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STEPS-Marketing Plan

The Marketing Plan: everyone will tell you that you absolutely have to have one. Few of the people who

say that, however, are able to tell you what exactly a marketing plan consists of. Creating a marketing planfor your small business shouln!t take you a few hours. "eally, it shoul take you at least a few ays to o

the research an have the necessary iscussions # potentially even a few weeks epening on factors like

the si$e of your market an the uni%ueness of your prouct line&s'. The following article may help you in

eveloping your marketing plans.

Steps

e-Learning Trends

The E-Learning Industry

(ith the cost of implementing e)learning tools falling, more governments, businesses,

an schools have ae online courses an other forms of istance learning to their

organi$ations. *y keeping an eye on the top trens in e)learning, meeting some of themost influential experts in the e)learning fiel, an asking critical %uestions about your

own strategy, you can make important ecisions about how you use e)learning tools inyour own life an at your own organi$ation.

Top Ten Trends in E-Learning

*ase on research from the +artner +roup, the niversity of Pennsylvania, an other

prestigious think tanks, we can ientify ten vital trens that will influence the growth of

e)learning over the next ten years.

1. Application Service Providers offer more quick start options.+overnments,companies, an learning institutions that on-t want to reinvent the wheel can lease or

purchase turnkey e)learning systems. s e)learning processes become more stanari$e,

clients benefit from share research an evelopment expenses, lower costs, an fasteployment. /ven organi$ations on low bugets can implement open source e)learning

platforms like Moole on thir party servers in a matter of hours.

"*M /)0earning 1ystems

http://www-304.ibm.com/jct03001c/services/learning/ites.wss/zz/en?pageType=page&c=a0001106http://www-304.ibm.com/jct03001c/services/learning/ites.wss/zz/en?pageType=page&c=a0001106

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2nowlegenywhere Corporate 1olutions

Moole 3osting Proviers

4verview of /)0earning an Course Management 1oftware

2. Companies integrate e-learning into their infrastructure.s more organi$ationseploy epartmental or company)wie intranets to increase communication an

prouctivity, savvy managers use the same tools to release e)learning programs into the

wil. Professional evelopment irectors can easily integrate learning moules into staffcommunications, while human resources irectors can a similar tools to web)base

benefits an payroll systems. 5ot only oes this emphasis on learning encourage workers

to participate in more training, the moular nature of e)learning content allows employees

to learn at their esks in smaller chunks.

"nnovative /)0earning 6eployment

/)0earning via Pocasting

1elf)1ervice Professional 6evelopment

3. Churning skill sets require e-learning initiatives.(ith 7ob escriptions an aily

tasks evolving faster than schools can prouce %ualifie 7ob caniates, many employers

rely on constant, on)the)7ob training to remain competitive. /)learning programs helpcompanies push new skills an critical improvements to line)level staff members %uickly

an efficiently, without the lag time of classroom or retreat)base training.

(orkflow 0earning +ets 8eal

8api /)0earning

4. -!earning cuts the cost of high qualit" content."vy 0eague institutions like theniversity of Pennsylvania once trae on their exclusivity to 7ustify the high cost of

enrollment. Toay, even the (harton 1chool of *usiness unerstans the value of

repurposing classroom content for istance learners aroun the country. *y evelopingclassrooms without walls, e)learning programs can reuce the costs of participation

without negatively affecting the compensation for renowne lecturers, researchers, an

presenters.

1taffing an compensation issues at one e)learning university.

banoning cookie)cutter courses.

