grow your business, small business, Tutors, Tutoring Businesses

Creating your Tutoring Website from Scratch: A Step-by-step Guide for Tutors

Today, potential clients turn to the internet to look for any kind of services, including tutoring services. And that’s exactly why having an online presence becomes imperative for private tutors and tutoring businesses. 

Google trends for tutor near me

With Google searches for tutors on the rise, having a professional website that is well structured and provides value to visitors can give you an edge over your competitors. 

If you don’t have one already and are wondering how to get started, we’ve got you covered!

With a number of tools available in the market, creating your tutoring website from scratch has become very easy, even if you do not have any knowledge of web development!

Our step-by-step guide will not only help you make your online tutoring website on your own but structure it to make it more engaging and convert visitors into customers! 

Here’s how to start building your tutoring website, in 8 simple steps:

  1. Step 1: Define the goal of your tutoring website 
  2. Step 2: Decide on in-house development vs outsourcing
  3. Step 3: Choose the right platform
  4. Step 4: Think over your domain name
  5. Step 5: Select your tutor website theme/template
  6. Step 6: Understand what sections to include in your website
  7. Step 7: Don’t forget to optimize your website for search engines!
  8. Ready to start getting clients from your website?

Step 1: Define the goal of your tutoring website 

Setting your website goals is the first step to creating a successful site. 

Whether you’re a home/private tutor, an online tutor, or you own a tutoring company, there can be multiple business goals that you want to achieve with your website:  

  1. Generating quality leads
  2. Building brand awareness 
  3. Providing fresh content for visitors 
  4. Converting leads into paying customers, etc.   

Based on the goal that you choose, the content, structure, and navigation of your website should be configured keeping your ideal user in mind. 

The goal of your website should be reinforced as a user navigates through your site! And if done right, your site will continue to bring tutoring clients throughout the life of your business. 

So take time to identify your goals, and keep those in mind throughout the whole process of creating your website. With goals clearly defined, understand how your site can provide value and a point of conversion to visitors. 


Step 2: Decide on in-house development vs outsourcing

That’s one question almost all business owners face when thinking about building a website. You might have it on your mind too. 

Making the right decision would involve you mindfully considering your business needs, and assessing your budget. To make this process easier for you, we’ll help you understand what’s the difference between both processes, and which alternative suits your tutoring business the best. 


When should you outsource your website?

For a standard website, getting it developed by a professional might cost a lot, you can expect the upfront cost of website development to be around with ongoing charges of about $1000 per year.

You can consider this alternative if you’re a business owner, looking for a website: 

  • With advanced customizations, for example, personalized exit-intent popups
  • That requires significant coding and professional web development skills 
  • Built faster without investing efforts

Just remember that outsourcing would require you to spend a considerable amount of money, time, and effort in hiring a professional and coordinating with them to build this website. The final result might be more polished than a DIY version but go for it only if you have enough money to spare and a shortage of time and effort on your part. 


When should you build it on your own?

If you own a small to medium-sized tutoring business/company and are looking for an affordable way to build your website, you should consider building it on your own using the tools available in the market.  

You’ll be able to save the time and effort that goes into searching and hiring the right tech person. Additionally, the money you save here can be used in your business for marketing, or any other business efforts. 

If you identify with most of the following points, you should consider building the website on your own: 

  • You are not familiar with coding and tech
  • You want more control, without having to approach a tech person again and again
  • You do not have a lot of customization requirements for your website
  • You are ready to invest some time and effort to do it on your own

Don’t fret if you don’t know coding. Thanks to the numerous platforms available today, you can build your own website with simple drag and drop tools. 

With affordable fees and a range of diverse options, they let you set up your tutoring sites with ease, without the need for coding knowledge! 


If you choose to create your own website for tutoring, the rest of the blog will guide you through it. If done right, the website you build on your own will be at par with its professionally designed counterparts. 

Or if you decide to outsource your site development, jump directly to Step 6 to understand the site structure and learn which sections your website should have in order to convert your visitors into paying customers. 



Step 3: Choose the right platform

When building your website on your own, you’ll need to choose three kinds of the platform:

  1. A website hosting provider  
  2. A content management system (CMS)
  3. A tutor scheduling software

You’ll have to choose these platforms depending on your business’ requirements and the goals of your website. 

