Hi everyone-we launched an e-learning curriculum 3 years ago. Participation has significantly waned in the last year, and we need to re-energize our workforce around the application. We are primarily a sales organization, but have found that we have very limited participation from that group, primarily because of the way they are compensated-time is literally money for them. We have therefore learned that we get the most bang for our buck from more universally applicable non-sales soft skills (time management, presentation skills, etc.) and desktop skills (word, excel, ppt, etc.) so those make up the bulk of our course library right now. We want to continue to try to engage the field, but also target corporate support staff, who have been relatively underserved in the past. Does anyone have suggestions on how to re-brand/re-market/re-energize this initiative to an audience that has (somewhat negative) preconceptions about it?

Thanks!

Hi, you might want to have a look at the free report on this page 7 Ways to Market E-learning http://www.kineo.co.uk/kineo-reports.html. Some useful tips which might help.

Good luck.

What exactly are you trying to market? One specific course or an entire library? What are the subjects?

You can easily market/promote your e-learning to increase participation. The biggest thing here is to answer the question: "What's in it for me?" Your audience will want to know why they should take time away from their busy day to complete your e-learning courses. Do you have any incentives? Sometimes incentives help motivate employees.

For example, in my organization employees receive credit for completing our e-learning programs, which will help them with their career path.

As for promotional methods, I have found that communication from the Top Down really helps. If you get buy-in from senior management and they communicate the importance of the e-learning, then it will really help encourage the employees to complete the training.

Also, web banners on your intranet page is a way to create awareness.

Feel free to ask me any other questions you may have.

Thanks!
Jason

Here is an article on how to apply traditional marketing techniques to e-learning.

http://www.sslearn.com/articles/marketing.html

Sheldon

Why would you expect something developed 3 years ago to still be needed, useful, wanted, appropriate for the needs of today? I would begin with analyzing the gaps and the learning needs realized within those gaps, instead of trying to make something 3 years old match something. If you're fortunate, you will find a use for the old program. But let this serve as an example of lessons learned -- before anybody creates a-sync e-learning, one should remember that its shelf life is generally not very long. Those who have been there learned this many moons ago, but, as with most things, usually people need to experience it first before it sinks in.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Fanatic Facilitator,