How to convert face to face training to online

Whether you deliver training in health, agriculture, wine, fashion or pretty much any industry at all… if you have been delivering face to face, at some stage you may want to scale.

Intuitively, I am sure we all know the best way to scale face to face delivery is to move online and sell 24/7/365, but how do you do it and where do you start?

This article presents a 10 step guide to scaling your F2F training business online… to make this more real, let’s step through a scenario:

Company A has been delivering training, workshops and consulting services for over ten years, and has a wealth of knowledge amongst the coaching team, hundreds of presentations and Word docs (somewhere on the ethernet!) and a website that’s starting to look dated.  Established and known as the leaders in Training X throughout Australia, it’s time to scale but the current model requires travel, accommodation, bookings and a whole array of staff overheads. The solution? Move the training online and scale globally. But how?

How to convert face to face training to online

1. Preparation  

Team  

The first question is do you have the right team to do this? You may decide to hire an elearning instructional designer, at bare minimum, or the skillset may exist internally. Either way, you need someone ready to use or launch a learning management platform and publish online learning, whether it will be 100% self-service or a blend of video training software and online resources.  

Content  

Bring all the existing documents into an orderly state, ready to be updated, edited and published for the online learning experience.  

Digital  

It’s probably time to upgrade your public-facing website, so consider whether you want to manually process payments or move these online, either building your own Ecommerce solution (eg Woocommerce on WordPress) or license a SAAS product like Shopify. Either way, if you don’t have one already (or it’s also getting dated), you’ll need to ensure your learning management software (the face of your online institute!) is up to the task. If your LMS has ecommerce built-in, then great! If not, look for integrations, which might mean your selections are listed on the Zapier platform or similar.  

Marketing  

Now, I’m sure you agree the idea of ‘build it and they will come’ just doesn’t work well – so, make sure you make all decisions working closely with the marketing team, starting with the target market and then designing for your audience.  

Testing  

Finally, there are sure to be things you miss along the way – we’re all human – so prepare for some testing. It might be about working with a client who trusts you and is happy to learn about some upcoming changes and/or someone in-house. Whatever it is, test, test, test! Better for you to feel the pain than wait for your end users to tell you in silence. On that note, prepare for iterative feedback cycles and update.  

2. Design MVP  

What is the minimum online or blended training offering you could go to market with, ideally so you can pivot easily based on feedback? Perhaps pick your most required product in your category – think compliance – and build around that. Once you’ve got your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) right, you can extend from there.   So, Step 2 is all about designing (1) Your website (2) Payments system (3) Elearning content and (4) Go to market strategy with (5) a testing process in place ready to improve through iteration.  

Here are some options you might consider:

Website

WordPress is a great and popular CMS (Content Management System) with many plugins available, but you could consider licensing a SAAS (Software as a Service) like Shopify, which has templates, plugins and Ecommerce as core to its offering

Payments  

Stripe Checkout can be a great way to accept credit card payments easily, so too Paypal; however, SAAS like Recurly can be a more in-depth way to manage recurring revenue, with analytics and easier tools for buyers to manage their account.

e-Learning

SCORM-builders like Articulate Storyline or EXElearning can be a quick way to build courses that are transferable from LMS to LMS. However, you may equally decide to use built-in course building software available on the LMS itself, as available at Coursebox.

Market  

Rather than ‘building it and they will come’, it’s always best practice to start with the end learner/buyer in mind – what is their age, expectations as to key learning outcomes? Write any assessments first – then teach to that.

Testing

Test, test, test! Find a friend or someone who is happy to be a free tester and make sure you involve them in a round or two of user acceptance testing.

3. Build MVP  

To test your market and product, we recommend building a small course on your chosen platform and roll this out to a small test market first. This can reduce your risk and make it easier to pivot your offering at the beginning.  

Your selection of Learning Management System is crucial. It should be flexible, agile and built for the modern age, with key features to watch out for including:

Social  

We’re all used to communicating easily, so why not while learning – people learn better together so make sure your LMS has community and micro communities (channels and groups) built-in, to avoid feelings of isolation.

