23 tips for creating the perfect eLearning course that really inspires your users

Do you want to develop an eLearning course that not only informs your participants, but also inspires them? Then you’ve come to the right place! In this blog, you’ll learn step-by-step how to create a course that is clearly structured, motivating, and practical. From defining your target group and learning objectives to implementing the right structure, creative design, and emotional appeal, this article not only provides you with the theory, but also lots of practical tips you can implement immediately. Whether you’re developing an eLearning course for beginners or experts, these methods will help you create a learning experience that imparts knowledge in a way that sticks, and makes your users want to learn.

Get inspired and turn your idea into an eLearning course that really engages your users!

Before you start with the actual content creation process, you need to take some time to answer two crucial questions: Who is my target group? and What should the participants be able to do by the end of the course? These two elements are the guiding lights that will help you make your eLearning course targeted and relevant.

eLearning courses are particularly successful when they really appeal to the people they are made for. So think about: Who do you want to train? Are they beginners who need basic knowledge, or experienced professionals who want to expand on their existing expertise? The better you know your target group, the better you can tailor your content and approach to them.

Imagine you’re developing an eLearning course for new sales team members. This group not only needs an overview of your internal processes, but also practical tips they can apply in discussions with customers. An experienced sales manager, on the other hand, will expect fewer basics and more specific specialist knowledge, such as negotiation techniques and strategies for difficult markets.

One helpful approach is to create a persona—a fictitious person that represents your target group. Note down characteristics such as their age, job title, existing knowledge, and goals. Example: “Anna, 35, has been working in sales for two years. She sometimes feels insecure in negotiations and would like to learn how to present herself more confidently.” This persona then helps you design the content to suit the needs of your participants.

In addition to the target group, learning objectives are the second key pillar of course planning. They give you a clear direction and create transparency for your participants. What should learners know or be able to do by the end of the eLearning course?

It’s important to be precise here. Avoid formulations such as “The participants should understand the topic.” What exactly does “understand” mean? It’s much better to describe specific skills or results that are measurable: “After this course, participants will be able to name and apply the five most important steps in a negotiation.”

Use active verbs such as ‘apply’, ‘explain’, and ‘analyze’ that clearly express what the participants are going to do. Clear learning objectives not only provide orientation, but also motivation. Your participants know what they’re working toward from the outset and can assess their own progress.

Your target group and learning objectives are closely related: You can only formulate relevant learning objectives if you know who you’re addressing. A course for beginners will differ significantly in language, scope, and content from an eLearning course for specialist personnel. The groups have different expectations, and it’s your job to fulfill them.

A well-structured course is like a journey with a well-planned route: It shows you where to go and ensures that your participants always have an overview of the road ahead. Without a clear structure, there’s a risk that they’ll get lost in the content or become discouraged and give up. But with a well thought-out plan, you can guide your learners safely to their goal and keep their motivation high.

This structure not only provides your participants with a sense of orientation, but also ensures lasting understanding and application of the content.

In addition to a clear structure, your participants’ sense of motivation is another decisive factor. In eLearning, where learners tend to sit alone in front of a screen, they often need incentives to stay on the ball. Motivation comes from having content they find relevant and useful, and from gaining a sense of achievement that shows them they’re making progress.

⇒ Demonstrate the added value right from the start
The first question your participants will ask themselves is: “Why do I need to learn this?” Answer this question right at the start of a module by explaining the practical benefits of the content. Example: “These tips will help you conduct customer meetings with confidence and increase your chances of success.”

⇒ Reward progress
Small rewards, such as passing a quiz or a progress bar that indicates when milestones have been reached, are hugely motivating. Elements like this tell the learner: “You’re making progress and your hard work is paying off.”

⇒ Keep attention levels high
Long texts without variety put people off. Incorporate different media such as short videos, infographics, or interactive tasks to keep the content lively.

A good eLearning course comes to life through language. It’s what gets your specialist knowledge across to the learners. But eLearning texts have special requirements: They have to be clear, precise, and appealing at the same time. Remember that your participants have no direct opportunity to ask questions if something is unclear. So your language should not only be easy to understand, but also fun to read.

Unclear or complicated language is one of the most common reasons why participants drop out of eLearning courses. If sentences are too convoluted or full of technical jargon, learners quickly feel overwhelmed or excluded. A simple, direct style, on the other hand, makes the content accessible and creates a connection. Clarity doesn’t mean simplifying content, but rather explaining it in an understandable way. You can use technical terms, but always in a way that your target group understands. Remember your target group from Section 1: Write how these people think and speak.

