Going independent as an online teacher is an exciting step, but it can also come with challenges. Many teachers leave platforms like VIPKid, iTalki, Cambly, or Palfish, thinking they can instantly replace their income. However, teaching independently requires some business skills, marketing awareness, and planning. If you want to avoid common pitfalls, keep reading! Here are the five biggest mistakes online teachers make when going solo—and how to fix them.
1. Not Defining a Niche
Now, I’m not saying that you have to have a clearly defined niche from the beginning and never change it. But, one of the biggest mistakes new independent teachers make is trying to teach everyone.
This happens often when coming off of a platform because on platforms you generally teach ESL to anyone who wants to learn.
If your goal is to “teach English online,” you’re competing with thousands of other teachers. Instead, let’s try to define a niche that attracts your ideal student so that you can charge what you’re worth.
How to Fix It:
- Step 1: Identify who you love teaching. Is it business professionals? IELTS students? Kids?
- Step 2: Find a specific problem they need to solve (e.g., “Help professionals improve their business English for meetings and interviews”).
- Step 3: Research what other successful teachers in your niche are doing and position yourself uniquely.
A well-defined niche will always help you stand out from the crowd. It will also help you to be able to charge higher rates, and attract students who value your expertise.
2. Relying Only on Referrals
If you’re not lucky enough to have any students from platforms to begin with, then you are going to have to think about how you are going to get students.
Many teachers assume that students will just “find them” once they go independent. They quickly realise that this isn’t the case. While referrals are great, they are not enough to build a full-time business.
How to Fix It:
- Build a simple landing page where students can learn about your services or, even better, get a free trial class or download that you offer them that helps solve a quick problem for them.
- Use social media to market yourself. LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube are great platforms for teachers and you can get inspiration from other online teachers.
- Start email marketing! Create a simple lead magnet (e.g., “Free IELTS Speaking Guide”) and collect emails to stay in touch with potential students.
Email marketing remains the best way to funnel leads into paying students and the highest conversion of sales in online marketing.
A steady flow of students requires consistent marketing, not just waiting for word-of-mouth.
3. Pricing too low
Platforms and companies will never pay you enough. But did you know that they are charging their students 2-3 x what they actually pay you?
Many online teachers under-charge when they start teaching independently. They feel guilty asking for higher rates or fear losing students. However, pricing too low makes it difficult to grow your business resulting in you always trading time for money.
How to Fix It:
- Research industry rates. For niche ESL teachers, $50+ per hour is reasonable. For less specific niches, $25 – $50 is reasonable.
- Consider value-based pricing. Instead of charging per hour, create packages like “8-Week Business English Coaching” at a higher rate.
- Offer free discovery calls instead of free lessons to demonstrate your expertise without devaluing your services.
- Consider also offering group lessons where you can charge less but make more per hour.
At the end of the day, higher pricing attracts serious students and helps you build a sustainable business.
4. Ignoring Social Media
“I don’t know how to use social media” is a common concern or complaint I hear from teachers wanting to go independent.
Many teachers don’t realize that content marketing is key to attracting students.
Whether it’s blog posts, YouTube videos, or social media content, sharing helpful information builds trust with potential students.
You just have to get out there and begin. It starts with taking action.
How to Fix It:
- Choose one platform (YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, or a blog) and consistently post helpful content.
- Write blog posts or make videos that answer common student questions (e.g., “How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Score”).
- Create short videos explaining grammar tips, pronunciation hacks, or exam strategies.
- Use SEO (Search Engine Optimization) by including keywords like “how to improve your IELTS score” and “improve your business English in 3 steps” in your content.
Providing free value makes students more likely to trust you and eventually book lessons.
5. Not having a clear teaching funnel
Even if you have a website and great content, you need a way to turn visitors into paying students. Many teachers make the mistake of not having a clear sales process.
How to Fix It:
- You always need a Call to Action (CTA) on your pages or social media, like “Book a Free Consultation.”
- You have to capture their email through a free download or resource. ie: “3-part video lesson to improve your IELTS score”
- Use an email marketing funnel to nurture potential students. For example, send a welcome email with helpful tips, followed by an email offering a discount for the first lesson or your free trial class booking page.
- Make it easy for students to book lessons. Use scheduling tools like Calendly to automate bookings.
A structured sales process ensures you don’t lose potential students after they visit your page.
Final Thoughts
Going independent as an online teacher is a rewarding journey, but avoiding these five mistakes will save you time and frustration.
Define your niche, market yourself consistently, set competitive pricing, create content, and have a clear sales process.
By doing this, you’ll build a successful, sustainable teaching business that attracts the right students and gives you more freedom.
Check out this blog post to help you:
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