#. -!earning levels professional pla"ing field around the $orld.(orkers in nicheinustries once ha to travel to speciali$e learning centers to iscover the best practices

in their fiel. Toay, e)learning connects stuents in rural communities to urban experts,

an vice versa. (e are only starting to see the effects that %uality eucation is having onbusiness an inustry in eveloping countries. 0ikewise, small businesses can access the

http://www.knowledgeanywhere.com/index.cfmhttp://moodle.com/http://www.campus-technology.com/article.asp?id=6389http://www.barsoum.ca/blog/tech/2005/07/from-push-to-pull-next-frontier-of.htmlhttp://www.xplanazine.com/archives/2005/08/is_podcasting_f.phphttp://www.learningcircuits.org/2004/jan2004/karrer.htmhttp://www.trainingmag.com/training/reports_analysis/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000780824http://www.learningcircuits.org/2005/jan2005/archibald.htmhttp://www.livejournal.com/users/glamorgannews/14477.htmlhttp://www.livejournal.com/users/glamorgannews/14477.htmlhttp://www.internettime.com/wfblog/archives/001508.htmlhttp://www.internettime.com/wfblog/archives/001508.htmlhttp://www.knowledgeanywhere.com/index.cfmhttp://moodle.com/http://www.campus-technology.com/article.asp?id=6389http://www.barsoum.ca/blog/tech/2005/07/from-push-to-pull-next-frontier-of.htmlhttp://www.xplanazine.com/archives/2005/08/is_podcasting_f.phphttp://www.learningcircuits.org/2004/jan2004/karrer.htmhttp://www.trainingmag.com/training/reports_analysis/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000780824http://www.learningcircuits.org/2005/jan2005/archibald.htmhttp://www.livejournal.com/users/glamorgannews/14477.htmlhttp://www.internettime.com/wfblog/archives/001508.html

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same caliber of high)level information an insight that was once only available to

Fortune 9 companies with large human resources bugets.

/mpowering /mployees Through Training

1upporting 0earning in 1mall *usiness &.pf'

%. &amers 'ring interactive skills to e-learning.3uman beings love to learn throughexperience. Many e)learning proviers have iscovere that they can use vieo game

technology to evelop fun, engaging, effective simulations. "nustrial employers can train

workers to hanle sophisticate tasks without risking in7ury or prouction %uality. 4thertypes of teams can grow skills an learn best practices by participating in simulate %ui$

shows or treasure hunts. Fun e)learning programs help boost staff morale while reucing

the time it takes for team members to integrate new skills an ieas.

*etter Training Through +aming

0ittle Fun +oes a 0ong (ay

(. &overnments deplo" e-learning at all levels."n aition to the obvious business

uses for e)learning, governments aroun the worl have iscovere that e)learning

programs can ramatically improve the %uality of life for citi$ens while reucing the

financial buren on taxpayers. 0ocal schools in unerserve rural areas or angerousurban neighborhoos can rely on e)learning to offset the lack of skille teachers in their

istricts. 1tate university systems can keep talente stuents from crossing borers by

importing highly speciali$e programs from other schools. +overnments in evelopingcountries have investe heavily in e)learning programs to buil eager, talente, work

forces.

+overnment 6epartments /mbrace /)0earning 1ystems

). Partners and colla'orators use e-learning to get ever"one on the same page

sooner.s conglomerates unbunle themselves into smaller, more tightly focuse

companies, the connections between these operating units etermine the success or

failure of pro7ects an proucts. 1trong e)learning systems allow team members at

collaborating companies to unerstan share ob7ectives. (orkers can %uickly learnabout the inner workings of technologies an techni%ues. s a result, outsource call

centers an repair facilities can serve customers transparently, while parts manufacturers

can respon to en user eman with ramatic turnaroun time.

apt or ie.

/)0earning 8eturn on "nvestment

*. +ireless technolog" helps e-learning initiatives ,cut the cord.,ntil istance

learning programs brought speciali$e skills an best practices to far)flung corners of the

worl, professionals often ha to travel to urban centers to benefit from innovative

