AmTutoring.com

[Admin]

A M Professional Tutoring Inc. is in the tutoring business. Since June 2008, they have begun working with one-on-one online tutoring. This is the business they wish to expand upon.

Problem:

The online tutoring business can be sub-divided into 2 categories: a) general tutoring (i.e. help with math, science, litt, languages, etc.) The drawback here is that the online tutoring business has exploded and our main competition comes from companies that utilize tutors from third world countries (i.e. India, Philippines, etc.)… We can’t compete price wise with these companies; and b) tutoring for college admissions tests (i.e. SAT, ACT). This is the business I am more interested in, because are competitors are all US based (labour from third world countries is not a factor).

Competition:

i. www.princetonreview.com
ii. www.sylvanlearning.com
iii. www.prepm.com
iv. www.testmasters.com
v. www.eprep.com
vi. www.brightstorm.com
vii. www.kaptest.com
viii. www.huntingtonlearning.com
ix. www.fapii.com
x. Prep for the SAT - Peterson's

Keywords of Focus:

SAT prep
Online SAT Prep
Online ACT Prep
ACT Prep
SAT Critical Reading
SAT Math
SAT Essay
SAT Writing
ACT Reading
ACT English
ACT Science
ACT Math
College Admissions Tests
Online College Admissions Test Prep
One-on-One SAT Prep
On-on-One ACT prep

Target Market:

• Junior & senior high school students & their parents
• People (students & / or their parents) who realize that automated SAT or ACT test prep is inadequate for their particular needs (automated online test prep can work for students whose initial test scores are fairly high or for students who only need an extra 20 – 60 pts on their SAT’s or an extra 1 – 2 pts on their ACT’s)
• Individuals who have tried other services & have not been able to obtain the desired results
• Individuals who have tried group classes and who realize that they require individualized test prep
• Students who are vying for the nation’s top colleges
• Student athletes who need a certain minimum score to be admitted to the college of their choice
• So the ‘demographics’ are 17 – 18 or 19 yr old high school students (& or their parents)
• They can be located anywhere in the country.

[Admin]

WebBizIdeas Questions:

1. Why do you want to focus on your SAT & ACT prep instead of regular tutoring?
2. You listed many competitors, what parts of their website & services do you admire?
3. Why doesn't anyone offer " live one-on-one online SAT & ACT prep?"


WebBizIdeas Planning Goals:

1. School Referrals. Since you don't like telemarketing we need to create a plan that to accomplish this without having you call.
2. Google Webmaster Tools. Make sure this is set up properly.
3. Link Development Strategy.
4. Content Development Strategy.
5. Purchasing Cycle. We know Parents, Students, and Schools & Teachers are part of the cycle. Identifying each part of the cycle and order will be critical.

[AmTutoring.com]

WebBizIdeas Questions:

1. Why do you want to focus on your SAT & ACT prep instead of regular tutoring?

Why less focus on regular tutoring:
I) In Person Tutoring:[/b][/b] Over the past few years, in person ‘regular tutoring’ has become much more competitive because public as well as private school teachers now actively seek private tutoring as an additional source of income . (In the past, it was mainly private school teachers who sought out private / after school tutoring. But in the last 4 – 5 yrs public school teachers have gotten into the game). School teachers have a captive audience and they have taken up a significant share of the available market.

II) Online Tutoring: Many (if not most) of the online “regular” tutoring companies use tutors from 1/3 world countries. We simply can’t compete with them on price (how can you beat “unlimited tutoring for $55/mo” or “$10.00 - $15.00/hr tutoring”)?

Bottom line, I find the competition in the “regular tutoring” field overwhelming.

Why more focus on SAT/ACT Prep?
I) In Person Tutoring: To date, the competition from private & public school teachers has been manageable. Standardized tests are a unique sort of animal and the majority of math or English litt teachers haven’t designed SAT or ACT prep programs. For the most part, I’m only competing with the national & local test prep companies.

II) Online Tutoring: The field of one-on-one live online tutoring is still (relatively speaking) a “new frontier.” I was wrong in stating that we’re the only one’s in the field… I found out that Princeton Review (a publicly traded co) also offers live one-on-one online SAT / ACT test prep.

Moreover, competition from 1/3 world countries is not a factor we need to contend with.

