“Where Do I Find Students?” and Other Things I Yelled at My Laptop
The answer wasn’t Google. Or yelling. It was strategy.
Step 1: Finding Online Students – Google & Beyond
Finding online students may seem as simple as typing a few words into Google, but if it were that easy, we’d all have waitlists longer than a Taylor Swift ticket queue. So, let’s dig a little deeper.
Google: The Obvious Starting Point
Start by searching “how to find online students.” But don’t stop there! Get specific:
“How to find [your subject] online students”
“How to find [your subject] online students in [location]”
“How to generate leads for online students”
Keep tweaking your search terms. Think of it like finding the perfect Netflix show—you might start with “comedy” but end up watching a true crime docuseries about feral peacocks (no judgment).
What Are You Really Looking For?
Spoiler: You probably won’t find a listing that says, “Family of students seeks [your description] who can teach [your niche]”—but wouldn’t that be nice? Instead, you’re hunting for ideas on how to attract students.
Take notes. Save helpful articles on lead generation. If a strategy is aimed at a different industry, ask yourself: Could this work for online teaching? Inspiration is everywhere—just like ads for things you swear you only thought about once.
Google Isn’t the Only Search Engine (Gasp!)
Brace yourself: Google is not the only way to search for students. I know, shocking. Other search engines do still exist!
Bing – Yes, Microsoft still makes things.
Yahoo! – For those feeling nostalgic.
DuckDuckGo – For the privacy-conscious.
Baidu – If you’re targeting students in China, this one’s worth a look.
ChatGPT: More Than Just a Writing Sidekick
Fun fact: In 2024, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Search. So now, you can use AI to help find students, not just draft polite responses to that client who takes 48 hours to reply with “ok.”
Ask ChatGPT things like:
“Where do online students look for teachers?”
“Creative ways to generate leads for online teachers”
“How can I attract students without selling my soul?”
If you’re an advanced ChatGPT user, go beyond simple questions—train it to analyze trends, summarize strategies, or even draft a marketing plan (so you can take a nap).
(Find out about ChatGPT's search engine.)
YouTube: The Search Engine in Disguise
Did you know YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world? Yep, right behind Google.
And while most people are there for cat videos and conspiracy theories, you can actually find goldmines of student-finding strategies.
Search for:
“How online teachers can find students”
“Marketing strategies for tutors”
“Best platforms for online teaching”
And if you’re a visual learner (or just prefer being told what to do), YouTube may be your best bet.
Joanne Kaminski is a tutor coach I recommend—her videos are full of useful tips, minus the clickbait drama.
