Looking to jumpstart your next venture and sell courses online? Researching and choosing the right eCommerce learning management system (LMS) is key to a successful start. But you might be wondering—what is an eCommerce LMS? In this blog, we’ll delve into what an eCommerce LMS is, the steps your business can take to prep for implementation, how to choose the best LMS for eCommerce, red flags to avoid while shopping for an eCommerce-enabled LMS, and a 7-point checklist that will help you make an informed decision. Let’s begin with the basics.
What is an eCommerce LMS?
An eCommerce LMS, or learning management system, is a software platform that enables entrepreneurs, online educators, and digital businesses to sell courses and eLearning programs.It provides the necessary digital infrastructure for course creation, management, and delivery along with secure payment processing.
Choosing the right eCommerce-enabled LMS for your needs is a crucial business choice because it is one of the foundational tech components of your company.
3 Steps to prepare for your eCommerce implementation
Regardless of your eCommerce LMS needs, value lies in thorough preparation before implementing your course selling platform. By following a structured approach, businesses can reap the benefits of the platform earlier, roll out the system to users faster, and ultimately—begin to drive profit through online course sales. To ensure a successful and seamless execution, below are three of the fundamental steps you can take to prepare for your implementation.
1. Define your learning objectives
First, identify the desired outcomes and business goals for your online course. Learning objectives give a clear roadmap for what needs to be covered in your course. These objectives should be measurable and achievable so you can track progress and measure the success of your training. Plus, having distinct learning objectives will enhance the user experience for your students and help you create a successful eCommerce business.
2. Understand your course selling needs
Second, to successfully sell your courses online, understanding your course selling needs is key. Start by identifying your target audience and understanding their preferences and learning styles. Along with this research, analyze the market demand to finalize your unique selling proposition. Finally, define your business model for selling your courses, whether it's through a single course or an extensive learning program.
3. Assess your technical capabilities
Third, evaluate your technical capabilities by assessing your existing eCommerce LMS or begin shopping for one. Choose a platform that offers the right combination of LMS features and functionalities to sell your courses online. For example, consider factors such as your product type, course offering, and any unique customization features your LMS might need. On top of this, look for a software platform that’s compatible with your existing systems for easy LMS eCommerce integration.
How to choose the best LMS for eCommerce
One of our top recommendations to find the best LMS for eCommerce and your specific needs is to invest time in your search. Although there are countless factors to consider in your buying journey, a few of the top criteria to keep top of mind include payment options, user experience, and ease of use. Let’s dive into these factors and explore why each matters in the buying process and LMS implementation phase.
Reliable and secure payment options
When it comes to selling courses online, choosing an eCommerce-enabled LMS that offers reliable and secure payment options is essential. Look for an LMS that supports a wide range of secure payment gateways and meets industry-wide regulatory and compliance standards. Additionally, selecting an eCommerce platform that provides multiple payment options, such as credit card and digital wallet options, is an important factor to consider. Creating a secure and hassle-free payment experience instills trust among your customers by reinforcing confidence that their sensitive information will be handled appropriately.
User-friendly interface
While you’re shopping for an eCommerce LMS, it's also important to select one that’s built with a user-friendly interface. Find an LMS that offers easy navigation and follows design thinking—contributing to a positive user experience that reflects a professional, customer-centric brand.Your platform should make it easy for learners to enroll in courses and access different types of eLearning content.
Moreover, your course platform should be customized to match your brand identity and style preferences. A consistently branded user interface helps customers quickly recognize your product, allowing them to easily remember and identify your brand. A branded experience also boosts visual appeal, supporting a cohesive and pleasant interaction with your online training.
Quickly and easily sell courses online
Lastly, it's important to choose an LMS that simplifies both the selling and buying process. Look for features like bulk enrollment and automated email notifications to improve efficiency and cut time spent on administrative work for your team.
Additionally, find an eCommerce LMS that streamlines the checkout process with straightforward payment options and minimal friction. If your customers find it difficult or time-consuming to make a purchase, they're likely to abandon their shopping carts before completing the transaction.
Red flags to avoid while selecting an eCommerce LMS
When choosing your eCommerce-enabled LMS, it's imperative to pay mind to potential red flags—these platform snags can negatively impact your customer experience and business outcomes. Two potential warning signs of a subpar software platform to keep in mind when shopping for an eCommerce LMS are hidden costs and poor customer support.
