School’s Out, Learning’s In

School kids in many parts of the world are cleaning out their desks, packing up their books, and squeezing in just one more end-of-year event. But class is still in session in the consumer learning world! And it’s looking like that won’t change any time soon.

In fact, there's never been a better time to launch an online learning business and here’s why:

• Technology innovations make it a snap to build and launch an online school
• Thanks to cloud-based learning platforms the cost of delivering quality e-learning is lower than it’s ever been.
• Turnkey solutions make in-house content creation easier and faster for small businesses and large brands, alike.

Sure, collective wisdom might tell you summer isn’t the best time to launch your online program. But from where we sit this can be the perfect season to kick start an e-course program for a number of reasons.

Make Hay While the Sun Shines

As the lazy days roll in there’s often a downshift in productivity — think shorter workweeks, reduced hours, and annual staff vacations. Plus, your competitors may be busy tying up loose ends on current projects and putting the breaks on any new initiatives. Why not take advantage of this to test the water with your own pilot e-course? You could invite your best fans and customers to your beta offering and experiment with the three main business models in online learning. Then, scale from there, once you’ve fine-tuned your content, delivery method and marketing channels.

Jump In, the Water’s Fine

Big-name universities, community colleges, and industry-specific organizations make a splash in the summer with special programs — everything from two-day weekend intensives to weeklong crash courses to ongoing seminars. Why? Because as summer gears up, people often feel a new sense of energy. Parents, for starters, may have more time to dive into online learning once the daily grind of lunch-prep, carpooling, and after-school activities eases up. 

What’s more, for the more ambitious folks out there, June signals the halfway mark for New Year’s commitments made back in the wintry days of January. Smart businesses can tap into this renewed energy and focus.

So as the temperature heats up look for ways to offer consumers micro-bursts of e-learning. For example, could you create a mini-course or offer a sneak peek at a new online program? Or perhaps a scaled-down version of one of your signature programs for folks who want to sample your online school?

Want more information about the online learning market juggernaut and ideas for how your company can get on board? Download our free e-book to find out how you can Turn Learning Into Profit.