Growing Elearning Platform for Global Reach and More Profit

The global elearning industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years and is estimated to be worth over $325 billion by 2025. As more learners seek flexible online education options and companies invest in continuous skill development of employees, the demand for high-quality elearning content and platforms is rising exponentially.

However, to truly capitalize on this booming market and maximize profits, elearning companies need to look beyond their home country or region. A globally inclusive strategy is key to sustaining long term growth and profits in this competitive industry.

In this article, we will discuss 11 practical steps an elearning platform can take to develop a global customer base and increase profits. By optimizing course offerings, platform features, localization, marketing and support for learners worldwide, elearning companies can access the large untapped international learner population and achieve scale.

Develop Quality Courses for Target Markets

The first step is to produce courses that cater to specific international learner demographics and their unique needs. Elearning platforms should:

  • Research target learner profiles (age, profession, language) in priority international markets like USA, UK, Germany, India, China etc. Understanding cultural preferences and pain points is critical.
  • Develop or commission courses in languages spoken across target markets like English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese etc. Courses need to be localized for each region in terms of examples, case studies and terminology used.
  • Ensure course topics are globally relevant while respecting cultural sensitivities. For example, courses on customer service, finance, IT, healthcare, languages will appeal worldwide but content needs localization. Courses on regional topics like European/Asian history can also draw learners.
  • Curate course libraries that cater to the educational systems, qualification levels and professional skills demanded in each international market. For example, UK/US focused courses on GMAT/GRE preparation or teacher training would attract learners.
  • Engage subject matter experts from different cultural backgrounds in course development and iteratively refine content basis international learner feedback and reviews.

This focused approach to high-quality, globally diverse yet locally relevant course catalogues will help drive enrollment from international learners. Checkout: https://zipprr.com/udemy-clone/

Optimize Platform for Mobile Users

Today’s world is increasingly mobile-first. Over 65% of global internet users access the web on smartphones and this is even higher in developing markets. Hence, optimizing the elearning platform experience for mobile devices is imperative. Platforms must:

  • Ensure their platform and course player interfaces are responsive on all screen sizes from smartphones to tablets. The UI/UX has to be seamless and intuitive across devices.
  • Allow for easy download and offline access to courses for areas with low/patchy connectivity. Make sure videos can be paused/resumed and content is available even without internet.
  • Minimize data usage for bandwidth-constrained regions by compressing video files, limiting autoplay, optimizing image sizes etc. Even small optimizations help users in cost-sensitive markets.
  • Leverage touch-optimized features like swipes, taps and expandable elements to make navigation smooth on mobile.
  • Test functionality across Android and iOS to patch any mobile issues early. Regular A/B tests help improve the platform for various device types and operating systems worldwide.

A well-designed mobile learning experience removes barriers for users accessing courses anytime, anywhere which is vital for global expansion.

Localize Platform Experience

Beyond just courses, the overall platform interface and experience also needs localization. Key actions are:

  • Provide localized website URLs, domain names wherever possible e.g. website.de, website.jp, website.in etc for better discoverability locally.
  • Fully translate the platform UI/UX into languages of target markets using professional translators. This includes all text, buttons, menus, pop-ups etc.
  • Display prices and currencies of different countries on the platform. Offer localized pricing in dollars, euros, pounds, rupees etc as per region.
  • Integrate popular global and local payment methods – credit cards, PayPal, AliPay, WeChatPay, UnionPay, domestic bank transfers/wallets as accepted payment options.
  • Show timezones, dates and number formats according to country/region settings for an authentic local feel.
  • Hire community managers fluent in multiple languages to engage international learners on social media, forums.

A localized look and in-platform experience makes learners feel respected and encourages signing up from global markets. Regionalization builds trust for international expansion.

Leverage Social Media for Global Reach

Social media channels provide a cost-effective way to promote courses and platform to potential learners worldwide. Some actions include:

  • Partner with international education influencers, teachers, universities on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn for content endorsements and promotions.
  • Run localized, location-specific Facebook/Instagram ads in languages and currencies of each target region to raise awareness.
  • Analyze hashtags, topics and keywords popular in various global education discussions on Twitter to join relevant conversations.
  • Encourage learners to generate and share user-generated content like reviews, case studies, projects on social channels with appropriate hashtags.
  • Promote student success stories and highlights through social and garner recommendations.
  • Leverage translation/localization tools to expand reach of social posts in multiple languages.

