How to Make Money Online: Online Tutoring
Whether you're a young student with good grades or an adult with practical, real-world experience, there are tutoring options for you.
Wait..tutoring? You want me to become one of those book-toting, grammar-noticing people?
In a way, yes! Online tutoring is completely different from what you might expect, however. Grab an internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone, and you're well on your way to making money online!
Here are a few perks of online tutoring:
Hours
Whether you're helping out a family friend or teaching English to students in Korea, online tutors set their own hours. Sure, it takes some negotiation with the student, but it's definitely a far cry from the traditional 9-5.
More Selective Client Pool
Let's say you're great at higher level physics. You live in a town rather far away from the nearest college, and you're getting tired of tutoring lower level maths and sciences to the people in your area.
In the past, you would have to pay for a webcam to get into online tutoring, but many newer laptops come with built-in webcams and microphones.
Online tutoring is perfect for you! Since you're no longer constrained by your physical limitations, you can reach an international pool of potential students looking for people just like you. Oh yeah, and the rarer your skill set, the higher the income.
Although it might be nice to pad the books with some students in middle and high school, it's nice to have subject variation and a mental challenge.
Ease
There's not too much easier than sliding out of bed, heading to your computer, and being at work before you've had your morning coffee or put on real pants. There are definitely challenges to being your own boss and working from home, but the sheer ease of online tutoring is a huge perk.
Besides the tax issues that come with being self-employed, all it really takes is Skype, PayPal, and a subject base. You can be paid nearly immediately, and avoid working with anyone who seems to be a major trouble maker.
Lack of Commute
Again, it's always a nice feeling when your morning commute takes about 5 feet. By not commuting, there's the obvious perks of not sitting in traffic, wasting money on gas, and adding up all that wear and tear on your vehicle.
If you work online and at home, you also have the luxury of translating that extra commute time into paid sessions with students. Instead of driving half an hour there and half an hour back, you just picked up another open hour of work. In some cases, you can double or even triple your available working hours, which can really bring in some major cash.
How to Get Started as an Online Tutor
There are countless agencies and programs out there that promise to match you with students if you'll give a huge chunk of your earnings, but those rarely draw forth the types and quantities of contacts you need.
Instead, consider starting a website. It doesn't need to be too fancy, but it does need to be user-friendly and easy-to-understand. You might want to consider blogging if you feel like you know enough about the subject to type up practical tips and examples!
It can take time to find the clients, but once you find one or two, you're golden!