Course builder

Select an LMS with easy to manage course building tools and cohort enrolments by channel.

Mobile Apps

With the ‘need it now’ generation in full swing, ensure your LMS is not just mobile friendly but has mobile apps for collaborative, on-demand learning.

Certificates and badges  

Everyone loves receiving these! Better yet, create pathways with mini credentials using prerequisite. Your first course: be sure to make your course not just accurate and crafted by subject matter experts (SMEs) but interactive and fun.

Here are some great tips for your first course, which you can use every time:  

1. Interactivity: Incorporate video (ideally face to camera where possible) where you can, especially in the welcome and summary activities. Try to vary pages and provide more than just text/image – for example, you might embed a Google slideshow, a series of videos, a gallery or even an interactive
2. SCORM module: SCORM stands for “Sharable Content Object Reference Model: https://scorm.com/scorm-explained/
3. Modularity: Chunk large courses into smaller modules and order using prerequisites. Break each module into sections, ideally in 5-7 parts:

• Introduction – explain the learning outcomes
• Section 1
• Activity page 1
• Assessment: you may include multiple choice quizzes or knowledge check points, with uploads for grading, if required
• Section 3
• Summary – note the learning outcomes received

    4. Live video : Just like face to face workshops, incorporating any live video training can be complicated as you’ll need calendar management. If you can keep your course 100% self-driven, go for it. However, if you believe it’s crucial, then incorporate calendar events with software like Zoom, Hangouts or even Facebook live.

     5. Certificates: Everyone loves completion certificates, so enable this feature where suitable – if you are authorised to provide CPD points or other accreditation, make sure your LMS has customisable designs.  

4. Marketing Prep  

Before launching, be sure to prepare your marketing plan. It’s a great idea to have a regular content and SEO (search engine optimisation) strategy:

Content

You will need to either hire or write regular posts on social media (Linkedin and Facebook are good places to start), not to mention on your website blog, and perhaps longer articles as ‘trip wires’ that can help build your reputation as an expert worth buying from. Don’t forget to add call to action buttons at the end of any such item.

SEO

Select key words that people search for that might make potential buyers read your content and (hopefully) convert!

Mail  

You can use something like Hubspot (Customer Relationship Manager) CRM or Mailchimp to send out emails to potential buyers – build up an audience with newsletters to get your content out.

5. User Acceptance Testing (UAT)  

Be sure to test your solution, end to end – from purchase, to invoicing and receipt emails through to LMS invitations and course completion certificates.  

6. MVP (Soft) Launch  

Before going hard on the market, start soft to iron out any bugs and user experience (UX) issues early.  

7. Test Funnel  

Use Funneltytics or something similar to design and plan your marketing funnel, execute on it and then review. Depending on your target market, it may also suit to build up a learning hub and community on your LMS and then retarget existing buyers and users within, too.  

8. Launch  

Once you’re satisfied all is working and your test users are happy, with your accounting system fully integrates- launch!

Tip: If your LMS is listed on Zapier, you can integrate easily with accounting software like Xero.  

9. Market  

Finally, it’s time to release to your market – be sure to implement a regular content strategy and use any advertising dollars carefully, regularly measuring return on investment (ROI).  

10. Analyse & Reiterate  

That’s it! You’re ready to scale your training business using your online learning community. Now, all should be in place, so roll out more Elearning modules and/or blended learning experiences and then focus on continually activating and engaging your growing learning community.