Hidden costs and charges
One major item to watch out for when selecting your course-selling platform is the hidden costs. Ask your LMS sales team about additional charges and keep an eye out for added transaction fees in your contract. Plus, consider charges that may come on an irregular basis like the cost of hosting, maintenance, add-ons, and LMS eCommerce integrations. Similarly, ask your LMS provider about any subscription or renewal fees that may be charged monthly or annually.
Lack of customer support
Another key component of a quality learning eCommerce platform is customer support. Solid, reliable customer support is essential when choosing your eCommerce LMS because without it, resolving issues can be nearly impossible— leading to frustration among you and your customers.
During your LMS buying process, look for providers that offer 24/7 assistance through email, phone, and chat. We also recommend checking customer reviews to gauge the quality of support. Finally, don't hesitate to ask for a demo or trial to test the level of customer support offered.
eCommerce LMS buyers guide: a 7-point checklist
During the process of planning your course-selling business, staying ahead of the curve with a top-tier eCommerce LMS is not just a competitive advantage, it's a necessity. A flexible course platform delivers a strategic edge by elevating training effectiveness within your organization.
But, as mentioned earlier, choosing the right eCommerce LMS demands careful consideration of various factors. That's where our comprehensive checklist comes in. Consider the seven points below when shopping for your learning platform so that you’re equipped to find one that meets (and hopefully exceeds) your needs.
1. Finalize your learning goals
It bears mention again—to effectively sell courses online, establishing clear learning goals is a must. Take the time to research your target clients, determine your objectives, and hone in on what you want to achieve with your online course. Find a flexible LMS that can meet the unique needs of your audience and align with your goals to create a more effective and tailored learning experience.
2. Explore a scalable, eCommerce-enabled LMS
When choosing your eCommerce LMS, it's also important to explore options that can scale up as your business expands. Forward-thinking businesses should seek an LMS that can accommodate increasing user and content loads that come with organizational growth. Tech scalability ensures a seamless learning experience for your customers and allows your eCommerce business to thrive without the hassle of a major software shift during your peak growth season.
3. Evaluate content creation and management capabilities
Not surprisingly, your LMS content is a vital component of your course sales success. Therefore, when selecting your learning eCommerce platform, it's crucial to evaluate its content creation and management capabilities. Look for a platform that allows easy course creation, organizing of materials, and tracking student progress. On top of this, consider the adaptability of the system in accommodating different content formats like video-based, audio, or interactive courses.
4. Validate compatibility for easy LMS eCommerce integration
When selecting an eCommerce LMS, it's essential to validate its compatibility with the other software platforms you use. For instance, we suggest checking if the LMS integrates with your preferred payment platform, content provider, or web conferencing system. You may also want to ask about the learning system’s level of customization and branding options so you can create a tailored learning experience.
5. Assess reporting capabilities
Advanced reporting and LMS analytics help you understand what's working and what needs improvement—making it a major component of your course sales success. Look for a course offering platform that automatically tracks and evaluates performance metrics like sales, conversion rates, user behavior, and more. Reporting like this also helps you gain deep learning insights by showing which courses are generating revenue and where it may benefit you to adjust strategies.
6. Verify security and compliance
To maintain the eLearning platform security and compliance of your business, look for an eCommerce learning management system that adheres to industry standards and regulations. Before finalizing your contract, make sure the system has robust security measures in place to safeguard your course materials and customer data.
7. Consider your budget and pricing structure
Lastly, before kicking off your buying journey, finalize your tech budget and stick with it. Assess your budgetary constraints and check out the pricing structure offered by different providers so you can easily narrow down your options. Look for an eCommerce LMS that offers solid value and features within your financial capacity.
Discover Absorb's industry-leading learning eCommerce platform
Selecting the right eCommerce learning management system is a pivotal decision for businesses aiming to venture into online course sales. We hope that this blog helps you understand why an eCommerce-enabled LMS is a foundational tech component for online course sales as well as how to navigate your buying process.
Have more questions on how your learning platform can make it easy to build your business and drive course sales? We’re here for you. Explore Absorb's industry-leading eCommerce LMS to sell courses online. With the best LMS for eCommerce integration, Absorb offers a seamless learning experience for your users.
Talk to our team of experts to learn how you can harness the potential of your eCommerce business through award-winning tech. Book a demo with Absorb today.
