Avoiding Social Media Mistakes for Tutors

Joanne

Alright, let’s dive right into it—let's talk about some of the biggest mistakes tutors make when using social media for their business. Honestly, one of the most common—and costly—errors is outsourcing their social media too early.

Jim

Wait, how is that a mistake though? I mean, outsourcing sounds like a time-saver, right?

Joanne

It does, but here's the thing—if you don’t understand how social media works and what your brand voice is yet, you're kinda setting yourself up for failure. Your audience wants to hear from you, not some social media manager who doesn’t really know your business, or worse, gets your messaging wrong.

Jim

Yeah, I can see how that could backfire. There was, this tutor I knew who outsourced and ended up with these super generic posts. It didn’t feel like her at all. People just stopped engaging altogether.

Joanne

Exactly. And that lack of connection can hurt your business. I’ve actually seen cases where tutors were disconnected from communities because their outsource manager ignored basic posting guidelines. Like, I kid you not, there was one social media manager who got kicked out of a Facebook group for breaking the rules, and that ended up reflecting poorly on the tutor they worked for.

Jim

Oof, that’s brutal. So, how do you avoid those mistakes then?

Joanne

It’s all about starting small and, you know, building your online identity yourself. When you’re engaging directly with your audience, you get to understand their needs, their concerns, what they’re asking for. Take LinkedIn, for instance—it’s a professional space, right? But then TikTok's way more laidback, like, entertainment-heavy. You can’t just treat them all the same.

Jim

That makes sense. So, you’re saying tutors should—what? Just do it all themselves in the beginning?

Joanne

Exactly. Create your core content first—repurpose it, make it work across platforms, and keep your voice consistent. That way you’re not scrambling to figure out who you’re talking to or what your message is later on. And trust me, it’s a lot easier to outsource when you already have that foundation in place.

Jim

Yeah, it sounds like you’re setting yourself up for success instead of, you know, handing off the reins too soon and hoping for the best.

Joanne

Right. And you’re building trust with your audience, which is huge. When you’re the one engaging early on, you not only learn their language, but you also prove that you know your stuff. And let’s be honest—people hire tutors they trust, not some faceless brand.

Jim

Right, so building trust and setting that foundation is key. But, let’s break it down—what are the big risks if someone jumps the gun and outsources too early?

Joanne

Oh, there are a lot! First off, when you haven’t fully defined your brand yet, outsourcing can completely misrepresent your voice and your values. Your posts might end up... well, not sounding like you at all. And that disconnect is something your audience will notice instantly.

Jim

Yeah, I guess people can kinda tell when it’s not authentic, huh?

Joanne

Exactly! And even worse, it can hurt your reputation. Like I’ve seen tutors get burned big time by social media managers who didn’t know their niche. They’d post stuff that was, like, way off-topic or just flat-out wrong. Imagine someone asking about strategies for tutoring kids with dyslexia, and your social media manager has no clue how to respond? That’s a problem.

Jim

Wow, yeah, that’d be awkward. And it makes you look unprofessional, even though it’s not really your fault.

Joanne

Right! Plus, there are financial stakes. Outsourcing isn’t cheap, especially if you’re not ready. Do you know how much agencies charge? I mean, you’re looking at thousands of dollars a month sometimes, and that’s before you even know what works for your audience. It’s like throwing money into the wind without actually building anything sustainable.

Jim

Oh man, that’s a lot. But what about freelancers? Aren’t they more affordable?

Joanne

They are, but cheaper doesn’t always mean better. I knew a tutor once who hired someone on Fiverr. Everything seemed great at first, until the freelancer held her website hostage because she didn’t leave a five-star review.

Jim

Wait, seriously? They held her website hostage? That’s insane!

Joanne

It really is. And that’s why you need to be super careful. If you don’t know what questions to ask or what to expect, you’re taking a huge risk. Honestly, that’s why I always tell tutors to master the basics themselves first.

Jim

Got it. But hey, what about connecting with, like, potential students? Isn’t outsourcing helpful for that?

Joanne

Not necessarily. A social media manager doesn’t know your audience like you do. They don’t live the tutoring life. They might post something that alienates your clients rather than engaging them. And even worse—

Jim

—Wait, let me guess, they break community rules?

Joanne

Bingo! I’ve actually seen this happen. A tutor hired someone to manage her social media, and that person got booted out of a Facebook group for breaking posting guidelines. Do you know what happened next? The tutor lost access to a support network that could’ve been huge for her business. It was a mess.

Jim

Man, that’s rough. Makes me think outsourcing isn’t worth it unless you’re, like, fully prepared.

Joanne

Exactly. It’s all about preparation and knowing your brand inside and out before you hand over the reins. That way, you can keep your messaging consistent and your connections strong. Otherwise, you’re risking both money and your reputation.

Joanne

Exactly, and that ties into a major point—before even thinking about outsourcing, you need to have a rock-solid foundation for your social media presence. It all starts with really knowing your audience and pinpointing what sets you apart. That’s your Unique Selling Proposition, or USP, and it’s what keeps your message authentic and impactful.

Jim

Right, your USP! That’s like the thing that sets you apart from other tutors, right?

Joanne

Exactly. It’s what makes you you—your experience, your expertise, the way you connect with students. If you don’t have that figured out, handing it off to someone else? It's gonna, it's gonna fall flat. Your audience won’t recognize you in what’s being posted.

Jim

Okay, yeah... but let’s talk steps. Like, what should tutors focus on first? If they’re just starting out, where do they even begin?

Joanne

Great question! The first thing you wanna do is create core content. Think blog posts, short videos, maybe even a guide or two that really show off your expertise. And the best part? You can repurpose that content across different platforms. It’s efficient, and it keeps your voice consistent.

Jim

Oh, I like that. Work smarter, not harder. So, say they’ve got their core content ready—what’s next?

Joanne

Engagement. This is where you roll up your sleeves and start talking directly to your audience. Answer their questions, join conversations, and really listen. Like, don’t just post to post—respond, interact, build relationships. LinkedIn’s great for being professional; Facebook’s more casual—it all depends on where your audience is hanging out.

Jim

And that’s where the confidence-building comes in too, isn’t it? Getting comfortable with your own brand voice?

Joanne

Exactly! When you’re the one engaging, you learn what works and what doesn’t. You get to see what resonates with your clients and, honestly, it’s great practice for communicating about your business overall. I mean, how are you gonna explain it to a client if you can’t even explain it to yourself?

Jim

That’s a good point. So, is this something tutors can just figure out on their own, or are there places they can go to get help with it?

Joanne

Oh, there are definitely resources out there. One I always recommend is the Insider Secrets Club. It’s perfect for tutors who wanna master the basics before jumping into the deep end. You learn everything from defining your USP to creating core content, and you’ve got a supportive community to guide you. Honestly, it’s a no-brainer if you’re serious about growing your business.

Jim

That sounds kinda awesome. And it probably saves you a lot of money compared to outsourcing too early, right?

Joanne

Oh, for sure. By building your foundation first, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success. Plus, when you do decide to outsource later, you’re gonna know exactly what you need—and what questions to ask. It’s all about staying in control of your message and your brand.

Jim

I love it. Build first, outsource later. Got it.

Joanne

Exactly. And remember, social media isn’t something to be afraid of. Dive in, start small, and stay consistent. You’ve got this.

Jim

Awesome advice, Joanne. That’s all the time we’ve got for today, right?

Joanne

Yep! Thanks for tuning in, everyone. Until next time, stay confident and keep building that business. You’ve got this!