Thanks to the existence of a more tech savvy workforce, the demand for online training and e-learning has soared. Newly evolving into an effective way to facilitate learning, companies are kicking physical classes to the curb and using e-learning courses to disseminate information.
Whether you’re a training provider or a company that’s looking to introduce better employee professional education programs, one dreaded question comes to mind, “what’s the budget?“
Unfortunately, many companies tend to do away with these education courses because of the assumption that they will have to spend more than anticipated. But we got you covered! You don’t have to worry about creating that big dent in your pocket!
With the right strategy, readily available resources and the right software, you can still develop effective learning content. Here’s how to educate your workforce on a budget:
Tip #1: Define your objectives
Yes, you read that right! Don’t be quick to jump into employee education sessions before defining your objectives.
Why do you want to educate your employees? Are there any skill gaps? Which methods of training or education will you use? What do you want to achieve? Once you have all this information down packed, you can move on to the second step.
Tip #2: Find the right gear
This is a significant step in making the most savings when educating your workforce on a budget.
Don’t start things off with a Google search for video equipment training options as this will leave you scratching your head. Instead, look around for the tools you already have and have previously used in other training sessions .
As an actively working company, some top notch to old
should already be in your arsenal. For instance, you could already have a video camera that you use for marketing campaigns.
You can also purchase a professional microphone as it will increase the quality of your audio or a tripod that will make the filming process for your training content easier. Thereafter, start the learning process!
In reality, unless you have a substantial budget for training equipment. You’ll find great results from something that’s already in your office. As such, you won’t have to purchase gear, save for a few items that will increase the quality of your production.
Tip #3: Make a script
If you’re looking to educate your workforce on a budget, you’ll obviously be using video training, and the importance of a video script cannot be understated. This may seem like an obvious thing to do but even if you already know the content of your training, it’s always best to put it down in writing.
This is useful in cutting down filming and editing costs. It will also guarantee the accuracy of the information that you’re presenting and keeping aligned with your teaching goals. Yes, preparing the script will take upfront legwork but it will certainly save time on the backend.
Tip #4. Keep videos short
You don’t want your videos to be too long and overwhelming, taking away from your training program. Plus, the longer they are, the more expensive they’ll be. Ensure your trainees are absorbing the information presented while you’re keeping costs down, thus videos should be short and sweet.
Generally, a 30 second to two minute video will get the job done. You may need longer videos for more impact but remember that videos should be edited down for the best effect. Shorter clips are the way to go.
Tip #5: Pool your resources
You don’t need to hire a top notch crew to create professional training videos, remember this will come at a great expense. If you pool your resources together, you’ll be able to come up with a minimum viable plan to execute.
You could use a smartphone for filming and your employees could do the voiceover work and acting parts. The scripts could be written by your in-house marketing team or course developers.
At one point or another, you’ll need to enlist the help of a professional video production company, but go for one that’s affordable. You would have already saved a substantial number of costs with the acting, filming, writing and they can do the editing.
Conclusion
Even when working on a budget, never sacrifice quality over quantity. It’s always best to create fewer high quality educational videos that you can utilize in multiple education sessions so you don’t have to create new content at every turn. When you repurpose and reuse content, it saves time and money.
