Skillshare Help Center

Establish Your Teacher Brand & Grow Your Following

Beyond consistently creating classes, growing your audience means showing up and establishing who you are: being clear about what you teach, sharing who you are as a teacher, and actively engaging with the Skillshare community so students recognize your voice and want to keep learning from you. After all, the goal isn’t just to get students into a single class -  the goal is to keep them curious and coming back for your whole catalog.

In this article:

Define Your Vision

To help you think about your long-term vision for teaching, consider the following questions:

  1. Why are you equipped to teach this topic? Showcasing your credentials, experience, and your ‘why’ for teaching establishes trust with potential students and makes them want to learn from you.
  2. What's your unique angle? Don't just teach "watercolor"; teach "watercolor for magic & whimsey" or "loose, expressive watercolor in 15 minutes." Specificity is your strength.
  3. Define your ideal student. Who are you teaching? Beginners? Professionals pivoting careers? Hobbyist? A blend? The more specific, the easier it becomes to create content that speaks directly to them.
  4. How do you want students to feel when taking your classes? What are a few words you want your audience to associate with your classes?
  5. What outcome do you promise? Students take classes to achieve something. Will they finish a portfolio piece? Learn a technique? Complete low-pressure projects? State this clearly.

Take some time to write 2-3 sentences based on the prompts above. These notes may provide a helpful frame for thinking about future classes and ways to grow your following on Skillshare. Consider how you’ll incorporate these notes into your teacher brand: how you describe your work as a teacher in your bio and elsewhere, in addition to how you market your classes.

 

Optimize Your Profile

Your profile is your first impression and what prospective students will see when they click on your name. Complete these fields so students know exactly what they’re getting when they land on your page:

  • Teacher Bio: 2-3 sentences explaining what you teach and why. Make it personal and leverage the prompts we shared above: what makes you qualified to teach this topic, and what can students expect?.
  • Profile Photo: Clear, friendly headshot. This builds trust.
  • Categories and Skills: List the specific skills students will gain. These help SEO surface your classes.
  • Highlight popular classes: Think of how other platforms showcase their best stuff first, then rabbit hole you. Surface classes that students should start with and/or you think best establish your credibility as a Teacher.

Looking for some inspiration? Check out Build Your Brand Through Your Teacher Profile.

 

Build a Catalog, Not Just One Class

Each new class brings returning students back to your profile, where they discover your existing classes. Students who take one are exponentially more likely to take your next one.

Publish sustainably: One class every 3-6 months. This gives each class time to gain traction while giving you space to improve.

Bridge your classes: In each class, reference your other offerings so students know what's next.

Think beyond a single launch. Having more than one class on your profile helps establish your credibility with new prospective students who land on your profile (and gives returning students something new to come back for).  New classes give you more opportunities to surface in search while also creating another reason for students to share your work with others.

 Ensure your Classes are Primed for Discovery

  • Class Title: Use keywords students search for. "Loose Watercolor Florals” beats "Watercolor Painting."
  • Class Description: Lead with benefits. "You'll paint five finished florals and learn to work fast and loose."
  • Filters & Searchable Attributes: Use all available tags with specific software and materials. 

Unsure where to start with SEO? Check out Optimizing for SEO.

 

Grow Your Following: Introduce Yourself & Keep Students Engaged

Consistent engagement builds the following that sustains your growth. Any student on Skillshare can follow you by visiting your teacher profile and clicking the Follow button. Your following is your built-in audience for new classes. Every time you publish a new class, your followers will be notified automatically.

*Note: You need to have at least 50 followers before you can begin earning from your minutes watches on the platform. 

Engagement Actions

There are many ways you can engage on Skillshare! Both with your existing students and the platform at large. Use the ideas below to continue to grow your following and meet new people! And don’t forget, there are a million unique ways to engage with your creative community, don’t shy away from thinking outside the box!

Invite Students to Follow You 

  • Encourage students to follow you in the class intro or outro to stay updated on new classes, resources, and contests. Keep the mention brief to avoid sounding too promotional. 

Stay Active in the Classroom 

  • Post your own Project in the Project Gallery. This is a nice way to break the ice and make the space look lively.
  • Encourage students who participate in the classroom: respond to their comments in a constructive and positive way, like and comment on their projects, and ask for feedback via reviews.

Engage in the Creative Feed (daily)

  • Like and comment on student work: Leave specific, thoughtful feedback
  • Post your own work-in-progress to show you're still learning
  • Follow fellow teachers and students who are teaching and learning in your discipline.
  • Highlight in-person or virtual events you’re hosting or participating in
  • Tease new classes or content coming out

Take a class! 

  • Watching a class, uploading a project, and getting familiar with Skillshare as a student is a great way to naturally ingrain yourself in the ecosystem and get people to start recognizing your name and style

Post General Discussions (monthly)

  • Announce new classes and ask what they want to learn next
  • Share student wins: When a student completes a project, create a discussion celebrating them. Feature their work. This motivates students and shows others what's possible.
  • Share your creative process and breakthroughs
  • Request feedback: "What skills feel stuck for you?"
  • Offer exclusive perks: early access, free resources, giveaways


💡Discussions average a 45% email open rate. When you post an update, nearly half your followers actually see it. To learn more about using this feature, refer to the section "Using General Discussion with your Followers" in the article Facilitate Discussions.

And if the thought of starting a discussion from scratch makes you a little nervous, take inspiration from fellow teachers who are already sparking conversation:

kowalski-hc.png

A general discussion from Top Teacher Krzysztof Kowalski, where he shares an incoming new class with his followers.

rose-nene-hc.png

A general discussion from Top Teacher Rose Nene, where she shares a new class, and the story behind it, with her followers.

 

Promote Your Class! 

Marketing your class involves making it visible and motivating people to enroll, treating it as an ongoing conversation focused on reaching your specific audience, and making the promotion feel like storytelling. Success relies on planning ahead, setting simple goals like getting project uploads or thoughtful reviews, and consistently promoting the class on platforms you already use. It is crucial to make your class discoverable by editing the dedicated class page and using your referral link for promotion. The most effective content feels fresh and authentic, often repurposing existing class clips, sharing behind-the-scenes moments, or making posts interactive to boost engagement.

Go Further

Building sustainably on Skillshare isn't about launching a new class every week; it's about showing up consistently and making students feel like you're creating for them. When they feel seen, they take your classes, comment, and come back for the next one.



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