III) State of the Economy: During lean economic times, people tend to cut back on “luxuries.” Regular private tutoring tends to be one of the casualties. On the other hand, a college education is more highly sought after (one benefit: it defers exposure to the lackluster mktplace)… Hence, good SAT / ACT scores are even more critical… (SAT / ACT prep is viewed as a bit more of a ‘necessity’ than regular tutoring).


2. You listed many competitors, what parts of their website & services do you admire?

Test Prep: GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, SAT, ACT, and More
 they offer “free practice tools,” “free practice test,” (great idea bcse parents & students will keep going back to the site to view the “free stuff” even if they don’t use their services)

 “SAT Reports” section: provides a review of previous yr’s SAT’s

 “Download a College Admissions Brochure” … love it!!

 They target international students… that’s a mkt I would love to go after…

Sylvan Learning | Tutors and Tutoring Services
 They have a video on their website to demo online tutoring… fab idea… Really want to do one…

 Free materials provided online (but user’s have to “register 1st”)

 They have an excellent FAQ for SAT’s & ACT’s

ULRN Tutoring Services
 I like the flash on their website

Test Masters Official Website - Testmasters
 Again, the free test prep resources they have are a good way of keeping people coming back…

ePrep: Online SAT and PSAT Preparation
 User friendly website
 They have a ‘blog’ (few SAT prep sites have that)
 Free 7 day trial… excellent idea (but, of course, they’re completely automated)
 Multitude of pages

Brightstorm - Online Courses for Students in Math, SAT, AP, and other subjects
 Automated online video program
 The picture quality of their video’s is amazing
 Size of their video screen is fabulous

www.kaptest.com
 they have a “my page” which provides free extra practice online + the ability to connect via msg board with other students going thru the college app’s process
 Free college admissions planner
 Why choose Kaplan tab

Huntington Learning Center :: Tutors, Tutoring in Math, Reading, Writing, SAT and ACT prep
 Nothing that special

FAPII - Online SAT Test Preparation
 Sample quiz q’s is a good idea

Prep for the SAT - Peterson's
 good video demo of their (automated) online course
 detailed explanation of their program
 A “Pay for School” tab… incl scholarship info & state & fed financial aid… excellent idea…


3. Why doesn't anyone offer "live one-on-one online SAT & ACT prep?"

 I was mistaken… in saying that we are the only one’s who offer live one-on-one online SAT / ACT test prep… Seems Princeton Review (a publicly traded co)… however, they’re the only one’s I’ve been able to find to date who offer ‘live one-on-one online’ SAT/ACT prep

 We’re the only co who offers live one-on-one SAT / ACT prep using the test maker’s own materials (this is the best way to prep for any standardized test… always use as much of the test maker’s own materials as possible)

 Our student’s complete and review over 28 real College Board tests (all other companies offer anywhere from 1 – 7 practice tests)

 Proprietary reading comp technique (developed this technique myself)


WebBizIdeas Planning Goals:

1. School Referrals. Since you don't like telemarketing we need to create a plan that to accomplish this without having you call.

Any idea you can come up with to help me avoid cold calling would be most appreciated. Of course I’ll do it, if there’s no other way… but, truly, I avoid it like the plaque…

2. Google Webmaster Tools. Make sure this is set up properly.

How can I make sure that the set up has been done right.

3. Link Development Strategy.
Plse elaborate.

4. Content Development Strategy.
Plse elaborate.

5. Purchasing Cycle. We know Parents, Students, and Schools & Teachers are part of the cycle. Identifying each part of the cycle and order will be critical.
Plse elaborate.

[AmTutoring.com]

Jeff, plse let me know how I can submit my website to the major & local search engines... really need to do this as quickly as possible...

[Admin]

To determine if you website is being indexed (or included) in the search engines is to have another website link to you. This website needs to be indexed in the search engines and the more link value (important/popular) the website has will determine (1) how fast (2) how it affects your own search engine rankings.

For example: If CNN.com links to a new website that website may be indexed within hours. But if JoeNobody.com links to you it may take weeks or months to get indexed, but have little or no affect on your search engine rankings. Think of search engine optimization as a big popularity contest; the more links (or popular) you are online the higher your search engine rankings will be.