Understanding eLearning: How It Compares to Face-to-Face Training

As businesses transition from face-to-face training to online formats, understanding the distinctions and benefits of eLearning is crucial. Here's a detailed comparison to help contextualize the shift:

• Accessibility and Flexibility: Unlike traditional training that requires physical presence, eLearning offers the flexibility to learn from anywhere at any time. This accessibility is particularly beneficial for learners in different time zones or those with demanding schedules.
• Cost-Effectiveness: eLearning significantly reduces costs associated with travel, venue hire, and printed materials. While the initial setup for online courses may require investment, the overall long-term expenses are generally lower.
• Scalability: Online training platforms enable easy scaling of training efforts. Once a course is developed, it can be delivered to an unlimited number of participants without additional costs.
• Consistency: eLearning ensures that every participant receives the same training content, delivering a consistent educational experience across the board. This is often a challenge in face-to-face settings where the trainer's style and interaction might vary.
• Tracking and Reporting: Digital training solutions come with analytics and reporting capabilities that allow trainers to track progress, engagement, and completion rates. This data is invaluable for refining courses and proving compliance.
• Interactive and Engaging Learning: Modern eLearning tools incorporate multimedia elements like videos, interactive simulations, and gamification, which can lead to higher engagement and retention rates compared to traditional lecture-based training.
• Personalization: AI-driven platforms can tailor the learning experience to individual needs, adjusting the difficulty level or suggesting resources based on the learner's performance.

While eLearning offers numerous advantages, it's essential to consider potential challenges such as the need for self-motivation among learners and the requirement for basic digital literacy skills. However, with careful planning and the right tools, the transition can lead to a more efficient and effective training program.

FAQs: Transitioning to Online Training

What are the first steps in converting face-to-face training to an online format?

‍Start by assessing your current resources, identifying your most popular or essential training modules, and organizing existing content. Then, decide on an eLearning platform that suits your needs, and begin the process of digitizing and structuring your content for online delivery.

How do I ensure that my online training is as effective as face-to-face sessions?

‍Incorporate diverse multimedia elements to keep the content engaging. Use interactive tools like quizzes and simulations to enhance learning. Regularly collect feedback to iterate and improve the courses.

Can I still interact with participants in an online environment?

‍Absolutely. Most eLearning platforms support live video sessions, forums, and chat functionalities that enable real-time interaction. Consider scheduling regular live Q&A sessions or discussions to enhance learner engagement.

What technical considerations should I keep in mind when moving online?

‍Ensure your eLearning platform is user-friendly and accessible on various devices. Pay attention to data security, especially if handling sensitive information. Regularly update and test your platform to handle increased traffic and data loads.

How do I measure the success of my online training programs?

‍Leverage the analytics tools provided by your eLearning platform to track engagement, completion rates, and performance on assessments. Surveys and feedback forms can also provide qualitative data on learner satisfaction and areas for improvement.

By addressing these common questions and concerns, organizations can navigate the complexities of transitioning to an online training model more confidently and effectively.

Streamlining Online Course Creation with Coursebox

The transition to online training is not just a strategic move; it's a transformative process that can redefine how education is delivered within your organization. One of the primary challenges in this transition is converting existing training materials—like documents, presentations, and videos—into engaging, interactive online courses. This is where Coursebox comes into play, simplifying and streamlining the course creation process.

Coursebox is a powerful AI-driven platform designed to facilitate quick and easy conversion of traditional training content into online courses. With its intuitive design tools and robust content management system, Coursebox allows organizations to:

• Automate Content Conversion: Upload your existing training documents and let Coursebox's AI technology convert them into structured online modules. This includes transforming text-heavy documents into more digestible, interactive content formats such as quizzes, slideshows, and video tutorials.
• Enhance Engagement: Incorporate multimedia elements effortlessly. Whether it’s embedding videos, creating interactive diagrams, or integrating real-time assessments, Coursebox provides the tools to make your courses engaging and effective.
• Customize Learning Paths: Tailor courses to meet the specific needs of different learner groups within your organization. With Coursebox, you can create varied learning paths, allowing for a more personalized learning experience that adapts to the pace and style of each learner.
• Track and Analyze: Utilize Coursebox’s analytics dashboard to monitor learner progress and engagement. Insights gathered can help refine course content, making adjustments to improve learning outcomes and ensure that your training objectives are met.
• Scalability and Accessibility: As your training needs grow, Coursebox scales with you. It supports unlimited course creation and offers cloud-based access, ensuring that your training is accessible anytime and anywhere, across all devices.

‍