Not Your Grandma’s LMS:
How to Build a User Experience that Impacts Your Bottom Line

Many companies choose to streamline their training with an online Learning Management System (LMS). Once you’ve chosen or built your LMS, what are the best practices to stand out from the crowd? 

If you’re sharing content externally, having a good product training experience may be the factor that causes a potential buyer to stock your product over a competitor’s. Even if you’re just using your content internally, having a well-set-up LMS may be the difference between satisfied employees and high turnover rates.

Here’s what not to do: 

• Set it and forget it: Old, outdated content signals that training isn’t a priority. 

• Put everything in the same category: Lack of organization is stressful for learners and hinders them from finding necessary courses. 

• Use too many platforms: Using different platforms with no integrations can not only confuse learners, but add countless hours for administrators. 

• Make boring courses: Courses that are long, irrelevant to the learner, or include no interactions will be quick to turn learners away. 

• Forget about mobile learners: Inflexible platforms create friction for remote workers and partners who rely on mobile access. 

• Skip out on reporting: Without any insight into learner engagement, it’s difficult to know what needs improvement or where opportunities are. 

What can you do instead? 

• Release and update content on a regular cadence: Refreshing content regularly leads to higher completion rates and stronger engagement. 

• Organize content and learners: Use a platform that allows you to sort your content into specific categories and your learners into groups. 

• Streamline platforms: Integrate your LMS with HR, CRM, and identity management systems to reduce friction, improve reporting, and streamline administration. 

• Make short, interesting courses: Courses should be 5-15 minutes long, relevant, and include interactions to keep learners engaged. 

• Integrate mobile compatibility: Learners can take training on their terms, wherever and whenever they want. 

• Take advantage of reporting capabilities: Tracking learner performance allows for valuable insights on engagement and comprehension. 

With online training, what you put in is what you’ll get out. If you implement these tips, you’ll be well on your way to having an LMS that’ll knock your grandma’s socks off.