There is a lot that goes into creating an online training program. In some cases, it can take a year or more.

Many decisions have to be made during the course creation process. Including determining a learning management system, the software that will be used to create the course content, who is supplying/creating the course content (usually more relevant for larger projects), review cycles, beta testing, and so on.

It goes without saying that course creation can be quite complex.

I have been part of teams where we had to answer these questions, and today I often speak to current LearnDash customers about the creation of their own courses.

When it comes to creating an elearning course, I often share the best advice that I received early in my career: know the audience.

This seems pretty self explanatory, but surprisingly people don’t really understand who the audience is for their course.

If you’re selling a course, then this is quite unfortunate because the chances of making a sale are drastically decreased if you don’t know your potential customers and how to speak to them in a way that forms a connection.

Before starting any elearning project it is a good idea to profile the learners (be it for free or paid courses).

• What is their average age?
• Are they male, female, or equal mix?
• What is their educational background?
• How much work experience do they have?

You will find that the way you answer these questions will often influence other aspects of your course, including visuals, language, and assumptions.

It’s a simple step, but if you really understand who is going to be taking your courses then you are able to create custom learning experiences. People will appreciate that they can relate to the content, and they will be more likely to retain the information they just learned.