Bridging the gap between live training events and online content offers a synergy that takes the user experience to another level.

As any training manager knows, communicating the tangible ROI benefits of a training course (whether in-house or out-sourced), can be tricky. Purse-strings are tight and senior managers want to know what returns on any potential investments will be in order to forecast spending.

Those responsible for managing training services internally or selling training services to other organisations need to be on the lookout for tools and ideas that strengthen their case.

We think that making training events available online is a great way to open up a wealth of opportunities for any organisation. So we made a nifty application, the Syncplayer, to present pre-recorded training events online.

Here are five ways it can add value:

1. MAKE YOUR TRAINING COURSES AVAILABLE TO A WIDER AUDIENCE

Once a Syncplayer presentation has been created it can be made available to anyone with an Internet connection – becoming a permanent resource rather than simply a past event. Great for serving as the central point of content modules, outwards from which related content can stem, allowing you to build up a complete library of online resources.

And you can further grow your audience by including subtitles in multiple languages – a nice helping hand for those whose native tongue differs from that on the audio.

WHAT’S THE RETURN?

• Expand the availability of your content: delegates who can’t attend the live session can still experience it (albeit as more of an observer than a participant)
• Extra support for attendees: those who do attend have the means to recap and revisit
• Available whenever, wherever: individuals can watch the presentation at their convenience
• Presentations that work for your visitors: users can go at their own pace, pausing or moving backwards and forwards as they wish, making it easier for them to assimilate the content
• An engaging focus for your content: Syncplayer presentations can be the core of your website content strategy, making it easier for you to attract visitors and increase awareness
• Self-service access to resources: materials can be made available for download should they be needed, saving you from distributing them

2. OFFER NEW WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO PURCHASE YOUR CONTENT

Getting your presentations online doesn’t necessarily mean making them free to all and sundry. In fact, using the web means you can limit content availability to authorised visitors only. Content access can also be tailored to offer different pricing models.

WHAT’S THE RETURN?

• More control over your intellectual property: by having it behind a secure gateway you can require visitors to accept your terms of use, including ownership
• Enhancement of existing product: training sessions can be sold with a supporting online recording
• New product ranges: you now have an option for potential customers who can’t get to, can’t afford, or have missed the live event
• Pricing model options: sell ongoing access to presentations: included with attendance or as an add-on; as a standalone product, either individually or in a set of related courses; time-based subscriptions to your training library

3. ENJOY A HASSLE FREE WORKFLOW

Syncplayer presentations are displayed through a simple, easy to use media player designed for delivering time-based content. We build them using video and slides (usually PowerPoint) that our clients provide and supply them ready for the web.

WHAT’S THE RETURN?

• Easy to use: the Syncplayer’s intuitive design lets users get started straight away – no training required
• Straightforward deployment: the core elements of a Syncplayer presentation are controlled by a single file, so it’s super-easy to add to a webpage
• Less work for you: no need to spend time learning another piece of software
• Peace of mind: we sort out all the content synchronisation and supply you with the finished article
• No hidden costs: we don’t charge for the Syncplayer itself, just for the work we do on each presentation – perfect if you’re hosting them yourself*, as they’re effectively yours!

* And if you need hosting but don’t know where to start, don’t worry, we can help you out with that too.

4. UPDATE CONTENT AFTER THE EVENT

Syncplayer presentations aren’t live, so they can be enhanced or updated as required. For example, slides can be created for unscripted content (such as a question from the floor) and be included in the presentation. If necessary, information can also be changed or removed from a central location.

WHAT’S THE RETURN?

• Added value for your seminars: potential attendees know that following the event, they will have access to a valuable resource that builds on what they have covered
• Ongoing engagement: discuss points raised at the training session, answer questions or provide a platform to address emerging issues
• Increased incentive to visit your website: accessing further content means visiting the website, where users can be told about related courses and upcoming training events
• Always current: delivering content online means that users will automatically see the latest version – no need to send out updates!

5. OPEN UP NEW WAYS TO EVALUATE YOUR CONTENT

Syncplayer presentations can be complimented with feedback, comment and question forms that collect information from users.

WHAT’S THE RETURN?

• User assessment: simple online forms can help you measure learning
• Content evaluation: responses can be collated and patterns sought, in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your training sessions
• Market research: by encouraging users to interact with your online training material you can learn more about their needs and create new content accordingly

We think that the Syncplayer is a great way to take training sessions onto the web and in doing so, unlock a host of compelling returns. Done well, live training events can be captured and turned into valuable assets that can help drive a company’s online content strategy, raise awareness and help the development of new material.