Today we have a tutor promotion tip that is a bit outside of the box. Sometimes it is good to do something different. Remember if something works, keep on doing it, if it doesn’t then try something else.
Next issues will be September 10th and 24th but we’ll be posting on our blog most Thursdays.
Summer has flown by and soon it will be my favorite time of the year. I love fall for a variety of different reasons, the big one is football. Fall is also prime time for finding more students. I’ve talked before about how that the time especially around when students get a first test grade is crucial. Here is a list of some other times when you want to focus hard on getting students.
- Beginning of the school year.
- After the first test grade / paper grade.
- Mid terms
- Near the end of the semester.
- Between semesters.
The more focused your message is, the better. Example: If you’re teaching Math, a good ad might look like this.
Failed your first Math test. Ace the next one with our expert Math instructors.
If you’re using a Facebook targeted ad, send them to a page that gives details of how you can help them ace the test, include a discount that is unique for that ad and send it.
I had an idea about a promotion in the shower the other day, some of my best ideas come from there. This idea takes a bit of time and effort. I’ve tested most of the other ideas on our site, this one I haven’t.
Step 1 – visit the mall. You’ll want to pay particular attention to the vendors that are in the huge hallways that are between the stores. You know the ones that sell all kinds of different things, but they have a counter and they normally sit in a stool. Most of the malls I’ve been in, have them.
Find some of those vendors that cater to people (or the parents of) you would tutor. Since school is most likely in session, or will be in session soon where you live, you’ll want to go after school.
Example: We’ll say again I tutor high school math, all grade levels. I see that a whole lot of people I could tutor are gathering around a booth that sells cell phone accessories. Another vendor that they seem to flock to is one that sales remote control helicopters.
Step 2 – the approach. When the vendors aren’t busy, approach them. You’ll only have a few minutes to either win them over, or they’ll tell you they aren’t busy.
You: Are you the owner?
Them: No
You: Does he usually work mornings or afternoons.
Usually they will say when they work. I’ve found that owners (I always talk to business owners from a variety of businesses. You can learn all kinds of things) most of the time work in the mornings.
If they work in the mornings, go back in the morning. If you’re talking to the owner, continue.
My name is …. I have a tutor business… name of the business and I would like to pay you a hundred bucks to help me advertise my business.
The goal is to get a couple of new students.
Them: How.
You: I would like you to hand out brochures and biz cards to potential customers. They can fill out a form, drop it in a fish bowl and they could win tutoring for a month. My guess is that at least half of the people that you ask will agree.
You’ll need –
100 brochures – focus on the time of the year (like just after the first test). Make sure it has your phone number and other contact info (FB pages, websites, etc.). In the brochure put the basic rules and where they can find the official rules at on your website. Also in the brochure tell them how they’ll be notified if they win and even if they don’t win you’ll be contacting them with an offer.
100 business cards –
150 sheets for your contest – on the sheet have.
Name__________
Phone ______________
Email _______________
Age of student___________Students name
School _____________
Something to put the contest entries in.
A place card that explains the contest – you can use a piece of card stock – you can fold it in half.
IMPORTANT: Make sure your contest has rules – make sure they follow all the ‘official’ guidelines. I’m not a lawyer, but here are some tips – https://www.rocketlawyer.com/document/contest-rules.rl
Tell the vendor what kind of students you’re looking for, explain the conditions for you giving them the money, if you want you can draw up a simple agreement. Explain again the classes that you teach, the grade levels etc., make sure that some of his customers would be good candidates for tutor students.
When the agreement is made, deliver the supplies to him or her. Give the vendor your contact information and I like to give them half of the money, get a receipt, tell them they’ll get the rest of the money when you come back.
After the contest, choose a winner. Then create a telephone script and contact the other entrants.
A deal – in our online tutor guide we talk quite a bit about using screen capture software to create content that people can view over and over again. Most screen capture software is expensive. Video Motion Pro has a ton of features and is less than a hundred bucks. Click here for details.
I hope you have a very busy tutor season. As always any questions, comments, suggestions please don’t hesitate to send us a note.
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