Converting classroom-based sales training into an online course

Introduction
A sales training program is intended to assist sales professionals in achieving success for themselves and their organizations. The sales training assists in developing sales knowledge and skills required to approach cold leads, create new market opportunities, increase sales, and establish rapport with clients and customers.

Traditionally, sales training involves researching the product and its benefits, reading a book on how to sell, and receiving mentoring from a sales supervisor in the market. This is still the case in many tiny companies. However, in larger and more progressive companies, the focus is on a proper and scientific approach, with subjective and specialized training, simulated selling practice, and ongoing effectiveness of training outcomes.

Sales training is the process of delivering specific skills to the sales team so that they perform their tasks more effectively and rectify deficiencies in their performance.

Benefits of eLearning in delivering effective sales training

• Flexibility
  Employees can access the most recent learnings and devices online at their leisure using the right compiling equipment. The company can still make plans, but employees can work themselves on their learning.
• Interaction
  Marketers are regularly frustrated with tight timelines and heavy pressures. The custom eLearning modules offer them engaging and interactive content so that they don’t get bored with learning. It’s not just reading something on the device and then be accomplished with it. At the end of training sessions, there are assignments and tests to assess knowledge retention. eLearning is a mode every sales team member would certainly enjoy while gaining subject knowledge.
  
• Information is easily accessible
  eLearning solutions enable employees to receive information more quickly, and in real-time. This is especially useful for front-line sales representatives who present to viewers, talk to clients, follow up on offers, and so on. When companies make modifications in products and services, these employees will have the most up-to-date access to the information so that they can quickly respond to client questions.

Converting traditional classroom sales training into Interactive online courses

1. Interactive training
Interactive training is also known as “participative” learning. This is because learners in interactive training are willing to participate in their own learning activities.
Having to turn in articles, pressing the “next” button, and simply sitting to watch videos are not instances of interactive eLearning activities. Interactive learning requires real-life decision-making, concern, and learner goals.

This type of training assists learners to acquire new knowledge and information as well as improving critical and creative thinking skills.

Some rapid eLearning development interactive courses include fundamental participant activities such as clicking or pressing hot spots and dragging-and-dropping. More advanced courses, on the other hand, necessitate advanced learner interaction, such as:

• Animations
• Customized audio
• Interactive live images

These features traditionally include:

• Branching scenarios
• Digital stories
• Drag-and-drop activities

One significant benefit of online training is the ability to provide visual, audio, and kinaesthetic aspects that work together to create a comprehensive learning experience. To accomplish this, corporate learners must be provided with an opportunity to become actively engaged rather than passive learners.

2. Include an interactive element on each slide
An interactive online training would be completely nonreciprocal if it lacked interactive elements. If you use such interactive elements, they will increase learner implementation and engagement. It could be as simple as clicking a button for something to appear or a simple drag-and-drop activity.

3. Provide interactive media in the courses
Interactivity is a creative learning approach that puts the learner in the focus. After converting PowerPoint to eLearning Learners control the content of a course as well as how it unfolds with interactive multimedia. However, it is the learning of emotions that makes it such an effective training strategy.

4. Include interactive 360° images and videos
The implementation of interactive 360° trailers into any interactive training course is always a great asset. Immersive learning experiences necessitate learners taking control of their learnings, and interactive 360° media is at the heart of this. Using this form of interactive media is also a beginning to using virtual reality for learning.

5. Create branching scenarios
Branching scenarios help learners in controlling how the online course evolves. Create custom potential outcomes to allow the learners to change the story’s narrative based on their choices. However, because each real decision affects the overall flow of the course, you must ensure that everything works effectively.

6. Simulations
Simulations employ immersive, assumed narratives to retain the learner’s attention. Consider simulations to be highly relevant, meaningful, and realistic scenario studies.

A good simulation begins with a problem that learners can identify with. For example, if you’re training a sales staff and want them to enhance their communication skills, you can create a simulation that includes a difficult negotiation with a difficult-to-get customer.

7. Interactive Scenarios
Scenarios provide an asset environment in which the learners can develop their skills. Scenarios, like simulations, present an interactive experience with virtual elements to which learners can relate and interact.

Learners use a course of action from the available options, and the scenario plays based on their choice. And, if their choice happens to be incorrect, learners must learn how to deal with the situation and achieve the desired result.

Scenarios assess learners’ ability to make good decisions in an implicit way, which assesses how well they have fully accepted interactivity.

8. Interactive gamification through eLearning
Simulations and branching scenarios are improved versions of eLearning Gamification. However, what makes them different is that they encourage learners with badges and points to further motivate them, as well as provide a competitive aspect via online leaderboards.

9. Microlearning
Microlearning involves creating small chunks of information that take learners no more than three minutes to complete.

This gives learners on the go more accessibility, especially with mobile learning. Your learners will be able to complete their courses even while waiting in a queue. According to a recent survey, diskless employees prefer short training sessions too long, one-time program activities. Microlearning also eliminates tangents and complex allegories, and its clarity is a truly great asset to your learners’ ability to focus.

Conclusion
Online training is an effective way to reach a larger number of people while offering a good learning experience. Converting traditional classrooms to eLearning is not a one-size-fits-all practice. Everyone’s learning outcomes and learner forms, as well as their learning journeys, differ greatly. However, if you follow the above steps, you will be on the right track for your e-learning experience. If you are also planning for eLearning translation and localization click on the link to learn more.