The Student Referral Strategy For an industry worth an estimated £6 billion, finding a tutor in the UK is notoriously difficult. Private tutoring is still somewhat of a hushed subject outside school gates and many parents find it difficult to make contact with tutors in their local area. Despite this, personal referrals are still the lifeblood of the tuition industry and a tried and tested way of finding more students. Long before social media existed, tutors would tell their friends and family, in person, that they were looking for new students and you know what? It worked. And it still does. Simply telling people that you’re looking for new students will help you drum up interest in your services in no time. Just because parents don’t outwardly talk about it, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t looking. Remember, if you don’t spread the word, no-one will. Reach Out to Other Tutors Although local competition can be high, it’s worthwhile reaching out to other tutors in your area who teach different subjects from you. One-to-one networking with other tutors can be a great way of establishing a referral system. For example, you may be an English tutor who knows of a student looking for a maths tutor. You happen to have a maths tutor in your network and you pass their details to the student. And in the future, that maths tutor returns the favour. Tell Your Existing Students Sometimes your best marketing resource is your existing students. Assuming you already have a small student base, tell them that you’re looking for new students and ask if they know anyone who needs your help. Likewise, tell your students’ parents and ask if anyone they know needs a tutor. By tapping into your existing resources, you can expand your student base quickly and easily before you’ve even spent a penny on marketing. Kill a Dozen Birds with the One Stone Even a suggestion of the word ‘public speaking’ is enough to make the most experienced teachers and tutors hide behind their laptops. And I understand. The thought can be scary. But that’s all it is - a thought. The reality of public speaking is often very different, especially when you consider where you’ll be speaking.
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