Preply tips: how beginners can stand out (honest guide)

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 10 Nov 2026 · 14m ago

What makes standing out on Preply hard

Preply is a large online tutoring marketplace with tutors for languages, academic subjects, test preparation and professional skills. Students browse profiles, compare prices, watch videos and book trial lessons. For popular subjects such as English, thousands of tutors compete for attention, so a new profile with no reviews can be hard to find. The honest truth is that the first weeks are usually slow. Tutors who succeed tend to do a few things well: they make it obvious who they help, they look trustworthy and friendly on video, they price sensibly at first, they respond quickly and they turn trials into regular students. None of this requires tricks. It requires clarity, consistency and treating tutoring as a service business rather than waiting for students to appear.

Tip 1: pick a clear niche

Instead of offering general English or general maths, decide who you help best. Examples include English for software developers, conversation practice for beginners who are nervous about speaking, exam preparation for a specific test, business English for job interviews, Spanish for travellers, or school maths for teenagers who are falling behind. A niche makes your headline sharper, helps students recognise themselves in your profile and lets you build repeatable lesson materials. You can still teach other students, but lead with the group you understand best. Your background, previous jobs and life experience often point to a natural niche.

Tip 2: write a headline that speaks to goals

The headline is often the first thing students read in search results. Rather than listing qualifications, describe the outcome you help with, such as speaking confidently in meetings or passing a particular exam. Keep it short, specific and free of exaggerated promises. Students want to know that you understand their problem. Test variations over time and notice which ones bring more profile views and messages.

Tip 3: write a description that builds trust

Your profile description should explain who you teach, how your lessons work, what a typical lesson includes and what students can expect after a few weeks. Mention relevant experience, qualifications and the languages you speak, but keep the focus on the student. Break text into short paragraphs that are easy to read on a phone. Avoid copying other tutors' text, which looks generic and may break platform rules. Honest, specific details, such as helping students prepare for job interviews in your previous career, are more persuasive than general claims.

Tip 4: record a strong introduction video

Many students decide based on the video. Keep it short, around one to two minutes, filmed horizontally with good lighting, clear audio and a tidy background. Smile, speak naturally and look at the camera. Introduce yourself, explain who you help and describe what a first lesson looks like. If you teach a language, speak mostly in that language at a level your target students can follow, with short explanations if helpful. Avoid music, long intros and reading from a script. Record several takes and choose the most natural one.

Tip 5: choose a sensible starting price

Price affects how quickly you get your first students. Research tutors in your subject with similar experience and look at their prices and reviews. Many beginners start slightly below established tutors to attract first bookings and reviews, then raise prices in steps as their calendar fills. Avoid pricing so low that you resent each lesson or attract students who are not serious. Remember that the platform's commission comes out of the price you set, so calculate what you actually receive.

Tip 6: understand commission before planning income

Preply commonly keeps the full payment for each trial lesson with a new student and a percentage commission on later lessons, with that percentage decreasing as you complete more hours on the platform. This means early income is lower than the headline price suggests. Check the current commission structure in the tutor help centre and factor it into your pricing and expectations. Withdrawal methods may also carry fees.

Worked example: estimating early earnings

Suppose you set a price of 20 per hour and teach 40 paid regular lessons in a month after trials. If the commission on those lessons is 30 percent, the platform keeps 6 per lesson, leaving 14, or 560 for the month. Five trial lessons that month earn you nothing if the platform keeps their full price. If your commission later falls to 20 percent, you would receive 16 per lesson, or 640 for the same 40 lessons, an increase of about 14 percent. Raising your price to 25 at that rate would bring 20 per lesson, or 800. Figures are illustrative; check current commission terms. The percentage calculator on this site helps check your own numbers.

Tip 7: open availability at popular times

Students search for tutors available when they are free, which is often evenings and weekends in their own time zones. Opening more slots, especially at times your target students prefer, increases the chance of appearing in their searches. Think about where your likely students live. The time zone calculator on this site helps you work out when evenings in other countries fall in your day. Keep your calendar accurate so students do not book times you cannot teach.

Tip 8: reply quickly to messages

Students often message several tutors before booking. Fast, friendly replies improve your chance of winning the booking and may affect how the platform ranks your profile. Use the mobile app to respond promptly, answer the student's question directly and suggest a trial time. A short, warm message that shows you understood their goal works better than a long sales pitch.

Tip 9: plan trial lessons carefully

The trial lesson is your interview. Start by asking about the student's goals, level, past learning and preferred style. Do a short activity that shows their current level and gives them a small win, such as correcting a common mistake or learning a useful phrase. Before the lesson ends, summarise what you noticed, propose a learning plan with clear steps and suggest a weekly schedule. Students who leave with a clear plan are far more likely to book regular lessons.

Tip 10: be reliable from day one

Arrive early, test your internet, microphone and camera before lessons, and avoid cancellations or rescheduling except in real emergencies. Missed or late lessons can lead to poor reviews and platform penalties. Prepare materials in advance and keep notes on each student's progress so lessons build on each other.

Tip 11: earn honest reviews

Reviews build trust for future students. After a few lessons with a happy student, you can politely ask if they would leave a review. Never offer discounts or free lessons in exchange for positive reviews, and never ask for reviews off the platform. Good teaching, clear progress and friendly communication naturally lead to positive reviews over time.

Tip 12: focus on retention

Keeping students is more valuable than finding new ones, because regular students provide steady income and do not involve unpaid trials. Set short-term goals, review progress every few weeks, vary lesson activities and adjust plans as students' needs change. Students who see progress stay longer and recommend you to others.

Common beginner mistakes

| Mistake | Better approach |

|---|---|

| Generic headline | Describe who you help and the outcome |

| Long, scripted video | Short, natural and well lit |

| Very low price forever | Start competitively and raise in steps |

| Limited availability | Open slots at students' popular times |

| Slow replies | Respond quickly through the app |

| Unplanned trial | Goals, quick win, learning plan |

Lesson materials and tools

Create reusable materials, such as conversation topics, vocabulary lists, practice exercises and progress trackers, organised by level and goal. Use the platform's lesson tools where available, and share notes after lessons so students can review. Well-organised materials save preparation time and improve consistency.

Taxes and record keeping

Tutoring income is usually taxable. Keep records of lessons, payments, commission and withdrawal fees, and track expenses such as equipment and software. Rules vary by country, so consult a tax professional if unsure. The salary calculator on this site helps you compare tutoring income with other work.

How to avoid scams

Be cautious of students asking to pay outside the platform, messages asking for personal financial details, fake support emails requesting login information and offers to buy reviews or profile boosts. Keep communication and payments on the platform and use only the official site and app.

Reader questions

Questions about online tutoring? Send them through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not affiliated with Preply. Commission rates, requirements and features change; check the official tutor help centre. No income is guaranteed.

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