Advertise Your Tutoring Services

Tutoring is one of many ways for high school and college students to earn extra cash, using the skills they've picked up in school. After you figure out the subject that you plan to tutor and your target age group, it's time to think about advertising. There is more to the process than telling your buddies about your plans. You must get the word out to people outside your immediate social circle if you want a chance at a successful tutoring service. Here's how.

1. Design your flyer. Use graphics and text to describe the type of service you are offering, rates, schedules and locations. The graphics should give an idea of the subject you tutor. Use symbols for mathematic terms like pi, equal signs and plus signs. Try beakers for chemistry, globes for geography and so on.

2. Limit your text and alternate colors and fonts to draw attention to the pertinent information. That information is your contact info, subject and location. Proofread the flyer before printing multiple copies.

3. Go to the local schools, libraries and common hangouts for your target audience like coffeehouses. Ask permission to display the flyer. Take a copy along with you to show the business owners and managers.

4. Post the flyers on bulletin boards, entry and exit doors and wherever else you have permission to display your flyer. Use only the types of attachment materials specified. If none are, stick to the basic of tape for glass and pushpins for cork board.

5. Advertise online with your own website. Create a free website using Google, Free Webs, and even MSN. You can also pay for a site with any number of services. Try to match your flyer design to your website. Include a page on you and your qualifications, your services and a way for potential clients to contact you.

6. Use internet message boards and classified advertising sites like Craigslist. Include a link to your website and/or contact information like an email address.

7. Try direct mail by mailing out your flyers or postcards advertising your services. Use mass printing services like Vista Print, Kinkos and Office Depot to cut costs. However, these services are more expensive than web advertising and fliers.