10 Steps to Increase Your Income as A TEFL Teacher in Italy

As part of my expat coaching, I offer a VIP strategy day to dynamic and ambitious business owners in Italy. It is an intensive experience that catapults your life and business forward. It is a place where we dive deep into your life and business from a strategic level and creatively focus on the most essential elements needed for growth, expansion, and personal development, so you can move to the next evolutionary phase of personal leadership and extraordinary success.

The most recent one that I held was with an English teacher in Italy who was ready to take their business to the next level. Part of the business growth strategies that I shared with this VIP client during their day with me included the following ten steps, which, if you implement them with passion, determination, and focus, will allow you to build a teaching business that can generate significant income.

1. Elevate Your Mindset: Increasing your income means elevating your strategies, products, and/or services, as well as your approach, so that you can welcome top-tier clients by meeting them at their level. If you want high-end clients, you will have to make a conscious effort to sell yourself as a high-end, top performer in the language sector.
2. Run Your Teaching as a Business: This means that private students must pay for at least five lessons in advance, lose the lesson if they cancel within 24 hours, and commit for at least six months.
3. Follow Up Without Fail with People You Meet Do not drop the ball with follow-up, especially if someone has shown interest in having lessons. Make sure you have professional business cards always on hand.
4. Build a Serious Mailing List: Get the permission of each person you meet who could be a potential client to allow you to add them to your mailing list. Then, each week or month, mail out engaging content (e.g., the English word of the day) so that they keep you in mind.
5. Create Webinars That Promote You as an Expert. This is a great tool to give you visibility to prospects in your marketplace and allow you to put yourself forward as a top-level teacher. E.g., present a webinar on irregular verbs.
6. Build a Strong Online Presence: Make sure you identify the platforms that work best for you (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.) and post regularly. For example, post the ‘English Word of The Day’ on Instagram.
7. Aim for 80% Private and 20% School Lessons. Your goal should be to have 80% well-paid private lessons and 20% lessons in schools. Only work for schools that pay you on time and pay all your taxes. The ultimate goal is to let go of the schools altogether and have your own private clients.
8. Focused Networking: While it is nice to hang out with other expats, Italians are the ones who can ultimately feed your need for lessons. Aim to attend high-end Italian events where you are the only teacher present!
9. Create Free Content That Attracts Prospects This can be a free test, a checklist, or any other useful tool that you provide free to prospects and current clients. Make sure, though, that they contain useful information and give you the chance to upsell.
10. Look for and Create Opportunities When you meet a waiter struggling in English or a menu or notice translated poorly, don’t be afraid to pitch your services — very often, you will be pleasantly surprised by how receptive people can be to your offer.

I only work with a limited number of business owners each year who are ready to fast-track their business and commit to a full day of getting it done. You will leave our VIP Strategy Day with a clear sense of purpose and clarity around your message and your market, together with a physical roadmap of the next vital steps to take.

With over thirty years of experience as a Global Mobility Expert and Expat Coach in Italy, I specialize in ensuring smooth transitions for both individual and corporate clients adapting to life in Italy. My comprehensive services include immigration and relocation assistance, Italian citizenship acquisition, spousal support, personalized coaching, and entrepreneur mentoring. I am dedicated to providing successful and fulfilling expatriate experiences in Italy. If you’re planning your move or facing challenges while living in Italy, I’m here to help. Feel free to email me directly at inquiry@damienofarrell.com for tailored advice.

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