How to earn money teaching online

If you have a passion for teaching and want to make some extra income, teaching online might be a great option for you. Online teaching is a flexible and rewarding way to share your knowledge and skills with learners from all over the world. You can teach anything from languages, math, music, art, yoga, and more. You can also choose your own schedule, set your own rates, and work from anywhere with an internet connection.

How do you get started as an online teacher?

And how do you attract and retain students who are willing to pay for your services? In this blog post, I will share some tips and best practices on how to earn money teaching online.

1. Choose a platform or marketplace that suits your needs.

There are many platforms and marketplaces that connect online teachers with students. Some of them are general, such as Udemy, Skillshare, or Teachable, where you can create and sell your own courses on any topic. Others are more specific, such as Preply, Italki, or Verbling, where you can offer live one-on-one or group lessons in languages. Depending on your goals, skills, and preferences, you can choose a platform that offers the features, support, and audience that you need.

2. Create a professional and attractive profile.

Your profile is your online resume and portfolio. It is the first thing that potential students will see when they browse for teachers on a platform or marketplace. Therefore, you need to make a good impression and stand out from the crowd. Your profile should include:

• A clear and friendly photo of yourself
• A catchy and informative headline that summarizes your expertise and value proposition
• A detailed and engaging bio that showcases your qualifications, experience, personality, and teaching style
• A video introduction that demonstrates your communication skills and charisma
• A list of the subjects or topics that you can teach
• A calendar of your availability and preferred time zones
• A pricing strategy that reflects your skills and market demand
• A portfolio of your previous work or student testimonials (if applicable)

1. Promote your services and build your reputation.

Once you have created your profile, you need to market yourself and attract students who are interested in learning from you. There are many ways to promote your services and build your reputation as an online teacher, such as:

• Creating a blog or website where you can share valuable content related to your niche
• Leveraging social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or TikTok to showcase your expertise and personality
• Joining online communities and forums where you can network with other teachers and learners
• Asking for referrals and reviews from your existing or past students
• Offering discounts or incentives for referrals or repeat bookings
• Providing free trials or samples of your lessons or courses

1. Deliver high-quality and engaging lessons or courses.

The most important factor in earning money teaching online is delivering high-quality and engaging lessons or courses that meet the needs and expectations of your students. You need to:

• Prepare well for each lesson or course and have a clear learning objective and outcome
• Use effective teaching methods and tools that suit the online environment and the learning style of your students
• Provide feedback and encouragement to your students and track their progress
• Communicate clearly and respectfully with your students and respond to their questions and concerns promptly
• Be punctual, reliable, and professional at all times
• Continuously improve your skills and knowledge as an online teacher

Teaching online can be a fun and fulfilling way to earn money whilst doing what you love. By following these tips and best practices, you can start your online teaching journey and grow your income and possitivey impact the lives of others.

Online teaching platforms

Online teaching platforms are:

• A great way to share your knowledge and skills with learners around the world.
• A flexible and convenient option for both teachers and students who can access courses anytime and anywhere.
• A diverse and dynamic field that offers a variety of tools, resources, and features to enhance the learning experience.
• A lucrative and rewarding opportunity for teachers who can create and sell their own courses on various topics and subjects.
• A growing and evolving industry that is influenced by technological innovations and global trends.

Online teaching platforms provide you with the tools you need to create a full learning experience on the web. Those tools and approaches can be very different:

• Some are standalone platforms; others integrate into your website
• Some allow you to create self-paced courses; others are geared towards live teaching
• Some are free; others require a monthly subscription
• Some have drag-and-drop editors; others require custom coding

There are a lot of features to consider when picking the best online teaching platform to earn money. But first, let’s clarify the difference between online teaching and online learning platforms.

Online learning platforms (also known as online course marketplaces) are often centralized to provide a wide selection of courses that users can choose from. Sometimes these courses are created by individual contributors, but other platforms can choose to commission custom courses (e.g. Treehouse or Lynda) or use courses offered by higher education institutions (e.g. edX).

Online teaching platforms, on the other hand, provide all the necessary tools – from payment processors to email marketing – to enable anyone to create and sell an online course. Online teaching platforms are mostly used by individuals and by companies – for corporate training, onboarding, and customer success.

The most popular Online Teaching Platforms in 2023

• Thinkific
• Udemy
• Skillshare
• Teachable
• Podia
• LearnWorlds
• Kajabi
• WizIQ
• EdApp
• Arlo
• LearnDash

Creating an online course is no longer a multi-week project. You can start with a professionally designed template and an intuitive drag-and-drop builder on and create your own course in just an hour or two — then sell it for years to come.