Q: How can I get leads for my new tutoring business?
Jason, I just started a new home-based business tutoring math students. How can I find leads and clients?

First, I would like to say ’Congrats’ on the new business! That’s great that you want to use your gift of mathematical skills to help others.

There are lots of options to drum-up leads for home-based businesses and convert those to sales.

Where are you located, and who do you want to tutor? Those might influence some of what you choose to do. You can have a good mix of in-person, on the phone and online activities such as social networking.

Speaking to classes and providing math and homework tips to students that are your potential clients might be a couple of easy-to-do and effective strategies.

Here is a list of ways that I help my small business clients to market themselves, create marketing and lead-generation systems. Some of these might work for you:

o _____  Networking Events / Meetings / Organizations
o _____  Lead Capturing from your Website
o _____  Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Meetup
o _____  Articles / Newsletters – in hard copy
o _____  Ezine / Blog
o _____  Co-Registration List Building
o _____  Joint Ventures, Affiliate Programs
o _____  Teleclasses
o _____  Email Campaigns
o _____  Speaking Engagements, Workshops
o _____  Referrals
o _____  Media Exposure
o _____  Cold Calling
o _____  Paid/Barter Advertising

I recommend you pick three to five methods that you enjoy the most, come up with a strategy and system for each, and then be very persistent with executing them. You can tweak your strategies as you find what works best for you.

For more in-depth on the Social Networking strategies, here is a step-by-step guide for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Meetup:
http://www.distinctivecoaching.com/social-networking-special-report/

I hope these ideas help!

All the best,
Jason