⇒ Use short sentences and active formulations
Long sentences and convoluted structures make things more difficult to understand. It’s better to write shorter, clear sentences and use active language. Example: Instead of “The safety rules should be observed by the participants” write: “Comply with the safety rules.”
Speak directly to your participants:

⇒ Use the ‘you’ form to make the content more personal and inviting
Example: “In this course, you will learn how to conduct difficult conversations with confidence.”

⇒ Use examples and figurative language
Abstract content becomes more tangible when you create a picture in the reader’s mind. Example: “A well-structured report is like a north star—it guides the reader safely through all the important information.”

In addition to language, text design also plays a decisive role. Nobody wants to read a big wall of text—make it easy for your participants:

⇒ Work with paragraphs
Divide your text into meaningful units that don’t strain the eye.

⇒ Use lists
Bullet points and numbered lists make it easier to summarize important information.

⇒ Highlight key terms
Use bold type to emphasize key points.

Interactivity and the right choice of media bring an eLearning course to life. People learn better when they’re not merely listening or reading, but are actually playing an active role themselves. Videos, graphics, and animations can make complex content tangible and engage your participants. But use them sensibly: Just because something is technically possible doesn’t mean it will actually support your learning outcomes.

Interactive elements encourage active engagement with the content—a decisive factor for lasting learning outcomes. Instead of just passively absorbing information, your participants experience the knowledge, apply it, and consolidate it.

Imagine giving learners a drag-and-drop exercise to put the steps of a process in the right order. This simple, game-like element is not only motivating, but also helps the users retain the information.

⇒ Quiz questions to test knowledge
Insert short quiz questions after each module to test your users on the most important points. Example: “Which of the following statements complies with the new data protection regulations?”

⇒ Scenarios and case studies
Present realistic situations in which your participants have to make decisions. Example: “A customer complains about the delivery time. How do you react?” Let your participants try out different possible answers.

⇒ Practical tasks
Let the learners apply the knowledge directly, e.g., by filling in gaps, matching terms, or simulating a conversation.

In addition to interactivity, media can also play an important role. It makes content clearer and helps make complex topics easier to understand. But media should always be used intentionally and purposefully.

⇒ Videos and animations
Use short videos to illustrate processes or examples. Animations are ideal for explaining processes in a dynamic way. Tip: Keep videos short and concise (2–3 minutes) so that attention does not wane.

⇒ Infographics and images
Infographics can visualize data and relationships that are difficult to explain in text. Example: A graphic that shows the course of different project phases makes the content more tangible.

⇒ Gamification elements
Small game-like elements such as progress bars, badges, and levels can increase motivation. Example: “Reach the next level by successfully completing the quiz in Module 3.”

Learning is not just a purely cognitive process. Emotions play a central role in how well we absorb, process, and retain information. An eLearning course that appeals not only to the mind but also to the heart is memorable and motivates participants to actually apply what they have learned.

Imagine you’re learning something new. What do you remember better? A dry list of facts or a story that appeals to you and in which you can see yourself reflected? Emotions create a connection between the content and the learners in a way that has a lasting impact. They help make abstract concepts tangible and encourage users to identify with the topic.

An emotional approach doesn’t mean that you have to dramatize your content. Short stories, examples, or challenges that speak directly to the participants are often enough.

⇒ Use storytelling
Package your knowledge into a story that engages your participants and piques their curiosity. Example: “Marie is talking to a customer when she is suddenly asked a difficult question. How does she react?” Scenarios like this help users to put themselves in the situation and understand the content in a practical way.

⇒ Create identification
Use examples from your target group’s world. Example: In a course for managers, you could address typical everyday situations like employee appraisals or team conflicts.

⇒ Positive experiences lead to successful learning outcomes
Reward your participants with small tasters of success, such as module completion messages or motivating feedback. Example: “Well done! You have successfully completed the module and can now confidently apply the basic elements of conducting negotiations.”

⇒ Evoke emotions through visualization and language
Visual and linguistic tricks can also help to create an emotional connection. Use images and colors that appeal to your users: An illustration of a situation can be much more impactful than a mere description. Speak directly to the participants: Words such as “Imagine…” or “How would you react?” generate curiosity and engage learners emotionally.

eLearning experts know how to design eLearning courses that inspire learners and impart knowledge in a way that sticks. The secret to their success lies in the combination of effective didactics, creative ideas, and the targeted use of technology. But you don’t have to be a didactics specialist to benefit! The tips below will help you apply the methods the professionals use in your own projects.

Creating an eLearning course can be time-consuming and challenging. Perhaps you lack the time, the didactic expertise, or the creative ideas to present your specialist knowledge effectively. This is where we come in: As experienced eLearning experts, we take care of the entire content creation process for you—from conception to the finished course. Outsourcing means: less stress, more quality, and a course that inspires your participants. Contact us! We’ll turn your idea into a successful eLearning course!