Many tutors approach tutoring as if it were a regular, albeit flexible daytime job. They are satisfied with the customer base provided by their language app and don’t seek to increase their activity beyond that. As a result, they miss out on opportunities to grow and expand their tutoring business.

Luckily, you don’t have to follow their footsteps — the most successful tutors approach tutoring like a business. Instead of leaving your fate to language platforms, take your potential for success into your own hands. This means putting yourself out there and going beyond your host platform to market yourself as an exceptional tutor.

There are some basic steps you can take to achieve this.

1. Online forums

Don’t worry if you’re still uncomfortable with the idea of advertising yourself on social media — that’s perfectly normal and you’ll become more comfortable with losing that veil of modesty with practice. Online forums are a great place to start out. There, you can join in on conversations on topics that interest you and contribute your wisdom and experience. Potential students and/or partners are looking for answers to questions all the time, so this is a great way to get your expertise recognized.

2. Social media accounts

Chances are, you already have several personal social media accounts set up. But do you use them for scrolling others’ feed or for advertising your services? Social media platforms such as instagram and Facebook are great for self-marketing purposes because they are free and help you connect with your target audience.

3. Personal website

While this is a more advanced method of self-marketing, it can make a real difference once you reach a certain level of tutoring success. Having a personal website will not only encourage potential customers to get to know you better but will also add to your credibility and professionalism as a tutor, which can have a substantial impact on your future success. If you do a good job and build a following, you won’t just have students knocking at your door — companies, influencers, industry experts etc may start reaching out to you to discuss partnership opportunities. Once you get here, you’ll know officially that you’ve made it to the summit of the tutoring industry. (Though of course, this is hardly a reason to stall your pursuit of wider recognition and opportunities!)

For some, self-marketing may seem like a bold step — too many of us suffer from imposter syndrome and are afraid of leaving our comfort zone for the fear of being called out or deemed unqualified. However, it is an essential aspect of converting your tutoring activity into a personal business. As you know well, tutors are paid by the hour — there’s only 168 hours in a week and the last thing you want is spending half of them preparing for lessons and tutoring. This is why you’ll need to be innovative in your approach to your profession. And the good news is, you can start today, by following the three steps outlined above.