Steps To Get Indexed (or listed) in Google, Yahoo, and MSN fast:

1. Check to see if you are already indexed
2. Submit to web directories, article directories, and social bookmarking sites.

Step 1: Type this into Google, Yahoo, and MSN:

site:amtutoring.com
site:A M Professional Tutoring Services Inc.

This will tell you how many pages are being indexed by that search engine. I tell clients to type both of them in because if the results are different you need to take further steps to correct it.

In AmTutoring case the results I find are:

Google: 6
Yahoo: 1
MSN: 1

Step 2:

Before I go in to step two let me ask you the question, do you know how & why your website is indexed in the search engines currently? Remember the only way your website gets indexed is (1) you submit your website to each search engine (2) or someone else links to you.

Do you know why?

[Admin]

Hi,

Homework Assignment #1: (a) Learn the difference between a regular link and a no follow link (b) be able to recognize a no follow link online.

How to Check If NO Follow or DO Follow?

1. View The Page Source, if the link the code rel=“nofollow” it means search engines can’t see it
2. Download SEO For Firefox (need to use firefox web browser) - every link highlighted in red means it is nofollow

Your first Quiz:

AMtutoring.com is linked on the following three pages. What pages have your link as a "no follow" and what pages have regular links?

1. Poam
2. Get Smart Directory
3. AM Professional Tutoring, Pompano Beach, FL : Reviews and maps - Yahoo! Local

Why this is important: Google #1 search algorithm is link value. I am going to be teaching you how to build quality links. You need to know what links are worth acquiring and what links are not.

Jeff

[AmTutoring.com]

Hi Jeff:

I've downloaded Googles tool bar, & am now able to view the specific links & can recognize the "red" (do not follow links) as opposed to the blue "follow links"...

I will also be adding some more pages to my website, incl "freebie" items (such as scholarship info, etc)... And would also like to add a 2 min video (showing how online tutoring works)

Beyond that, I've registered with Infousa.com (& they have confirmed that they will be adding my link to their site)... Have an idea about contacting various local news sources (local TV station websites & radio station websites... don't know if it will lead to anything... but will request that my link be added to their site...)... will let you know how that goes...

In the meantime, I had a mtg with Reach Local.com... I'm looking at the various options which exit for SEO (not sure if PPC is a viable option... but I am considering the possibility)...

Next project plse...

AM

[AmTutoring.com]

RE 1ST QUIZ

1) POAM – My link was highlighted in red… so I guess that’s a “do not follow link”

2) GET SMART DIRECTORY – My link was in blue… so that’s a “follow” link..

3) AM Professional Tutoring, Pompano Beach, FL: Reviews & Maps – Yahoo! Local – the link was in red… so it’s a do not follow link….

Plse let me know if I’m right on these….

Next assignment PLEASE…

Thanx so much,
AM

[Admin]

Hi,

Glad you picked up the NO-Follow links & regular linksfast, you are a fast learner. Since your website is already published, I want to skip ahead and make sure unique Page Titles are set up.

Homework Assignment #2:

I have created a basic word document that lists out each page of your website. Since each page of your website is different we need to create different page titles for each web page.

So your homework assignment is to (1) open the attached document called "SEO_Blueprint" and fill in a unique page title for each page. Don't worry about the rest for now, I just want you to fill in the page titles.

After that reply to this forum post, find the button called "manage attachments" and add that file to this forum so I can see what you wrote before we upload it to your site.

What is a Page Title: Is very important when optimizing a web page. Users see this title when searching in Google, Yahoo, and MSN. A page title should sum up the entire page as well as contain the keywords you are optimizing that specific page for. That mean this Page Title should correspond with the content on that web page.





So part of the reason why WholesaleKeychain.com is #1 for ford keychains is because it has a unique page title that describes exactly what that page is about.

How long should your page titles be? Google will display 70 characters (including spaces) in their search results. I try to always keep my page title at 70 characters or less because of this. If you have to go over that is ok, your page title will still appear but Google will not technically "see" anything past 70.

[AmTutoring.com]

Hi Jeff:

I can't find the word doc that you said you attached (SEO_Blueprint)... can you plse let me know how I can find this attachment in the forum... alternatively, you can email the attachment to my email address... Or did I misunderstand your forum note??

Thanx so much,
Anne-Marie