Digital marketing plan for freelance online Teachers
Posted on April 16 2021
Sink or swim…Not only have many businesses closed down due to the pandemic but there has also been a significant unemployement increase, however many companies evolved with the changes and moved to online platforms; working from home or remotely. One of the main sectors that advanced because of the current circumstances is the Teaching sector as many schools and universities started to offer online classes instead of the conventional classroom learning. This method proved to be safer and more convienient and has shown that many businesses had the choice to literally sink or swim depending on their adaption to the Covid 19 and overall industry evolution of moving from the conventional physical selling points to evolving by diving into the digital world and offering goods and services online. Not only did Online Teaching open the door to students academically, it also paved the way for people to gain new skills; hobbies and learn a new language. The platform has successfully created jobs and new business opportunities in a time of financial dispair and uncertainty.
“ONLY a successful business starts with a great digital Marketing strategy”
If you have a skill to share and have passion for helping others, keep scrolling to find out how you can successfully become a freelance online Teacher through a simple yet powerful digital marketing strategy.
Its only mandatory that we start with a few secret lessons for success!!
It’s time to get schooled with 4 lessons to approach Online Teaching
1. You are your brand
Identify your stregnths and your unique value proposition by determining what your most valued skill is, this could be a language major from university or a hobby that you have mastered throughout the years. A good example is Teaching a language, for instance if one of your majors was English or English literature you could concider tutoring english to students who are interesting in learning English as a second langauge. Learning English is a huge demand in many countries as many people require English for their jobs; businesses; or to apply to school in countries where English is the first or one of the main languages. The Teaching requirements for Teaching English online include obtaining a TEFL/TESOL cert; A Bachelors degree in any field including a teaching degree and Teaching experience which is not compulsory in some companies but benificial to have some practical experience. (note that this may change according to future policies and rules). Ofcourse the more Certifications you obtain and experience you have is an added benefit on your bio.
Once you have established your advantages you will be able to set up your teaching profile and online resume as this will serve as a clear guide of your accomplishments; experience and qualifications to potential students. In short this will be your main and first point of creating brand awareness by introducing your brand (your skill).
Unique selling proposition (USP): Is the one thing that makes you or your business stand out from competitors or others. The USP is definitely counted as a stregnth as it is based on what makes your service uniquely valuable to your customers.
2. Spot your target
Before you can start teaching or tutoring you will need to find out if the skill is in demand and who your audience is.
There are many ways to get to know your audience such as:
- View the current demand for the specific skill using statistics using analytics from various stats websites and social media.
- Start a Teaching social media page on twitter; Instagram; Facebook; Linkedin etc. to find out if the page attracts viewers and subscribers. This method can not only determine if you have an audience but it can also help you understand who your target market is and attract new students.
- If you already have a large audience on your socials this is a great platform to conduct quick surveys on your status or stories as well as to spread the word. This may include using your Youtube channel or even your personal instagram page.
P.S…Narrow your target audience right down to the the most specifics, this can be done by identifying their demographics and geographics. This can help you to stick to and focus on providing a service to a specific audience to the best of your ability.
“Determining your target market will make it easier for you to collect important data such as time zones; various countries teaching taboo’s and learn more about what is acceptable in terms of the country’s culture and traditions”.
3. Determine appropriate platforms and tools to use
Once you have found your unique value proposition and know exactly who your target audience, its time to choose the most appropriate tools and platforms to start tutoring or teaching.
Tools and digital platforms may vary according to the specific course you are offering. For instance if you are keen on teaching a langauge you could conciser creating a Youtube channel and an instagram page to promote your brand by creating short sample videos and posts, this will help future students experience a small taste of what an actual class could be like. Students may opt to subscribe to your channel for more tips, making these platforms an ultimate promotional hub for your brand. Here are further examples on choosing the correct platform and digital marketing tools.
Creating brand awareness using:
1. Types of Content marketing
- Infographics
- Blog content
- Podcasts
- Videos
Some idea’s to get you started
Start a YouTube channel…
-If you are musically gifted and can play an instrument, a great example to spread the word would be to start a Youtube channel in order to demonstrate your skill and show viewers first hand on what the final outcome may look like if they start to learn a new skill or hobby. This method can help you to engage and interact with subscribers as well as it can also provide you with the right amount of feedback you will need to understand your target audience.
-Publish course promotions or specials on your channel, by creating promotional video’s. This can help increase the exposure of courses offered.
Add student testimonials…
-You can ask your current students to post feedback or testimonials based on their experience, the feedback can be posted on your various social accounts such as Instagram; Facebook or even your own website.
Referral projects…
-Current students may also refer a friend or family member, inorder to gain a discount on their existing course.
Payment plans…
-Due to the current pandemic situation, a payment plan can help students pay over a period of time instead of paying the entire amount.
Use google AdWords…
-This could serve as a great way to in the search results for specific keywords related to your topic. Many people usually try searching the internet when they are need for a product or service. This will help your brands service reach more online users.
-other sources of online advertising may include Facebook or Instagram ads.
For more ideas click on: Thinkific
4. On your MARK, set go…
- MARKET your unique value proposition
- Create AWARENESS
- REACH your intended audience
- KEEP the momentum going
Lets sum up…
Through this blog we have seen that it is super important to first identify your skill and Unique selling proposition (USP), this will help stand out from other competitors who are offering the same or similliar skills. Remember to narrow your audience right down to the very last or precise characteristic to help focus 110% on your target audience without multitasking and diverting from quality service. Lastly but just as important as your skill itself is understanding the online/digital world as well as digital platforms and tools that match your service perfectly.
Fascinated and interested in taking your small business into the digital world, A great way to acquire more knowledge about all things Digital and content Marketing related could be to try a short online course for yourself. This could be an exciting way to experience an online course yourself whilst gaining the knowledge and digital skills you would need to start your own online lessons. Learn more about Content Marketing through The international institute of digital Marketing. The international institute of digital Marketing (IIDM) provides individuals with the knowledge they need to be successful in the ever-changing digital world through a change in mind set, a fresh perspective, and approaches that enable imagination and creativity as well as leveraging experience and the openness to learn.
About the Author
Jerralene Chetty
Digital Marketer
BPhil Hon Marketing Graduate
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