However, for all the three software, before choosing, ensure that they offer:

  • Good and fast support 
  • Easy to use interface 
  • Server security

Let’s take a look at each of the platforms, one by one. 


Website hosting provider 

Also known as a website host, a website hosting provider is a platform that offers the technology and services necessary for a site to be viewed on the internet. It’s like renting your own space on the web. 

Hosting your own website can be quite expensive, especially for owners of small tutoring businesses. And therefore, it is a good option to choose from a wide range of website hosts, costing anywhere between $2 to $100+ per month. The yearly plans usually offer discounts. 

There are three types of servers you can choose from:

  • Shared Server: As it is clear from the name, shared hosting would mean sharing a server and its resources with other customers. While this can be a cheaper option, it can make the performance and speed of your site suffer. Moreover, it makes your website more vulnerable to hacking. 
  • Dedicated Server: The server and its resources in this case are entirely yours, and thus more secure. It offers the best site performance and likewise would cost you quite a high amount. 
  • Virtual Private Server (VPS): A VPS is a single machine partitioned to act like multiple machines. This makes VPS hosting affordable like the shared server, and it has security and technology similar to the dedicated plan. 

Some of the popular website hosting companies that you can choose from are GoDaddy, BlueHost, InMotion, DreamHost, etc.


Content Management System (CMS)

A CMS is an application or program that is used to create and manage your digital content. A good CMS will not need you to be a tech expert. It will also help you maintain your website in the long run. 

You can choose the right content management system based on your requirements. Different software have unique USPs like user-friendliness, affordability, support, and integrations. 

You can choose WordPress, which is one of the oldest and most popular CMS, or you can choose Wix or SquareSpace which are newer. 

Here are a few tips to make the right choice of CMS to create your tutoring website:

  • Choose a CMS that is scalable
  • Select the CMS with an intuitive user interface
  • Make sure that it has the necessary integrations needed 
  • Ensure that the CMS solution is capable of supporting new channels

Finally, don’t forget to test the software that you’re finalizing, before you make the decision. 


Tutor scheduling software

Appointy's website integration

All websites have a call-to-action that prompts visitors to take the ‘next step’, or complete the goal of the website. It could be purchasing the services, connecting on a call, or booking an appointment. 

In the case of tutoring businesses, having them book a free online consultation or demo class can be a great call to action! It will give you the opportunity to understand them, interact with them, and turn them into loyal customers.

Another thing to look out for is that the booking system you choose should either integrate with your website or have a plugin available for the CMS you choose. This will save you from the hassle of connecting the booking software to your website.

The right online scheduling system for your home/ private tutoring website will:

  • Make the scheduling process easier for your visitors and customers 
  • Help you manage your schedule efficiently
  • Give you control over the booking process 
  • Help you run your business with additional features 
  • Create and send virtual meeting links

Join 5100+ tutors and learning centers worldwide that use Appointy for online class booking. It offers powerful scheduling capabilities with fully customizable features that makes it the software of their choice.

Try Appointy today! Get started with our 14 day free trial now.


Step 4: Finalize your domain name

Your domain name is your address on the web. This will be the URL you’ll share with your customers, as well as on all your marketing channels. 

Here are some tips to finalize the right domain name for your tutor website:

  • Keep it simple: Make your domain name easy to spell and remember by keeping it short and free of fancy or tough words. 
  • Avoid numbers and hyphens: They’re comparatively difficult to remember and can cause unnecessary confusion. 
  • Make it SEO friendly: If possible, it is best to include location or industry-specific keywords in your domain name, for example, www.mathtutorwashington.com. 

Many website hosts and site builders give you a free domain name in their plans. Instead of purchasing your domain name separately, look for a plan that lets you get your web address for free! For example, Squarespace offers a free domain name with its annual plan. 


Step 5: Select your tutor website theme/template

No matter which CMS you choose, they offer pre-built templates from which you can choose. It is best to select the theme/template of your choice at the beginning itself. 

It will make the whole process of creating your website easier. Additionally, it will make your website look professional regardless of your technical knowledge. 

