I’ve been teaching privately on Preply for about 11 months now. I have raised my rate four times, from $29 to $60. Throughout this time, my average post-trial retention rate has stayed above 80%. Last month, that figure reached 100%, meaning every trial student became a paying client.
Here’s how I did it:
1️⃣ Gain credibility, then increase prices
Once I got around 10 reviews, I started gradually increasing my rate. Keeping a low rate as a reliable & skilled professional will not benefit you in terms of retention in the long run. Students who are willing to pay above market rates to be taught by you specifically (and not just any teacher) are much more likely to purchase a subscription from you.
2️⃣ Get to know one another
No one wants to feel like a number or a cash cow. Think of when you consult with other professionals: doctors, lawyers, architects. How annoying and demeaning is it when they treat your story like a case or an equation to solve before they move on to the next? In the same way, students want to feel seen. Give them a chance to tell their story. Then, share a piece of yours with them. You should connect on a human level before getting into technicalities.
3️⃣ Present a roadmap
Students may not yet master the subject you teach, but many can spot someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing from a mile away. You should absolutely prepare for your trials and present to every student a personalized roadmap to take them from point A (where they are) to point B (where they want to go).
4️⃣ Do an exercise and give feedback
Just as you wouldn’t buy a car without test-driving it, even though everything may look great on paper, students feel safer embarking on a journey with a teacher they feel like they have already learnt something from. Plus, some students can be really shy and scared of making mistakes. They want to make sure you can give productive feedback without crushing them.
5️⃣ Clear the deck of any doubts
As your trial lesson heads to a close you should take time to address any questions or concerns your student may still have. They must feel like you have removed any and every obstacle which might otherwise have prevented them from choosing you.
6️⃣ Give the students homework
By the end of your trial, the student should feel like their journey to proficiency has already begun. The ship has already set sail. Going back to find another one should feel unnecessary. Everything I said so far contributes to building this impression, but the cherry on top is to give the students something to do. Nothing hard, a simple task will do. It will serve as a reminder of you, your professionalism and the amazing time you spent together.
What are your tips for converting trials into long-term journeys?
Coming up on this series:
📢 How do I make sure clients keep choosing me long term after making a good first impression?