Launching An Online Training System: Your First 60 Days

Just like a president’s first 100 days in office are imperative to their goals, so are the first 60 days after launching a Learning Management System (LMS). In this blog, you’ll read a timeline of what training Administrators need to do in the time leading up to, during, and post-launch, as this is a highly important time for the future success of your corporate training. By following this timeline’s recommendations, you’ll be set! For a downloadable PDF of this checklist, click here.

30 Days Prior To Launch

• Finalize Name and Tagline for Learning System
• Establish SMART goals (ex: 1,000 new users by March 25; 5,000 users by April 20, and 3,000 completed courses by July 20).
• Begin creating/ordering printed material (collateral, table tents, etc.)
• Begin building introduction external communication (if the system is customer-facing)
• E-mail Learners to raise awareness
• Include training links on your website
• Post on Social Media
• Communicate through company Newsletters
• Market the training internally during Customer Events
• Begin building introduction internal communication
• Send brief internal communication to leadership and solicit any feedback
• Send a brief description to line management on their responsibilities and solicit feedback
• Setup and attend customer or technical support meetings to share the system
• Assign individual(s) who will handle technical support emails and calls
• Prepare a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Sheet (include how they will contact support)
• Set up an e-mail alias for technical support questions
• Send a “teaser” email out (something new is coming your way in 30 days…)
• Prepare press release if the system is external-facing
• Build a structure for contest or incentive program
• Research your team’s roles in launching a new training system

*Note: Some of these items might need to begin earlier depending upon the level of brand and cross-functional approval required

7 Days Prior to Launch

• Send internal communications to leadership regarding the new system and goals
• Send communications to line management confirming their responsibilities
• Pilot communications with a few users to ensure the instructions are clear
• Send out e-mails to customer-facing system regarding the new system with the FAQ
• Mail out printed material
• Finalize customer e-mail communication, e-mail list, and distribution delivery method
• Develop a brief video introduction

During Launch

• Send e-mail communication regarding the new system and how to access the system (include how they will contact support)
• Post announcements (Web, Internal sites, social media, etc..)
• Post physical collateral
• Suggest adding a note on customer facing e-mail signature (see our new learning system at…)
• Test e-mail alias for immediate response
• Send reinforcement communication to line management on their responsibilities
• Build a list of questions to improve instructions and or FAQ
• Send Press Release
• Announce contest or incentive
• Post video overview and introduction

30 Days Post-Launch

• Send e-mail communication regarding the new program and how to access the system
• Update instruction based upon questions and feedback
• Review learner feedback
• Review results compared to pre-established goals
• Update leadership team on progress
• Thank the team who participated in the development
• Update announcement on your website
• Touch base with customer service and technical support on awareness and questions

60 Days Post-Launch

• Send out a notice on new courses available
• Audit responses to learners’ questions and suggestions
• Review learner feedback and look for areas to improve
• Post positive comments from learners
• Review results compared to pre-established goals
• Update leadership team on progress
• Provide an update on the contest
• Complete post-launch review with the team. What went well and what could be improved on?

Ongoing

• Send out a notice on new courses available
• Post positive comments from learners
• Review results compared to pre-established goals
• Update leadership team on progress
• Use Knowledge Anywhere’s 1 Year LMS Check-Up for an annual review