eLearning content development: Exploring off-the-shelf, DIY, and custom content

When it’s time to consider training content for your learning programs, one key question comes up: Should I choose off-the-shelf, do-it-yourself (DIY), or custom-built LMS content? 

The answer isn’t always clear — especially if you’re unsure about the pros and cons of each type of learning content. 

Your priority should be building or choosing learning content that meets your company’s learning goals efficiently and effectively. Some considerations to keep in mind as you make your decision include: 

• Pricing 
• Level of effort 
• Tool skill level 
• Subject matter expertise 
• Content availability 
• Desired learning outcomes 

Keep reading to discover the advantages and disadvantages of each content option to help you make the best choice for your company. 

Off-the-shelf content 

Off-the-shelf content  consists of pre-made courses, training content, and learning materials that are instantly ready for sale and use by your teams and employees. This type of course content is pre-formatted and contains generic training and knowledge for each topic. Off-the-shelf learning content is available as a single product, in bundled packages, or as subscriptions for easy training and sharing. 

Advantages

Off-the-shelf content offers a lot of advantages: 

• Start training immediately — no waiting for course creation means faster learning. 
• Choose from a wide range of topics from a content library, freeing up time for other high-value tasks. 
• Reduce the total internal resources needed for content creation and training material options. 
• Boost overall ROI with affordable course options compared to custom content. 

Disadvantages 

However, off-the-shelf content has a few drawbacks: 

• Off-the-shelf content options may not meet all specific training and employee learning needs you have. 
• Topics may be over-generalized or lack necessary details. 
• Little to no customization and modification options to tailor the content to your needs. 

DIY content 

DIY content is technically a subset of custom content. It’s created in-house by your own team or company and requires some content creation skills. And as organizations explore different ways to build learning content, many are discovering how AI can support their DIY efforts.  

Before we dig into the advantages and disadvantages of DIY, let’s talk about AI in eLearning content. AI-generated learning content offers several key advantages: 

• Efficiency: Generative AI speeds up content creation, reducing the time and effort needed for manual work. 
• Personalization: AI analyzes learner data to deliver customized content tailored to individual needs and preferences, boosting engagement and effectiveness. 
• Scalability: Organizations can scale their learning initiatives with AI, accommodating large and diverse audiences without compromising on quality. 
• Cost-effectiveness: Automating content creation through AI can lower production costs compared to traditional methods, particularly for repetitive or routine tasks. 

Read more: How AI-powered platforms help deliver personalized learning and development  

Advantages 

DIY content may be your preferred choice because it: 

• Gives you full control over personalized details and expert information unique to your organization, allowing for custom eLearning content development. 
• Cuts costs if you have subject matter experts and instructional design resources on hand. 
• Allows you to easily make tweaks or add new content whenever needed. 

Disadvantages 

Companies may opt out of DIY eLearning content development because: 

• The potential lack of expertise and quality control. Without professional content creators or instructional designers, your content could lack consistency, fail to meet educational standards, or fall short in engaging learners. This can result in subpar learning experiences for employees and ultimately hinder the desired outcomes of training initiatives. 
• Requires access to a course authoring tool or software to create interactive content and track progress effectively. 

If you’re looking for general topics or compliance-related content, off-the-shelf may be your best bet. This type of training content offers a wide range of pre-made courses, which can cover much-needed training (e.g., safety, diversity, or security). 

For companies with a strong internal team of experts, DIY content can be the most affordable option. It’s especially effective if your team has employees with design and training experience. Using an LMS with built-in course authoring can provide your team with even more opportunities for efficiency and cost savings. 

Custom content 

Custom content is an umbrella term that covers any training content that’s created and modified for your company’s needs. In this case, we’re referring to custom content for personalized learning and training that’s outsourced. 

Advantages 

Below are some of the top reasons why companies choose to use custom content: 

• Custom courses are built to address your organization’s specific requirements. This can include unique topics or branding elements like your look, feel, and tone. 
• When you commission custom content, you typically own that license completely. This way you avoid the long-term content management that comes with off-the-shelf content. 
• Custom content allows for technical training and or other specialized courses that may require skills not available in-house. 

