Tuition - viable FT?
Discussion
Would appreciate opinion on this form the wise folks of PH.
Been working in the City 15 years. As a side hustle have been tutoring science on/off last 10 years. Only 1-2 hours a week.
As I am a contractor, in quiet times I ramp up the tuition, but I do the tuition more for continuity then the money.
At some point the City job is either going to get taken over by AI, or will go to a younger person who is happy to accept less money.
Aside from that, working in the City has become less desirable, some toxic people and the money is good but half goes to the taxman. A lot of the "fun" of the job has gone.
I have a mad idea to buy a white van, advertise on the van as a tutor, and park on the posh roads, moving the van around perhaps once a week.
Online advertising is not great (IMO) as there is too much "noise" - for example next door posts.
Despite this there is a good demand for a science tutor (London) and I have a PhD, which (with the experience) gives me credibility.
What do people think - as a parent if you needed a tutor would you hire a tutor on this basis? Does it look tacky / dodgy?
I have seen people do same for PT, but obviously different industry.
ACME tuition
20 years experience, PhD
<email>
The other option is build my own website and try to get good SEO. But I don't know the area too well.
I have tried Next Door - rubbish. Doesn't have the traffic and full of people trying to buy 10 pound notes for 5 pounds.
Been working in the City 15 years. As a side hustle have been tutoring science on/off last 10 years. Only 1-2 hours a week.
As I am a contractor, in quiet times I ramp up the tuition, but I do the tuition more for continuity then the money.
At some point the City job is either going to get taken over by AI, or will go to a younger person who is happy to accept less money.
Aside from that, working in the City has become less desirable, some toxic people and the money is good but half goes to the taxman. A lot of the "fun" of the job has gone.
I have a mad idea to buy a white van, advertise on the van as a tutor, and park on the posh roads, moving the van around perhaps once a week.
Online advertising is not great (IMO) as there is too much "noise" - for example next door posts.
Despite this there is a good demand for a science tutor (London) and I have a PhD, which (with the experience) gives me credibility.
What do people think - as a parent if you needed a tutor would you hire a tutor on this basis? Does it look tacky / dodgy?
I have seen people do same for PT, but obviously different industry.
ACME tuition
20 years experience, PhD
<email>
The other option is build my own website and try to get good SEO. But I don't know the area too well.
I have tried Next Door - rubbish. Doesn't have the traffic and full of people trying to buy 10 pound notes for 5 pounds.
Id think your best bet is word of mouth via parents, local parent facebook groups, and via school teachers/ FE college lecturers...
People trust others recommendations (however well placed, or not, that is). (Especially if its school/college aged- its the parents you are targetting) mature students a bit different maybe
A billboard (on a van or otherwise) does not come with that trust implied by others.
That said, if you have no way of getting that initial contact & reputation into networks of if parents etc, it, faling with advertising in local Facebook groups might be the best way..
Written from the POV of a parent.. using a contact from a billboard/van would my very last resort...(but maybe thats just me)
People trust others recommendations (however well placed, or not, that is). (Especially if its school/college aged- its the parents you are targetting) mature students a bit different maybe
A billboard (on a van or otherwise) does not come with that trust implied by others.
That said, if you have no way of getting that initial contact & reputation into networks of if parents etc, it, faling with advertising in local Facebook groups might be the best way..
Written from the POV of a parent.. using a contact from a billboard/van would my very last resort...(but maybe thats just me)
HiAsAKite said:
Id think your best bet is word of mouth via parents, local parent facebook groups, and via school teachers/ FE college lecturers...
People trust others recommendations (however well placed, or not, that is). (Especially if its school/college aged- its the parents you are targetting) mature students a bit different maybe
A billboard (on a van or otherwise) does not come with that trust implied by others.
That said, if you have no way of getting that initial contact & reputation into networks of if parents etc, it, faling with advertising in local Facebook groups might be the best way..
Written from the POV of a parent.. using a contact from a billboard/van would my very last resort...(but maybe thats just me)
To add, if you have already been doing this, can you ask existing/past clients to provide online reviews, testimonials, or post on their local parent grouos?People trust others recommendations (however well placed, or not, that is). (Especially if its school/college aged- its the parents you are targetting) mature students a bit different maybe
A billboard (on a van or otherwise) does not come with that trust implied by others.
That said, if you have no way of getting that initial contact & reputation into networks of if parents etc, it, faling with advertising in local Facebook groups might be the best way..
Written from the POV of a parent.. using a contact from a billboard/van would my very last resort...(but maybe thats just me)
Thank you guys - your advice chimes with what a colleague has said. And I guess people’s mindset is very different for tuition for their children vs personal training for themselves.
I have had word of mouth recs in the past but haven’t pushed it too hard, as I only take on 1/2 students per academic year so it doesn’t have a critical mass.
I have had word of mouth recs in the past but haven’t pushed it too hard, as I only take on 1/2 students per academic year so it doesn’t have a critical mass.
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