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A guide for Tutors
Your future students are out there, looking for an online tutor that will help them reach their goals and dreams. What’s more, you are the best possible person to teach them. Your views, personality, and approach to teaching will be perfect to help them enjoy their learning experience.
But, they will never find you. Why? Because you haven’t bothered to make a compelling self-introduction video.
Tutors with videos are significantly more likely to attract students. Students can develop a personal understanding of what and how you teach based on a video. But, how do you make a video that shows you in the best possible light?
Read on to get easy-to-use tips to make your profile shine with video!
You don’t need fancy equipment
If the prospect of making a video feels intimidating, you are likely assuming that you need lots of fancy and expensive equipment to create something good.
You don’t.
Even if all you have is a smartphone or a webcam, you can create a strong video presentation that will help your students see the benefits of learning from you over anyone else.
Of course, solid equipment that produces a sharp, clear picture and good sound will make the video look compelling, but the sophistication of most smartphones of the past few years has been enough to produce a good video. If you approach the video making process the right way, you can get a good video without buying any new equipment.
If anything, you should be making your video with the same equipment you will be using for your lessons, in order to give your students a better sense of what the experience of learning from you will be like.
Shine a light (or three)
Record your video looking directly into the camera, with a light that shows your face without harsh shadows. The best way to accomplish this is by using at least 2 light sources (and even better, 3).
Make sure the light doesn’t produce harsh shadows, and allows the viewer to see your face clearly. For more tips, check out the tutorial below, as well as the Tutor.id profile photography guide.
Mic Check, Mic Check
Sound is extremely important for online teaching and video. If you have an external microphone that you expect to be using for your lessons, use it in your video recording process as well.
If you don’t have an external microphone, try to make sure that the room where you record your video is quiet, and doesn’t produce too much echo. Echo occurs when the sound reflects from multiple parallel surfaces, like the ceiling and floor, or the walls. In many cases putting a carpet down and a blanket on the wall can help dampen echo. You can also use packing materials, soft fabric, or even record in a room with bookcases and books that will help dampen the reflected sound.
Make sure to record at a time where there is no external noise – like cars, lawnmowers, or conversations nearby. Clear, easily understood sound will make your video truly stand out, so you should spend some time into getting this aspect right.
Prepare to Shine
By taking the time to test our your recording equipment, setting up the right lighting, and writing a script or bullet points beforehand, you are helping yourself look more relaxed and natural on camera. Give yourself enough time to get your recording studio just right, and pick a time when you can concentrate and avoid unnecessary noise.
Try practicing your presentation a few times in the mirror before recording, to find a natural and compelling way of delivering your introduction. By getting familiar with what you are going to say through rehearsal, you will help yourself deliver your lines without feeling or looking awkward. Try different inflections, tones, and energy levels until you find something that you feel represents you.
When recording, record multiple versions of your presentations. This way, you can give yourself more room to pick the best from all of the versions when putting your video together.
Keep it tight and relevant
Most people like talking about themselves. After all, we’re usually our own best friend and longest-term companion. For your teacher introduction video, though, we suggest keeping it short and tight. We suggest you make a video that lasts no more than 90 seconds, that way the potential student doesn’t get bored.
When preparing your script and making your video, try to make it about the student, rather than yourself. Our suggestion is to think a bit about the kind of student you would be perfect for – is it a child, an adult, or a college student? What do they want to achieve with their learning? What matters to them?
We suggest opening your video with something that will immediately speak to your perfect student – maybe by asking a question:
- “Do you want to learn statistics to advance your career?”
- “Are you preparing for an interview in English?”
- “Do you want to get better grades in Physics?”
By asking these questions you will help your potential student understand what you offer.
Speaking of what you offer to the student, we also recommend making your statements about concrete learning outcomes that you can provide. Whether it’s speaking a language more fluently while traveling, learning to perform a task better at work, or even just discovering something new through a hobby. By providing a bit of information about what your past students have accomplished with your help, you can give your students realistic yet relevant expectations of how they will benefit from studying with you.
When in doubt, ask for help
To wrap up this little guide, we wanted to let you know that as a Tutor.id tutor, we are here to help you build and run your independent online tutoring business. If you aren’t sure about how to make your profile stronger and more compelling, make full use of the features, or would like some help in creating a perfect video, reach out to support@tutor.id. We love working with our tutors, and try to help every educator by providing know-how, advice, and technical support.