Are “Comprehensive” Product Training Programs Still Effective?

Hint: Just think about how YOU learn.

I’ve developed and presented a lot of what I would call “comprehensive” training: those end-to-end, full-product, everything-you-need-to-know-before-you-begin behemoths. I remember one course I delivered took 8 full days to complete. On a Telephony Billing system. And my company would fly me all over the world to deliver this to customers.

My eyes bleed a little just thinking about it. Let’s just say I caught a lot of people napping.

I’m not against comprehensive training, but I think for a lot of people that’s not the most effective way for them to learn.

I find so many people just charge forward and start using a product without looking at a lick of training. Then, when they get stuck, they turn to Google or YouTube, or the product’s help resources, to search for a video or doc that gets them unstuck. Not a course. Not a 6 video series. Not “comprehensive” training.

And they may only watch a snippet of that video. Once they get what they’re after, they’re out and on to the next thing. And that’s how they learn most effectively.

Sound familiar?

To meet this, training needs to be a bit more surgical and meet specific needs to solve a specific problem.

Comprehensive training programs can still exist for people that like to learn that way. Or there might be a certain amount of knowledge they need before they can start.

But instead of 45 minute videos that cover 6 different topics, why not break them into 3 or 4 minute, super-specific bites? Then they work in the context of the larger training program, but can go into a searchable Video Library and also serve the “I just need to learn this 1 thing” audience as well.

One caveat? These bite-sized videos can’t assume prior learning like a course can. They all have to stand on their own.

So on the page for your video, or in the description, include a “What you need to know” section with links to relevant videos and docs. Then they can easily fill any knowledge gaps without breaking stride.

The bonus is that these small bites also serve as a resource for people at any point in their learning journey. It’s still there 6 months or a year later when they need a refresher.

Now you’ve got 1 resource filling 3 different customer needs.

Plus instead of taking months to develop comprehensive training, these bite-sized resources can be released weekly. Instead of just targeting future clients, it lets you start making your existing customers happy now.

Short bites, not long. Give people what they need to learn, when they need to learn it.