5 Steps To Help You Launch An Online Training Center In Less Than A Month
Recognizing the need for a fresh and agile process, my team decided to create an easy-to-follow, 5-step guide for planning and launching an online training center. The framework is designed for seasoned trainers, and beginners alike, and will allow your team to launch a program in 30 days or less.
We recommend that you get started with Step 1 and follow The Beginner's Guide to Creating an Online Training Program steps in the order they appear below.
Step 1: Define
Laying the foundation of your training program is step 1. You’ll define learner personas, business goals, your engagement strategy, and most importantly, success. Constructing detailed learner personas will help you create more effective and engaging training material and help keep your program on track. Defining your business or department goals will guide you towards a general strategy. Once goals are established, you’ll need to make some decisions on how best to engage your audience. What type of content will you deliver and how? Determining how to measure the success of your online training center is key in step 1. Defining success upfront will keep your program on track and ensure you’re meeting the needs of learners.
Learn more: The Beginner's Guide to Creating an Online Training Program: Step 1 - Define
Step 2: Outline
Here’s where you’ll need to tap into your creativity. With your personas, goals, and success metrics in hand, it’s time to outline your first course. Craft a detailed topical outline, then create a storyboard to map it all out. Writing your content is the final task in step 2. Remember, all content should be laser-focused on your personas.
Learn more: The Beginner's Guide to Creating an Online Training Program: Step 2 - Outline
Step 3: Build
Now, it’s time to produce. Our team has recently developed a course titled, Mastering the Art of Training Content Creation. In it, you’ll learn practical tips and strategies for all aspects of content building, from design to video production. The course will equip you with all the tools you’ll need to create top-notch training content.
Learn more: The Beginner's Guide to Creating an Online Training Program: Step 3 - Build (Interactive Course)
Step 4: Engage
At this point, you’ve defined, outlined, and built a solid online course, way to go. Now, you’ll need to make sure the audience is actually engaging with it. An engaged learner is one who completes the program training, retains the information, and becomes more productive as a result. Ensure your content is exciting, format/medium diverse, easy-to-follow, and offers a range of assessments.
When it comes to marketing the course, establish your value proposition and include proof of your successes. Incentives like certifications, bonuses, perks, or recognition are a great way to increase enrollment and engagement. For course distribution channels consider email, social, press releases, advertising, and using influencers to help promote. Most importantly, you should ensure the process for learners to access the content is as frictionless as possible.
And when it comes to keeping your current learners engaged, consider sending automated email reminders. Additionally, you’ll want to facilitate conversations, create a community, and develop a healthy feedback loop between your team and your learners.
Learn more: The Beginner's Guide to Creating an Online Training Program: Step 4 - Engage
Step 5: Measure
Throughout our on-demand training framework, we’ve stressed the importance of metrics. Measuring the results of your training program with data is key. Without actionable data, you’ll never have the opportunity to optimize and scale your online training center.
Consider these common success metrics:
- How many learners completed the course?
- How far did each learner progress in a course?
- What was the average score on assessments?
- How many posts did each learner make discussion forums?
- Was learners’ feedback on the content positive?
- What areas in the course did learners feel can be improved?
- Were workplace behaviors impacted by the training?
- Were business metrics impacted by the training?
- Did learners interact with the content in a meaningful way?
- Were the learning objectives achieved upon completion of the course?
- Did learners find the course to be engaging?
Learn more: The Beginner's Guide to Creating an Online Training Program: Step 5 - Measure
I hope this overview of SchoolKeep’s Beginner's Guide to Creating an Online Training Program is valuable to you. For a more comprehensive exploration of the Framework, I strongly recommend downloading each step individually and immersing yourself in it by clicking the "Learn more" links throughout the article.
The Framework charts a clear path to getting your online training center off the ground quickly. Please, let us know what you think of the Framework on Twitter @SchoolKeep.