20 Responses

1. Re: Training Company Websites

   For me, a good website needs to balance getting the information across with an overall feel that matches what the company is about – as a web user I do tend to judge companies as much on the look and feel of their website as on the content that’s in it, although I’m sure being in the business has made me more than a little hyper-critical! 

   Here are a couple of training sites who I think get that balance more or less right:

   http://www.aster-training.co.uk/

   http://www.hamiltonmercer.co.uk/

   While I’m at it, I might as well give our own offering a plug – opinions welcome of course! 🙂

   http://www.dlcandtraining.co.uk/

    

2. Cluttered

   Thanks for that

   I found all of those far too "busy" and would have quickly moved on if I was searching…

   Thats the reason I asked the question as an hour or so of searching for courses has been quite stressful.

   Moving images are quite good but i think the front page should be clear of text…bit like a shop window?

   http://www.atlasinteractive.com/

3. doesn’t it all depend……

   …on who is judging and what their criteria are for defining "great"?

   Rus

   http://www.coach-and-courses.com

4. Depends

   You are absolutely right Russ and thats why I asked the question.

   For me a very simple front page, relevant picture, free of text with a short message telling me what they do is what makes me stay and click to find out more…

   This one ok?

   http://www.peice.com/

   I also have a project I’m working on so the more examples I get the better!

5. how about

   http://www.rtsconsultants.co.uk/

6. Not bad

   Not bad…like the moving images..

   I like the way this one shows course information…

   http://www.academyclass.com/training/Design-Techniques/Graphic-Design-Techniques-training-course

   Far too much info on main page though, like almost every one I’ve looked at so far!

7. Feedback welcome

   Because we changed the focus of our training, more towards the licensing and security courses we offer, we recently changed our site quite considerably. We would welcome feedback.

   http://www.people-solutions.co.uk

   Thanks

8. Good

   Hi Sue

   Thats one of the best ones I’ve seen all day and I’ve looked at hundreds!

   My only comments are…

   I personally dont like blue on the front page, orange or similar seems more "friendly"

   Love the way the images change when you hover over them but would like to see some content (check BBC podcasts when you scroll over the i) http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts Think images need to be better quality

   Great that you have a shop window rather than all of your content on the front page

   I like to see testimonials on the front page

   Steve

    

    

9. Value add is essential…

    

   Hi – an interesting debate…

   It is no longer good enough to have a website that merely tells visitors who you are and where you are based, if you want to convert visitors into customers a website needs to regularly engage with fresh content. Here is an example of one site that we built and now manage on a daily basis, would be interested to get any opinions…

   http://www.muikaleadership.com

   Thanks,

   Nick

   — GoldSand Digital is the specialist digital marketing agency for the training and development arena. Our lead generation campaigns have led to our clients signing contracts with global organisations, while our web design, email marketing, copywriting, SEO

10. Thanks

    Thanks for that Nick

    I prefer your website to the first one…not sure about the music though!

    Still think there is far too much text on both front pages…I’m still trawling through hundreds of sites…haven’t found one I like yet!

    Isn’t the idea of the front page to make the job of the internet searcher as easy as possible? A simple mission statement with a few buttons to take me in further if I want to…

     

11. The internet searcher…

    Hi,

    Yes that is the job of the homepage, but it’s also the job of the homepage to engage and persuade in a professional and appealing way – it’s hard to do that if you’ve only got one box with a few lines.

    Don’t underestimate how much time people will spend on a site if you are targeted with who you are attracting. Take the Muika Leadership site. We are attracting HR, training execs, etc, and the news, free resources, blogs and video is enough to keep them engaged. We also have links through the ‘selling’ point of the site (ie the training programmes) if people are keen.

    A corporate website needs to perform a variety of functions, whereas a squeeze page is quite different. It sound like you are describing a lead generation page, which we also design and market. They are designed to push readers (or squeeze them) into performing one task, and one task only…and that is to download the the brochure, guide, e-book, whitepaper, or whatever else it is. Here is one that we set up for ourselves some time ago http://www.marketmytraining.com. It’s not particularly pretty, but it performs a function and helped us to engage with many training and development companies.

