How Online Tutors Get Found in an AI World (Without Feeling Like You’re Screaming into the Void)

TL;DR: How Tutors Get Found by AI Tools Like ChatGPT

If you're an online tutor wondering how to get recommended by tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Perplexity, here's what matters most:

• Answer specific questions your students (or their parents) are asking online

• Build a website that helps, not just promotes

• Keep an updated, real-sounding LinkedIn profile with recommendations and content

• Create content consistently—even one blog post can get picked up by AI

• Focus on trust signals like testimonials, helpful blog posts, and being cited by credible sources

AI doesn’t just find content. It quotes what it sees as helpful and trustworthy. You want to be that tutor.

A couple of years ago, a tutor in my Insider Secrets Club named Ana Martin asked a question that stopped me in my tracks:

"How do I get found and recommended by AI tools like ChatGPT?"

Back then, hardly anyone was talking about this. But Ana’s question hit on something big. The way people search for help online is changing fast—and if you're an online tutor, it matters.

If you've ever asked:

❓How can I get tutoring clients online without relying on companies?
❓Is there a way to get discovered by parents who are searching using AI tools?
❓What makes AI recommend one tutor over another?

…then this post is for you.

The Shift: Search Isn’t What It Used to Be

Remember when “getting on page one of Google” felt like the holy grail? Back then, SEO (search engine optimization) was all about ranking high so people would click your site.

But now?

People are skipping the scroll altogether and heading straight to tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity. These tools don’t just show a list of websites. They summarize answers—and they pull that info from the content they see as trustworthy.

That changes the game. Completely.

It’s no longer about getting someone to click—it’s about being quoted. You want AI tools to treat your content like a source. That means your content, your website and your LinkedIn need to signal that you’re an authority in your niche.

"Today, being quotable matters more than being clickable. Your content doesn’t just need to exist—it needs to answer the question better than anyone else.”

  

You want AI tools to treat your content like a reliable source—just like MIT Technology Review points out in their breakdown of how AI is reshaping search. These tools are trained to summarize content, not just index it. So if you’re not showing up in what they pull, you’re missing the opportunity entirely.

Why This Matters (Especially for Tutors)

Tutors, especially those coming out of the school system, have dealt with enough nonsense. Low pay, middlemen taking huge cuts, companies charging $100+ per session while paying tutors $25.

That’s why so many of us went independent. We wanted to to finally take control.

But here's the thing: 

❓If a parent types “best online reading tutor” into ChatGPT, will your name come up?

If you’re invisible online, you’re still letting others control your business. It is just happening in a different way.

My Approach: Build Trust First (Tech Comes Second)

My take on this isn’t just “learn the algorithm.” That’s not my style.

What works, especially now, is building trust. For the humans reading your stuff and the AI models pulling it into answers.

This aligns closely with Google’s E-E-A-T framework, which outlines how experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness all impact how content is evaluated and yes, AI tools are watching those same signals.

Here’s where to start:

• A strong LinkedIn profile that reads like your real resume and is filled out to 100%.

• Recommendations from people who know your work.

• Thoughtful posts that show what you know and not just “hire me!” flyers.

• A website that isn’t just a digital business card but a place where real questions are answered in real language.

  ❓How do I build trust online so AI tools see me as the expert?

This isn’t about gaming a system. It’s about showing up consistently, sharing your expertise, and building a body of content that works for you.

Why I’m So Passionate About This

I’ve been helping tutors build sustainable online businesses since 2012. In the early days, I focused on setting up systems and automating what we could so you could work smarter, not harder.

But I quickly saw that systems mean nothing if you’re not getting students.

So I hired an SEO expert. Paid $2,000. And I got...

nothing.

Not a single new client.

That was the turning point for me.

I realized I wasn’t targeting the right keywords. I was doing what I thought would work, not what actually worked. So I rolled up my sleeves, learned everything I could about SEO, and promised myself I’d teach tutors what I wish I had known.

And now? AI is the next evolution of that journey. 

❓What’s the difference between SEO and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?
SEO helps people click. GEO helps AI pick you as the answer.

Real Story: Demetra Bryant, Showing Up Everywhere

Let me give you a real-life example. Demetra Bryant, one of our members, told me recently that 12 families reached out to her in one month.

Here’s where they came from:

• Facebook group blogs

• Google search

• Vendor event

• Podcast

• Camping trip (yes, really!)

• And even ChatGPT—a parent typed in a prompt, and Demetra was the only tutor it pulled up.

Why? Because she’s showing up consistently in all the right places. She’s built her online presence to work when she’s not. (Like literally... she was getting inquiries while lying in bed in her camper.)

Common Myths About AI and Tutoring

Let’s clear up a few things:

❓Will ChatGPT or AI replace tutors?

Nope. People still want people. Tools might support learning, but they don’t replace connection, clarity, or coaching.

❓Do I need to be a tech expert to get found by AI?

Also no. You just need a willingness to try simple tools that amplify your voice.

3 Things You Can Do Right Now to Get Found by AI

1. Create a Website with a Blog

This is your online home base. Not just a digital flyer, but a place where you answer real questions your ideal students (and their parents) are asking.

Each blog post gives AI a reason to find you and quote you.

❓What kinds of blog posts does AI pull from?
Posts with specific questions, short paragraphs, and helpful, conversational tone.

Don’t want to do it all from scratch? I’ve partnered with Full Scope Freelancer to offer tutors an easy setup for a professional website. If you'd rather have someone do it for you, fill out this form and we’ll take care of it.

2. Fix Up Your LinkedIn

Think of LinkedIn as your professional “shop window.” Fill out your experience, add recommendations, and post content that helps—not just sells.

And yes, connect it to your website. That little detail sends big signals to AI that you’re legit.

3. Write Content That Answers Real Questions

Like Frankie Mesmer did. Her video, “How Do I Think in English?” exploded on YouTube—23,000 views and 1,600 new subscribers.

That’s what happens when you answer specific, high-interest questions that real people are typing into search or asking AI.

🎥 Watch it here: https://youtu.be/4mhanyHHOm8?si=YQON2CrKCp_4T2pu

Bonus Tips

• Use clear headings (H1, H2, H3) in your posts.

• Keep your paragraphs short—AI loves that.

• Cite trustworthy sources when you can (that boosts your credibility big time).

• Prioritize value over volume. One solid post beats five fluffy ones.

Proof It Works

Need a little extra reassurance?

• Kristi Wolch now feels confident managing her SEO and copy because of our work together.

• Jan Schulte went from a local-only practice to a fully booked nationwide business.

• Melissa Fox said she found the confidence to grow in ways she “hadn’t imagined.”

These aren’t unicorn stories. These are tutors just like you who took the time to show up online the right way.

Don’t Wait to Get Found

You don’t need to be everywhere. But the more places you show up, the more AI will see you as an expert. 

Want a guide for all this? That’s what the Insider Secrets Club 3.0 is for. We’re not guessing. We’re learning, implementing, and winning together.

And starting July 10th, 2025 we will be focusing on GEO, Generative Engine Optimization to take our online presence to the next level.

Come join us.
Let’s make sure you’re the tutor that AI tools recommend and that parents and students find.

No more shouting into the void. You’ve got this.
And I’ve got your back.