Consistent social campaigns boost searchability and allow learners across the globe to easily discover the platform organically.

Partner with International Education Brands

Collaborating with popular global education institutions and companies provides a great opportunity to gain new international learners. Platforms could:

  • Form affiliate partnerships with universities, training firms having international campuses/network across regions like UK, Europe, Asia, Africa etc.
  • Offer co-branded credentialed certificate programs or individual courses promoting each other’s offerings.
  • Embed courses directly on partner LMS/websites leveraging their user base.
  • Provide content licensing solutions for international corporations to skill employees worldwide.
  • Sponsor educational conferences and events abroad to network with potential partners.

Such strategic alliances help increase credibility in target markets while bringing in new enrollments from established brands’ connections all over the world.

Provide 24/7 Global Support

Delivering localized, round-the-clock support builds confidence for learners signing up from anywhere globally. Platforms must:

  • Hire multilingual customer support representatives based in different regions according to priority time zones.
  • Train support teams to handle queries courteously in all relevant languages of markets supported.
  • Integrate messaging, chat and call support across all devices for instant assistance.
  • Centrally monitor queries and resolve issues promptly according to service level agreements.
  • Implement translation tools to communicate with clients in their native language.
  • Mention clear contact details and support addresses on all pages for transparency.

Reliable 24/7 customer care eases concerns of learners from various geographies and improves overall experience.

Offer Localized Pricing Models

Pricing is a sensitive aspect while targeting international users, hence localizing models helps optimise conversion. Platforms could:

  • Adjust course/subscription pricing after research on average incomes and purchasing power parity specific to each country.
  • Offer regional/volume discounts for access to full course library or in bulk to enterprises.
  • Bundle courses and package deals themed for international student/professional segments.
  • Provide scholarships/financing options partnering with local banks for learners in developing markets.
  • Conduct localization A/B tests on payment plans suitable for learners in different regions.

Culturally appropriate, fairly priced offerings improve affordability and boost international enrollments.

Understand Cultural Preferences

Considering cultural nuances across regions is equally important while designing learning experiences for a global audience. Platforms must:

  • Research communication and learning styles preferences of Asian, Latin American, Arab etc. cultures through community surveys.
  • A/B test content presented with varying levels of visuals, text, grouping, pacing catering to different cultures.
  • Encourage culturally diverse case studies, examples and teaching methods respected worldwide.
  • Employ multicultural design principles of inclusiveness, flexibility for customized features.
  • Analyze feedback from international learner communities to refine experiences over time.

Being sensitive to preferences across ethnicities helps design learning that resonates better globally.

Optimize for Searchability Globally

It is essential to optimize for discovery through relevant global and local search engines. Actions include:

  • Register localized versions of domain names or sub-domains for priority non-English markets.
  • Translate all on-page content including titles, descriptions, headers for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
  • Use location-specific keywords and their translations in pages, blogs for organic findability.
  • Build quality backlinks from international sites, guest posts and partnerships.
  • Outreach to global directories, aggregators as Eduonix, Class Central with localization.
  • Check and optimize site speed, loading for international networks and browsers.
  • Conduct keyword gap analysis to target unsigned international traffic.

Comprehensive SEO optimization makes the platform visible to potential global learners active on regional search engines.

Measure Success by Regional Metrics

To properly evaluate performance and return on investment of the global strategy, platforms must track key metrics separately for each country and region. Some important KPIs include:

  • Course enrollment numbers segmented by location to identify most engaging markets.
  • Completion rates of learners from different parts of the world.
  • Number and value of payments/transactions received region-wise.
  • Average order value and subscriptions according to country.
  • User engagement metrics like time spent, content downloads, assessments.
  • Regional promotion campaign attribution and conversion rates.
  • User retention rates for international cohorts.
  • Number of new account signups location-wise from organic searches and partnerships.
  • Support request volumes and resolution times monitored for each area supported.
  • Qualitative user sentiment analysis from international learner reviews and surveys.

Insights from these location-centric performance indicators help identify top performing and underperforming regions to further optimize approach. Regular holistic analysis ensures continued international growth.

Conclusion

In summary, taking a globally inclusive approach to course development, platform localization, marketing, pricing and support enables elearning companies to tap into the immense opportunities of the expanding international market and boost their overall growth and revenues over the long run.