How to Build an eLearning Platform in 8 Weeks

In the last decade, the demand for eLearning platforms has increased exponentially and so has the need to build elearning platforms for different purposes. 

A popular belief is that every platform should be as complex and massive as Udemy or Coursera. But that’s not how it is. You can build an elearning platform for a particular niche and make it incredibly profitable.

At Appscrip we helped build 25+ platforms across various industries and they’ve now grown into multi-million dollar enterprises. With this experience, we’ve created a development model which will help you release an MVP (minimum viable product) in just 8 weeks with necessary and critical features. 

That’s right, it can be done in 8 weeks without breaking the bank.

Typically, an app development process begins by choosing the right niche. So let’s start by looking at a few opportunities we’ve collated for you.

Exploring Niche Opportunities for Your eLearning Platform

​​Finding the right niche is probably one of the toughest challenges when you wanna build an elearning platform. Many entrepreneurs have burned their fingers by investing in highly competitive markets. So, we’ve put together a few niche domains within the eLearning space that have considerable opportunities despite competition.

Below are several niches/domains with relevant examples, supported by data to illustrate their potential.

1. Examination Preparation

Students preparing for competitive exams and tests often face roadblocks in learning. While some students choose expensive bootcamps to upgrade their knowledge, there are many who choose to get ready through online learning and personalised courses. 

Creating a platform for personalized and interactive eLearning is how you may resolve the problems many students face.

By the way, the global test preparation market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2021 to 2027. And your solution doesn’t have to be MOOCs, here are a few examples. 

Examples: Many students find math tough to fathom. Cuemath provides math coaching to prepare for standardized tests. And students looking to up their game in K-12 choose CK-12 eLearning platform to help them.

2. Hobby-Based Learning

Most folks would love to develop their creative skills and take up hobbies with all seriousness. It is here where eLearning platforms help them without investing too much time and money to perfect those skills. 

Cooking, photography, yoga, or art  are hobbies or creative pursuits gaining immense popularity. The creative eLearning market has a CAGR of 14% (2021-2026).

Here are a few examples of eLearning platforms in this niche. 

Examples: MasterClass has a range of topics including writing and acting to cooking, sports, and economics  taught by celebrities, industry leaders, and cultural icons. Skillshare offers creative topics, such as illustration, design, photography, video, freelancing, and more.

3. Language Learning

Language learning is essential for our survival, especially to those who travel quite often. Whether you’re learning a new foreign language for business purposes or helping your child learn a new language as part of their curriculum, language eLearning platforms definitely add a great value.

So, your next edtech venture can be in this niche and the global language learning market is projected to reach $21.2 billion by 2025.   

Example: Those looking to master foreign languages have Preply eLearning platform come to their rescue with one-on-one language tutoring and over 32,000 tutors available globally.

4. Technical Skills for Professionals

Upskilling can take us to new heights in our careers, but finding time or taking a break is not always possible. Professionals looking to learn code, data analysis or other technical skills have eLearning platforms that serve such courses right to their study tables. Many companies have skills gaps in emerging technologies, creating significant demand for training platforms.

Example: Enhancing IT skills is on the radar of many professionals as it is vital for growth in their career. eLearning platforms offering courses will find many takers, so this is another niche you can consider. Pluralsight hit a revenue of $390 million in 2021 focused on upgrading IT skills.

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Steps on How to Build an eLearning Platform in 8 Weeks

There are a host of benefits for entrepreneurs or business owners adopting pre-built scripts as the route to developing an app.

The cardinal reasons are mitigating development cost by almost 60% and the time to market comes down to weeks from months. You can even tweak the code to fit in specific business needs. And you cut risk of major issues post launch as pre-built scripts have been tested for functionality and bugs.

Now that you are aware of the benefits, let’s take you through the 8 week cycle of deploying an eLearning platform. 

​​Step 1: Designing Your eLearning Platform (Weeks 1-3)

The first stage when you begin to build an elearning platform is a clear understanding of the app’s purpose and requirements. We also lay out a clearly-defined budget, timeline, and the team taking up the project. In this stage the core functionalities are included, then the customisation of UI and UX, finally branding elements and setting up of essential pages..

• Create a Feature Roadmap

Plan the platform’s core functionalities like course creation tools, real-time interaction tools, content management systems, push notifications, payment systems, and analytics. 

• Customise Your Platform’s UI and UX

Use Appscrip’s pre-built templates to streamline your design process. Tailor layouts for easy navigation, creating intuitive user journeys for learners and instructors alike. Prioritize a clean, responsive design that works smoothly on all devices.

• Add Branding Elements

Integrate your logo, colours, and fonts to create a cohesive brand identity. This step not only reinforces your brand but ensures your platform is visually appealing and trustworthy.

• Set Up Essential Pages

Appscrip’s drag-and-drop tools make it easy to build pages like:

• Homepage: Highlight featured courses, new additions, and benefits.
• Course Catalogue: Organise courses into categories for easy browsing.
• User Dashboards: Create personalised dashboards where learners track progress and instructors manage content. 

Step 2: Development and Integration (Weeks 4-6)

The development phase focuses on creating the functional backbone of your e-learning platform. Using Appscrip’s pre-built modules accelerates this process significantly.