Disadvantages 

Custom content may not work for everyone, and here are a couple of reasons why: 

• Custom content can be expensive and may not fit within your content budget. 
• Turnaround is slower. Each course needs to be written and designed to your specifications. This reduces immediate efficiency and requires more resources and effort. 

How to choose the right type of learning content for you 

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to LMS content. 

Each company has its own learning and training goals that need to be considered when choosing off-the-shelf, DIY, or custom learning content. 

Here are some key factors to consider and questions to ask: 

Goals and learning objectives 

If your learners need access to highly specific training such as industry compliance or proprietary processes, you’ll likely need a custom option. If the training is basic and your company has the knowledge and resources in-house to provide the content, you could opt for DIY. If you’re teaching generic topics, such as soft skills or universal skills, you could probably go for off-the-shelf eLearning content.  

Question to ask: How tailored do the training materials need to be for us to reach our learning goals? 

Budget 

Your budget can significantly influence your decision. Custom content requires a higher investment upfront because you’ll likely need professional designers, developers, and instructional designers. DIY content is more cost-effective, but you’ll need to dedicate internal resources to the project. Off-the-shelf content is more affordable and usually ready to use, although you may have to pay licensing fees. Additionally, you may have limited options for customization. 

Questions to ask: What’s our budget? Should we invest in high-quality, long-term, customized solutions? 

Time to deployment 

If you need the digital content available immediately, off-the-shelf is your fastest option. DIY content is typically the next fastest, but this depends on your team’s skills and availability. Custom content takes longer to develop but will be more tailored to your needs.  

Questions to ask: How soon do we need the training to be available? Is customization or speed of delivery more important?  

Internal resources 

DIY is only feasible for eLearning courses if you have skilled team members who understand both the subject matter and instructional design principles. If not, you can either opt for custom content, which requires minimal expertise but needs coordination with the external eLearning provider. Alternatively, you can choose off-the-shelf content, which requires minimal resources but offers limited customization.  

Question to ask: Do we have the expertise and bandwidth to create our own content? 

Learner engagement 

For your eLearning course content to be effective, it has to engage learners. Custom content is typically the most engaging, as it’s highly professional and polished, includes interactive elements, and is personalized. DIY content can also be engaging, depending on the creator’s skills and available tools and resources. Off-the-shelf content is more limited in its engagement, as it may not be as interactive or relevant to the learner.  

Questions to ask: How engaged should learners be for this training to succeed? What’s the best way to foster that engagement? 

Making the decision 

Here are some steps to making the best eLearning course content decision for your company: 

1. Define your training needs, being clear about your learning objectives, the learners, and the training scope. 
2. Evaluate your resources, including budget, timeline, in-house expertise, and in-house availability.  
3. Start small if you’re unsure about what you need. General off-the-shelf content can be a good way to test the waters before moving into more involved content production processes. As your company grows or scales, DIY or custom content may become more feasible and can be integrated with your off-the-shelf training.  
4. Consider your long-term plans before deciding. Off-the-shelf eLearning courses that don’t require internal company knowledge may be best if you're only looking for short, one-off courses.  

Although working with an external company or team to build custom content may be pricey, it ensures that you’re getting courses that meet your organization’s specific standards and content needs. 

What is eLearning content development? 

eLearning content development is the process of creating online training materials for employees. It’s typically used to educate, train, upskill, or reskill an audience, which may consist of employees, students, or simply a group of interested learners. The developed materials may include engaging videos, interactive quizzes, entertaining animations, or even full courses. Ideally, the goal of eLearning or digital learning content development is to make learning convenient, effective, and enjoyable.   

Traditional training methods, such as in-person workshops or lectures, can be costly and time-consuming. They can also be difficult to scale. eLearning offers a solution that can reach as many participants as necessary simultaneously. Since eLearning content is often self-paced, learners can progress at their own pace, allowing them to revisit complex topics, skip sections they already understand, and access resources when it’s convenient for them.  

