5 eLearning Costs That May Put At Risk Your eLearning Budget

5 eLearning Costs That May Put At Risk Your eLearning Budget
Summary: Want to know how you can stay within your eLearning budget and get the most out of every resource? In this article, I’ll highlight the 5 most common eLearning costs that can put your eLearning budget in jeopardy, so that you can know how to tackle them when they show up on your expense sheet.

5 Most Common eLearning Budget-Brakers

Let’s be honest, life is full of unexpected expenses. It seems as though the best laid plans tend to go by the wayside, even if you create a solid eLearning budget that is completely realistic. But what if you could get a glimpse into the future and know about those unforeseen eLearning expenses in advance? What if you could actually plan for them before they suddenly pop up? Below you’ll discover 5 eLearning budget-breakers that you may want to keep on your radar, so that they don’t end up catching you off-guard. Being aware of them, in some cases, may even help you to avoid them altogether.

  1. Using new eLearning software that are difficult to master.
    This is one of the primary reasons why it is so essential to find a Learning Management System and an eLearning authoring tool that offer the features you want without sacrificing the functionality you need. If you opt for an eLearning tool that is packed with all the proverbial bells and whistles, including some that you probably won’t even use, then you have to be sure that your eLearning team’s skills and talents are up for the challenge. Otherwise, you may have to devote countless hours and monetary resources to overcoming the steep learning curve. Ideally, you should select eLearning tools that are easy to use, but still offer the creative control your eLearning team needs to create amazing, interactive eLearning courses. Keep in mind that even if the vendor is offering on-site training for the eLearning software as part of the package, you will still have to dedicate part of your eLearning budget to training hours for your eLearning team. It may also set you back in regards to your eLearning development timeline, which can have a domino effect that leads to missed completion dates.
  2. Numerous revision rounds.
    At one point or another, every eLearning professional has dealt with revisions that were more complicated than originally expected. Maybe your client doesn’t like the color scheme or wants more interactivity. Whatever the case may be, numerous revision rounds or revisions that require a significant amount of time can be costly. They can also push you past your deadline, which may put your next eLearning project at risk of being late. It’s a vicious cycle! For this very reason, it’s always a good idea to iron out any issues and clarify expectations in advance. Even before you start the eLearning project you should sit down with your client or audience to figure out what they are looking for and create a list of must-haves for the eLearning course. This can help to avoid, or at least minimize, revision rounds later on.
  3. Creating an abundance of sample eLearning courses.
    Though it’s always wise to create at least one or two samples of the eLearning course in order to cut down on revision rounds at the end of the eLearning project, you should not go overboard. Though samples may not require a great deal of time or money, they add up over time, especially if you choose to create a variety of different examples for your client. Try to limit it to under three samples to show at your next meeting to keep costs down. Make certain that each of the examples center on a different idea or show off your diverse talents. For example, the first sample might have a more modern feel while the second boasts a more colorful, creative design. If your client is not onboard for any of them, then you can go back to the drawing board and create new examples. However, this time around you are better equipped, thanks to the fact that you know what they are looking for and how you can address their needs.
  4. Unexpected eLearning course localizations.
    Localizing your eLearning course for international audiences can be quite expensive, especially if translations or subtitling is involved. However, if you keep eLearning localization in mind right from the start you can greatly reduce the amount you will have to spend further down the road. Unexpected eLearning course localizations are of the common budget-breakers that can be avoided by planning ahead and creating online content that is easy to update or modify. For example, if you avoid images that have location or cultural-specific content and develop a detailed storyboard and script for your eLearning course now, localizing your online course in the future can be quick and cost-efficient.
  5. Unnecessary eLearning software features and services.
    eLearning professionals are always on the lookout for new eLearning tools that can help them create meaningful eLearning courses. However, we generally tend to stick with eLearning tools that work best for our needs, especially ones that we’ve taken the time to master. The issue that arises from this is that we may be paying for features and services that we don’t actually need, or even use. For example, some LMS solutions will charge extra for phone support, but we may be able to get away with just email or FAQ help options. Thus, it’s wise to make sure that you are paying for what you actually need, rather than footing the bill for a variety of extras that are putting you over budget.

Keep in mind that these are just a handful of the budget-breakers that eLearning professionals should be aware of. It’s important to not just create a realistic eLearning budget in the beginning, but to keep a close eye on your tally sheet throughout the eLearning design and development process, so that you can stretch every dollar and avoid hidden costs.

Now that you know about the eLearning budget pitfalls, take a moment to read the article Tips To Create eLearning Courses On Budget to discover 8 top tips that can help you create an effective budget for your eLearning course.