Most of the site-building platforms provide a library of free themes or templates for you to choose from. WordPress has the largest number of themes available. 

Choose the theme that you feel defines your business the best, and matches your brand. In other words, choose a template that already looks a lot like you’d want your website to look and function. This will require you to put in lesser effort into customizing it. 

To help you select the right template for your tutoring website, we have a few more tips for you: 

  • Choose the type of layout and design that fits your needs. From content width to header layout, navigation bar design, be mindful of all the elements.
  • Look out for flexibility and customization options. You’ll need to customize your template initially as well as in the long run. 
  • Make sure it is responsive. It will make it possible for your website to adjust its layout across various screen sizes and types of devices. 
  • Select SEO-friendly templates. Use designs that are not only beautiful but have a solid hierarchy and easy navigation.
  • Consider the quality attached to the costs. For paid templates, make sure the features it offers are worth the price, and you get good support as well. 
A tutor creating her tutor website on her laptop

Step 6: Understand what sections to include in your website

Once you have finalized your theme/template, it’s time to start designing your website! 

Customize the template of your choice, specific to your needs. Add your logo, update the header and footer, and configure the navigation. Build all the pages that your site would have – home page, about, pricing page, etc.

Before you start, let us help you figure out the pages you need to have on your tutor website, and how you should structure it. 


1. Home Page

The home page is the first page of your website where the visitor lands. So it is your chance to make a great first impression and catch their attention! 

It should welcome your tutoring site visitors with enough information about your business so that they understand what you do. It typically also includes the navigation of the website. 

In general, home pages follow a similar layout. The following are the elements of a typical home page:

  • Business’ name and logo
  • Main/hero image
  • Headline
  • Basic information about your tutoring business/company
  • Navigation to the main web pages of your website
  • Call to action

A good practice is to let your visitors achieve the goal you want them to achieve, right through the home page. Include a Book button right on the home page without the need for people to scroll down or go to another page if they want to book right away. Appointy’s tutor management software lets you add this CTA button to your home page. 


2. About section

Whether you’re an owner of a tutoring company or an individual tutor, this section is where you tell your brand’s story. This is the place where your customer might first read about you. Ensure that you engage them through this section. 

This is the right place to pitch in your USP first. Write in brief about the specialty of your tutoring services. The copy for the ‘About’ section should specifically cater to your target audience or niche. 


3. Tutoring service catalog

Provide all the details about the tutoring services you offer in this section. Whether you offer tutoring for a single subject, or for multiple subjects, what grades of students do you teach, do you offer to teach for certain competitive exams like SAT, etc. 

If you offer something in your services different from your competition – advanced study material, regular assessments and analysis, customized tutoring plans – highlight it in this section. 

Don’t forget to provide the details of all your teaching plans in this section. Class packages, crash courses, monthly or yearly targets, everything you offer, with proper description. Keep it uncluttered and easy to understand for website visitors.


4. Staff profiles

Include your own academic details if you’re a one-man tutoring business. However, if you run a company where you have more than one staff, this is the place to mention details about each of them. 

Parents and students will look at this section keenly, to understand what their potential tutors have to offer them. It is best to include the following details about your tutors:

  • Name 
  • Qualifications
  • Expertise, supported by relevant experience
  • Their teaching method/USP

Include their pictures if you want, just to make it more credible. 

Remember that this section is important to build trust in website visitors about your brand. Ensure that you include all the necessary information, but don’t mention anything you don’t offer, just to attract attention. 


5. Social proof  

This is the best way to showcase your teaching abilities, without self-promoting yourself. Be it customer reviews, testimonials, case studies, or the awards, accolades, or certifications you’ve received. 

They all speak for themselves and build much-needed trust in people. It will ensure people that they’re in the right place and that their kids will be in good hands. Just make this section prominently visible on your site. 

You can easily take reviews from your clients after every session, with Appointy’s review feature.  


6. Pricing page 

Your tutoring rates are a significant factor for potential clients to make a decision. Therefore, it becomes important for you to clearly communicate your pricing plans to them so that there’s no room for confusion or misunderstanding. 