What are the steps of eLearning content development? 

There are five main stages in developing eLearning content: Analysis, planning, creation, implementation, and revision. Some of these occur during the initial development stages, before the eLearning content is launched, while others take place afterward to enhance the material, encourage engagement, and better meet the needs of both the organization and the learners.    

Analysis 

During the analysis stage, you’ll identify your learning objectives, understand the target audience, assess your resources, and determine the ideal delivery method. You’ll also decide whether the content will be self-paced, instructor-led, or blended. It’s important to be clear about what you hope to achieve with this eLearning. What knowledge gaps in your organization do you hope to address? Can you do this with a single course, or do you need a series of related courses? What motivates your learners?   

Reflecting on your goals, your target audience’s needs, and your internal resources will help you develop effective eLearning content. Remember to set measurable goals so you can determine the success of your content and revise it later.  

Planning 

During the planning stage, you’ll break the subject matter into logical sections (think of the chapters in a textbook), establish timelines for the content creation, assign tasks to different parties, and define the milestones for success. You’ll also select the tools and platforms for content creation. You might consider using mind mapping, storyboarding, or wireframing to assist in developing your content.  

Creation 

Depending on the formats you use, your eLearning content creation may include: 

• Writing modules 
• Developing quizzes and assessment tools 
• Designing animations 
• Creating infographics 
• Writing audio or video scripts 

It’s key to use clear, concise language that your learners can understand and follow. Whenever possible, use real-life examples, scenarios, and case studies related to your company or industry. If your subject matter experts aren’t creating the content, make sure they’re involved in the process to verify that your content is accurate and relevant. 

Before you implement your eLearning content, test it to ensure it’s free of glitches and make adjustments as necessary. 

Implementation 

This is where you can make the course available to learners on your LMS or preferred platform. Let learners know about the course, how to access it, and the benefits they’ll gain from completing it. Track their performance and gather feedback from learners so you can make necessary adjustments. For instance, if 70% of learners are stopping the course at a certain point, you might need to revise that section.  

Track the following metrics:  

• Whether user numbers are what you expected 
• How long learners stay engaged with the content 
• At what pages or activities do participants drop off 
• Which pages or activities get the most traffic 
• How users describe their experiences 

Revision 

At this stage, gather user feedback to optimize your content. If users report feeling confused about a topic, revise that section. You might consider rewriting it or using a different format (like switching from written content to an infographic) to make it more accessible to your audience. Compare the outcomes with your initial objectives to determine if changes are necessary. Ensure the course remains relevant. For example, if your course addresses compliance issues, review the content regularly and update it as compliance laws change.  

How do you write eLearning content? 

A few steps can ensure your eLearning content engages your audience.  

1. Make it multimedia. With digital learning, you can use everything from written content to videos and podcasts, to animations and interactive features. Doing this makes your content accessible to a wide range of learning styles. It also keeps learners more engaged.  
2. Use real-world scenarios. Real-world scenarios are relatable and make the content more effective. Case studies, examples, and stories from your organization or industry will help make the content relevant to your learners.  
3. Involve experts. Subject matter experts, educational specialists, instructional designers, and other professionals will help you create an effective course that meets your learners’ needs and enables you to reach your objectives.  
4. Ask learners what they need. Your learners are your target audience. Instead of guessing their needs, directly ask and explore ways to integrate their suggestions. Reach out to them about their learning styles, preferred learning experiences, subject matter knowledge, any gaps in their understanding, and what motivates them.  

Whatever you choose, Absorb LMS has something for you 

For organizations aiming to optimize their training strategies, exploring Absorb’s content libraries and AI-driven course builder  is a jumpstart. With an extensive array of ready-to-use content spanning various topics and industries, Absorb empowers businesses to swiftly deploy effective training programs.  

Additionally, the innovative AI-powered course builder makes creating customized courses tailored to specific learning needs effortless. By using these tools, companies can elevate learning experiences, increase employee engagement, and drive organizational growth.