’t be afraid to raise your rates. On the other hand, if you find that you’re not getting many students, it may be time to lower your rates.
The most important thing is to ensure you’re charging a fair price for your services. This will help ensure that you can make a profit and continue tutoring for the long term.
7. Get Feedback from Your Students
One of the best ways to improve as a tutor is to get feedback from your students. This means asking them for their thoughts on your tutoring style and methods and how they’re progressing. Feedback can be a great way to identify areas where you need to improve and ensure that you’re meeting your students’ needs.
It’s also important to be open to constructive criticism. If a student has a suggestion for how you could improve, don’t be afraid to consider it. After all, they’re the ones who are spending time with you each week and know what works best for them.
Becoming a successful freelance tutor takes time, effort, and dedication. But if you’re willing to put in the work, it can be a great way to earn a living—and help others reach their academic goals. By following the tips above, you can set yourself up for success and ensure that your students get the most out of your tutoring sessions.