    It’s an interesting topic, and one that companies obviously want to get right before they invest.

    — GoldSand Digital is the specialist digital marketing agency for the training and development arena. Our lead generation campaigns have led to our clients signing contracts with global organisations, while our web design, email marketing, copywriting, SEO

12. Expert

    Hi Nick

    I am only speaking as a "punter" and have no idea how these things are designed or the amount of work that must go into producing them.

    When I am familliar with a site I tend to spend longer looking at the various types of content available…newspapers and BBC being good examples.

    The most frustrating thing is when you want to see details of a course on "widgets" and it takes 5 minutes to trawl through all the guff…

    There is also a difference in the time I spend looking when I have been led there from somewhere else or am just Googling…

    This is a good one…

    http://www.moduspecacademy.com/

    If anyone has any other examples please let us all have a look…

     

    Thanks

     

     

     

13. Forcefield Training website

    Steve

    We had our website redeveloped last year and I think it meets the criteria you look for around uncluttered and easy to use. 

    I know we have gone for a metaphor with the lion in snow image but hopefully it’s a bit different than other training sites and is attractive to look at.

    Anyway see what you think.

    http://www.forcefieldtraining.com

    Cheers

    Trevor

     

     

     

14. Marketing the website

    Hi Trevor,

    I think the site works well. Can I ask you, how do you market it? Do you pick up much business through the site? I only ask because we put together a whitepaper recently on marketing for training and development companies, so thought it could be of interest. 

    If so, you can download it here: http://www.marketmytraining.com

    Thanks,

    Nick

    — GoldSand Digital is the specialist digital marketing agency for the training and development arena. Our lead generation campaigns have led to our clients signing contracts with global organisations, while our web design, email marketing, copywriting, SEO

15. What makes a great training website?

    Hi Steve,

    Great question, but you are really asking how long is a piece of string and what is hot this year?

    While one person might think it’s the dogs you know whatsits, another will think is a pile of smelly stuff.

    The website should fit in with what your end clients expects and responds to i.e. corporate website is not going to attract an urban customer.

    In real terms a great website is one that converts your browser to a buyer.

    I think this will be more about content, functionality and/or ease of use rather than just aesthetics.

    Good luck in finding the holy grail.

    Julia

    http://www.maximumimpactsolutions.co.uk

16. Forcefield

    Hi Trevor

    If I was a punter, found your site by accident, and didn’t know anything about your company forcfield training…

    1) It’s not obvious what you do…Pharmaceutical and Communications?

    2) Lion is very confusing

    Just my honest opinion, not a criticism…in my opinion the front page should be like a magazine cover and the contents should be inside, not on the front page but themajority of websites I have visited are cluttered and confusing…The most important thing is what you do and how I can use it…you have 3 seconds to let me know or I am a click away from finding an easier site…

    Interested to know what others think…

    Steve

     

17. Good Debate

    This is a great debate and quite pertinent to us as we have just done a complete overhaul of our site to something a bit more fresh to what we had before.

    Would welcome any feedback.

    http://www.revolutionlearning.net

    — Managing Director Revolution Learning and Development Ltd http://www.revolutionlearning.net

18. Great but…

    Love the images and clarity of the site but…

    Not immediately obvious what courses you offer but as the quality is so good I might stay longer than 3 seconds to explore…

19. Thank you

    Thanks for the feedback Steve, appreciate it.

    David

    — Managing Director Revolution Learning and Development Ltd http://www.revolutionlearning.net

20. Hello
    Hello

    One good place for online digital training courses is The Internet Marketing College

    They offer Online Courses – All training is delivered online meaning it’s easy for you to study at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home or office.

    The courses cover all the latest strategies – All courses are updated on a regular basis which means you receive the latest information and strategies in the industry.

    They are run by expert trainers – All trainers are experts in their field and have many years in experience allowing you to leverage their education.

    The website is https://www.onlinedigitaltrainingcourses.co.uk/

    Hope this helps you.

    Kind regards
    Gerri