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns339/ns444/ns454/networking_solutions_implementation_guide0900aecd800e4957.htmlhttp://www.lsda.org.uk/files/pdf/1685.pdfhttp://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB111401010367812026-IVjfINglaJ4m52uaYCIbqqDm4,00.htmlhttp://www.learningcircuits.org/2003/jan2003/powell.htmhttp://www.ltimagazine.com/ltimagazine/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=3888http://www.learningcircuits.org/2004/may2004/odriscoll-briki.htmhttp://www.learningcircuits.org/2004/may2004/odriscoll-briki.htmhttp://www.technewsworld.com/story/32325.htmlhttp://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns339/ns444/ns454/networking_solutions_implementation_guide0900aecd800e4957.htmlhttp://www.lsda.org.uk/files/pdf/1685.pdfhttp://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB111401010367812026-IVjfINglaJ4m52uaYCIbqqDm4,00.htmlhttp://www.learningcircuits.org/2003/jan2003/powell.htmhttp://www.ltimagazine.com/ltimagazine/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=3888http://www.learningcircuits.org/2004/may2004/odriscoll-briki.htmhttp://www.technewsworld.com/story/32325.html

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research. Toay-s wireless technology allows eucators an evelopment specialists to

reach even further into rural areas, farms, eserts, an rainforests. (ith raio, satellite,

an (i)Fi signals beaming two)way information from istant locales, people canparticipate in an almost enless array of learning opportunities.

(ireless /)0earning Teaches 3ygiene to 8efugees

1. -!earnings /overs and Shakers. *rian lger wrote ;The /xperience 6esigner,;

one of the first comprehensive guies to moern e)learning, in ??-s before establishing himself as an expert in e)learning. fter

builing an selling his own e)learning company uring the ot)com boom, 2ruse toure

the country as a feature speaker an highly sought)after e)learning consultant. 3e

chronicles the e)learning inustry on his website,/)0earning+uru.com.

Launching Your Own E-Learning Project

*ringing e)learning to your own organi$ation oesn-t have to wreck your buget oryour scheule. sk yourself these %uestions to etermine the right solutions for your

nees.

+hat 0utcomes do pect"f you want to measure incremental changes in

your staff, you can use more informal solutions base aroun bulletin boars

an weblogs. "f, however, you re%uire your team members to achieve an

official stanar or a certification, you may re%uire a system that offers built)intesting solutions.

http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/ezine/guru3_7.htmhttp://www.experiencedesignernetwork.com/archives/000574.htmlhttp://www.experiencedesignernetwork.com/http://www.naima.com/http://www.elearningpost.com/features/archives/002080.asphttp://socialarchitect.typepad.com/http://www.e-learningguru.com/http://www.e-learningguru.com/http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/ezine/guru3_7.htmhttp://www.experiencedesignernetwork.com/archives/000574.htmlhttp://www.experiencedesignernetwork.com/http://www.naima.com/http://www.elearningpost.com/features/archives/002080.asphttp://socialarchitect.typepad.com/http://www.e-learningguru.com/

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o$ 5o /" 6eam /em'ers !earn 7est6ifferent members of your team

will respon to ifferent kins of e)learning experiences. Take a poll or o a

stuy to figure out some of the most common learning skills among yourworkers or your stuents. "f many of the people you want to train learn more

effectively through interaction than through lecture, you might want to avoi

one)way e)learning solutions like vieoconferences in favor of chat rooms ansimulators.

+here +ill the !earning 6ake Place(hen your team members work on

their own computers, you can easily integrate e)learning into their aily

routines using intranets, e)mail, chat, an other familiar tools. 4therwise, youmight consier setting asie a space in your facility where workers can

participate in conferences, complete assignments, or hol iscussions.

o$ 0ften +ill 0ur 8eeds Change"f your organi$ation emphasi$es

effective initial training for new hires, you coul invest in a simple system that

meets your nees an oesn-t re%uire a lot of care an feeing. 4n the other

han, if you work in a fast)pace inustry that re%uires constant innovation, youmay nee a more flexible solution. Consier integrating news fees,

iscussions, an interactive elements into your e)learning plans.

+here +ill +e &et Content"f you alreay face heacount challenges in

your organi$ation, you can easily get %uality e)learning material from outsie

your organi$ation. 1ome colleges an universities can help you integrate their

existing classes an curricula into your e)learning initiative. (ith such higheman for professional evelopment, many solo entrepreneurs an specialty

businesses now offer highly customi$e learning content that can be elivereby vieoconference, telephone, or online chat.