Are you looking to build an e-learning platform like Udemy and Coursera but confused about how to do it the right way? This guide is prepared to help you out. This blog talks about how to create an impactful e-learning website and how much does it cost. Read on to learn more.
Education was, is, and will always be valuable.
Agreed?
We are all aware of the importance of education and learning in today’s world. Whether you are a student, working professional, or an entrepreneur, if you’re not learning, you will stay behind. And in today’s competitively-driven world, no one wants (and can afford) to stay behind the times.
Due to the advent of technology and digitization and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic, online courses have become a great alternative to the traditional education approach. Per UNESCO, over 1.3 billion learners in 186 countries are out of classrooms and locked in their homes.
E-learning platforms have been in the market for quite a long but got more recognition after pandemic and lockdown. People are adapting to this new world well. By 2025, the online course market will generate about $25 billion. In fact, Forbes’ research says that the e-learning market will reach $325 billion by 2025. So indeed, e-learning platforms are booming unprecedentedly.
These stats and figures encourage businesses to invest in e-learning solutions. Consequently, they look for a reliable web development company that can help them build impactful and learners-friendly e-learning websites. Also, if you’re willing to leverage WordPress, LearnDash vs LifterLMS are some popular, heart-winning WordPress LMS plugins that you can consider. Accordingly, you can take the help of a WordPress design company to set up your e-learning site on WP.
What Is an E-Learning Platform?
In layman’s terms, e-learning (also called online learning) means electronic learning, which means any type of learning made through digital devices. For instance, if you are using your desktops, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, or any other gadgets for online learning and education purposes, that’s e-learning.
E-learning websites offer flexibility, are self-paced, suitable for everyone, provide different learning techniques, give access to more people and more data, eliminate geographical constraints, and are often low in costs. Udemy and Coursera are successful and the most popular examples of an e-learning portal.
Types of E-Learning Platforms:
- Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
- Online Learning Platforms
- E-Learning Marketplaces
- E-Learning Web Conferencing Software
- Video-Based Learning
- One-On-One Online Learning
- E-Learning for Teachers
7 Easy Ways to Build an E-Learning Website That Attracts Learners
Determine Your Niche
You have decided to build an e-learning website, but have you decided on your niche yet? Yes, it’s imperative to define your niche. To do so, think of all the courses you are going to offer. Are you willing to offer a wide range of subjects from personal development, health, and fitness to computers and technologies? Or do you aim to launch an industry-specific education marketplace? Decide what you want to start with.
Research Your Target Audience
Having a successful website is directly proportional to reaching your target audience. Agreed? And the hunt for target users starts with research. So explore and find out who your target audience is. Are they students? Employees? Or someone else. Ask questions like who will be interested in your e-learning website? What’s the age of your potential users? So on. And then offer them personalized content accordingly.
Know Your Competitors
To make your online learning website competitive, you need to know who your competitors are. So before diving headfirst into the industry, gauge the market and find out about your actual rivals. Gather as much information about your competitors as possible. Find out what they’re doing right (to learn) and where they’re going wrong (to learn). This way, you will get to know what you should do and what you shouldn’t, to succeed in the e-learning market.
Focus on UX/UI Design
A visually attractive and highly functional website catches users’ attention and keeps them engaged. How can you make that happen? Through effective UX/UI designing. UI design will take care of the aesthetics (like colors, fonts, animations, and other elements), and UX determines how users interact with your website. That said, both UX and UI need to go hand in hand to impress your target users.
Technology Stack You Need
A lot goes into making a successful e-learning website, and the technology stack is one of them. The technology stack can make or break your e-learning website. Therefore, you need to choose the right ones. Explore and find out the most advanced newest, and best-suited programming languages, frameworks, and tools for your online learning website. Once you identify the right tools and technologies, you are good to go.
The Core Features to Incorporate
The appropriate functionality can bring the learning experience alive. Hence, choosing and implementing the right features is of utmost importance. Easy signup, smart searches, filter options, recommendations, categories, easy and friendly dashboard, multiple payment options, customer support are some core (and irresistible) features you should incorporate to make your e-learning site successful.
Choose the Development Approach
When you build an e-learning website, you have mainly two options. Either you can create it from scratch (custom development) or leverage one of the ready-made website solutions available on the market. If you aim to give competition to websites like Udemy, Coursera, Udacity, edX, and other similar giants, we highly recommend you go with a custom development approach that enables you to add features of your choice.
How Much Does It Cost to Build an E-Learning Website?
So how much do you need to spend to make a successful e-learning website like other big giants? Is there any fixed amount that is something standard for all types of e-learning sites? No, there’s not. The cost of creating an e-learning website entirely depends on the functionality and features (discussed above) you will incorporate, type, size, and niche, budget, and various other considerable things.
Talking about the rough estimate, the development can start somewhere from $50,000 (with some basic and core features) and goes up to $300,000 or more depending on your e-learning website’s complexity. Remember, the more complicated the website is, the more time developers will spend. Therefore, the more it will cost you.
Summing It Up
Today’s learners long for unique and personalized products to enhance their skill sets. So if you aim to build an e-learning website with uniqueness and exceptional functionalities, you can easily surpass other big e-learning platforms in the market.
We hope this post helped you understand how you can create an impactful e-learning website and how much does it cost. Implement all the discussed points correctly, and you will soon build a highly competitive online learning website. So go ahead and breathe life into your e-learning portal idea right away!