The concept of taking training courses online, called eTraining or e-training, is fairly new, but it has many business owners excited about the possibilities. Instead of sending your workforce to expensive classes and having to scramble to make up for being short-staffed, you can give them the opportunity to take courses from home or at the office while still getting work done.

While eTraining is much easier to schedule than standard classroom instruction, you still need to allocate some time for the coursework, so it's important to evaluate the overall course to make sure that's it a good fit before committing. You should consider things like:

1. The eTraining course outline, including details about topics covered in the course

2. Estimated length of the course

3. Cost of the course per student or class

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look to a leader in your industry for eTraining advice

As you shop for eTraining for your employees, you'll quickly learn that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to online learning. To get the most for your money, you need to find a course that's tailored to your specific industry and needs. Technology makes this easier than ever before, so search until you find a company that can handle all of your training needs exactly.

I recommend: Go with a company that knows your business. Miller Electric, for example, offers a series of welding and electrical courses in addition to its electrical products and services, to meet the needs of that particular industry. The Richardson Company has a wide selection of different industry-specific courses to suit your needs.

Get eTraining information and course outlines from several reputable training companies

Once you have a general idea of what you want your employees to learn, you need to compare course outlines from several different companies to find the perfect fit. Some companies take a hands-on approach, which is good for those working in the field, while others may be oriented toward decision makers and managers.

I recommend: Check out the course outlines for each class. SkillSoft does mainly computer and IT courses, while MindLeaders focuses on improving performance in business. You may find some courses that are available from both companies, and can use those to compare the topics covered in each class.

Choose an eTraining program that creates customized lesson plans

If you can't find a packaged training course to meet your needs, consider hiring a company that can develop eTraining for your staff based on your specifications. A consultant will work with one of your trainers or ask a series of questions to get a feel for the type of materials you want covered, and develop an online course to fit your needs. It may cost more, but you can trust that you're getting what you need.

I recommend: Get your lessons tailor-made. Motion Plan and KMi specialize in custom-created eTraining courses that may be hosted online or available on a CD or DVD for easy distribution. They use their software to create e-training that fits your needs and your budget so that you get the most out of your staff training sessions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Work with a company whose eTraining formula includes lots of interactivity between students; your staff will get more out of each session.