Keep this page simple, and don’t include any unnecessary design elements. Just answer their basic questions:

  • What are your tutoring plans?  
  • What’s included in each of them, and how are they different?
  • How much does each of the tutoring plans cost?
  • Which plan is best suited for whom?

Finally, add a clear call to action for each plan. It could be something simple like ‘Buy Now’. Or you can make it more connecting for your potential customer with something like ‘Start learning now’. 


7. Booking page/button

The booking page or book button facilitates the conversion process of website visitors into customers. A clear call to action will help your site visitors achieve the goal. 

It is imperative that you give the option of a book button to your website visitors. Prompt them to book a class/consultation/trial class with you when they feel engaged with your site content!

Depending on your tutoring scheduling software, you can add a book button or link to your booking page on your tutoring website.

Did you know?

About 70% of people prefer to book an appointment online when given the option. Convert more website visitors to customers, start by adding a book button to your website now.


8. Contact 

Communication is important, and do not make the mistake of overlooking it! Include your contact information on this part of your website. Your phone number, email address, or physical address (if applicable) should be clearly visible. 

Don’t forget to include a contact form on this page. This is for the people who would like to get in touch with you, ask questions about your services, etc. Including a contact form that asks for minimal but necessary details from visitors is a good idea. 


9. Site Navigation

This is how visitors can get around your website. Ideally, it should be easy to understand and intuitive. People should be able to easily navigate through it and reach the webpage that they want to. 

You can logically cluster your website pages. Or if you’re not very sure about how to go about it, you can look up your competitors’ websites for ideas. 


Step 7: Optimize your website for search engines! 

You need relevant people, that is, your target audience to visit and go through your website. And more importantly, you do not want your site to get lost among the hundreds of websites online. 

So how do you make your website stand out and be visible to the most relevant audience?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the answer! 

Optimize your website for search engines, and in turn, for your target clients. You don’t need to be an SEO professional for this. Basic keyword research specific to your business and target clients should suffice. Incorporate keywords specific to the location that you’re targeting for higher reach, for example, “Math tutor in the Bay area”.  

Include these keywords in all parts of your webpages:

  • Page titles
  • Page URLs
  • Meta descriptions
  • Headings
  • Subheadings 
  • Body text

Just try to include as many keywords as you can, naturally. Do not overdo it, as keyword stuffing can do more harm than good. 

Additionally, ensure that your site is mobile-responsive. 64% of Google’s organic search was through mobile and tablet devices in the second quarter of 2020. You don’t want to annoy such a huge chunk of visitors by giving them a bad website experience on their phones/tablets. 

A tutor optimizing her tutoring website on her laptop

Ready to start getting clients from your website?

Websites are vital to running a successful tutoring business today. But it’s more important to go the extra mile and put some extra effort into building that generates qualified leads and converts them into paying customers!  

Thanks to the range of platforms available to help you create your tutoring website yourself! To manage your website effectively and efficiently, you need to choose the right software. 

With Appointy’s tutor scheduling software, you can run your business and website better. It’ll help you accelerate and facilitate the conversions, by integrating with your website and prompting your site visitors to schedule a session with you. 

Not just that, there’s a whole range of features that it offers to tutors to help you run and grow your business:

  • 24×7 online tutor scheduling convenience to your clients/leads
  • Zoom integration for smooth online consultations or classes
  • Online payments through popular software such as Square, Stripe, PayPal
  • Two-way calendar sync with Google Calendar, iCal, and Outlook Calendar
  • Control over-bookings and availability
  • Intelligent time zone detection
  • Group class scheduling

And that’s not all, we’ll help you market your tutoring website better on popular channels like Google MyBusiness, Facebook, and Instagram.  

Appointy is trusted by over 5100+ tutors and learning centers worldwide, and also by the top review platforms. 

Testimonial by the owner of Wise tries and Mathnasium, appreciating Appointy’s tutor scheduling software for their business

 


About Appointy

We at Appointy, help business owners grow and run their businesses with our online scheduling software. This blog was a part of our ‘Manage your Business’ category, where we provide expert tips, and resources, or simply talk about the challenges that small and medium businesses face every day. 

If you have any thoughts on this blog or would like to chat about your business struggles and achievements, let us know in the comments below. 

We love a good talk!