Pre-Built Modules for eLearning Platforms

When we leverage pre-built modules we streamline development by offering ready-made functionalities to address critical aspects of an eLearning platform. Here are some essential modules to include:

Leverage Pre-Built Modules

1. User Management Module: The user management module facilitates role-based access and user authentication, ensuring efficient user onboarding and content delivery.

2. Real-Time Interaction Tools: These tools boost learner engagement through live collaboration.

3. Content Management System (CMS): The CMS module allows instructors to upload, organize, and distribute learning materials in various formats. 

4. Analytics and Reporting Module: Analytics tools provide insights into learner behavior and course effectiveness.

5. Payment Integration Module: This module simplifies subscription management and course purchases.

6. Push Notifications and Alerts Module: This module ensures learners and administrators stay updated.

Integrate Third-Party APIs

Seamlessly incorporate APIs to enhance functionality:

• Payment Gateways: Ensure smooth transactions with options like Stripe or PayPal.
• Email Marketing Tools: Use Mailchimp or HubSpot for automated communications and promotions.
• Analytics Platforms: Add Google Analytics or Mixpanel for in-depth user behaviour and course performance tracking.

By relying on Appscrip’s modular approach, you can focus on fine-tuning your platform instead of building these features from scratch.

Step 3: Testing, Launch, And Beyond (Weeks 7-8)

This phase ensures the platform is user-ready and performs flawlessly.

Conduct End-to-End Testing

• Bug Testing: Examine the navigation flow, payment systems, and course consumption features for issues.
• Compatibility Testing: Test the platform on various devices (mobile, tablet, desktop) and operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows).

Launch With MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

During the development process of any product, your development team (whether in-house or outsourced) creates a fully functional product on the development server, commonly known as dev server. Once you’ve tested the platform for various use cases and bugs, you’ll now be ready to launch the product to a production or live server, where your customers can start using the platform.

With Appscrip, the process remains the same. We’ll help create a fully functional product on the development server and when we’re confident for a successful launch, we will make it live. 

You’ll be in total control of the process from the beginning to the end. 

Post-Launch Activities

1. Bug Fixes and Maintenance

• Continuous Monitoring: We use Google Analytics or New Relic to monitor platform health and identify performance issues.
• Patch Updates: Quick fixes are released for reported issues, such as slow loading times, broken links or payment gateway errors.
• User Support: Offer support to users via chatbots or ticketing systems.

2. Feature Enhancements and Upgrades

• Data-Driven Decisions: We monitor user behaviour analytics and advice on development of advanced features as per your volition.
• Scalability: For scalability we optimize database performance and server resources.

3. Marketing and Campaigns to Boost User Adoption

• Pre-Launch Buzz: Before launching your app build anticipation through social media, email newsletters, and by collaborating with influencers.
• Referral Programs: Incentives like discounts or free courses for users who refer new learners or instructors can bring in a hoard of users.
• SEO and Content Marketing:
  • Create blog posts, tutorials, or webinars related to your niche.
  • Use targeted keywords to optimize your landing pages for search engines.
• Paid Campaigns:
  • Leverage platforms like Google Ads, Facebook, and LinkedIn for targeted ads.
  • Focus on geographic locations or demographics most likely to engage with your courses.
• Partnerships: Enhance credibility and reach by collaborating with educational institutions, corporate trainers, or industry experts. 

How to Scale Your eLearning platform from MVP to Million Dollars in Revenue

Detailed below are various strategies that can be adopted to enhance from MVP status to multi-million revenue generation mode. We have also detailed “How To” go about it and a real world example on the strategy.

Expand Course Offerings

Strategy: Broaden the range of courses offered and focus on high-demand subjects.

How To:

·   Develop in-house content for niche or emerging topics.
·   Offer certifications with recognized entities to boost credibility.

Introduce Advanced Features

Strategy: Enhance the platform with premium features such as AI-driven course recommendations, gamification, and personalized learning paths to improve user experience and retention.

How To:

·   Gamify learning with leaderboards and badges.
·   Use AI to suggest courses based on past activity and preferences.

Monetisation Optimisation

Strategy: Introduce diverse revenue streams, such as tiered pricing, corporate training, and white-label solutions.

How To:

·   Offer subscriptions with premium perks like exclusive courses, instructor Q&A sessions, or offline access
·   Expand into B2B markets by offering personalised training programs.

Focus on International Markets

Strategy: Tap into international markets by localizing content, including language, pricing, and payment options.

How To:

·   Translate course content into multiple languages.
·   Partner with local instructors or institutions to create region-specific courses.
·   Adjust pricing based on local purchasing power.

Build Community and Engagement

• Strategy: Foster a community among users and instructors to encourage active participation and loyalty.

How To:

·   Create forums for learners to interact and share experiences.
·   Host live webinars, workshops, and “Ask Me Anything” sessions with instructors.
·   Showcase user success stories as testimonials.

Strategic Marketing

• Strategy: Scale user acquisition through performance marketing, content marketing, and partnerships.

How To:

·   Leverage SEO for organic traffic by creating high-quality, topic-related blog posts and tutorials.
·   Run paid ad campaigns on platforms like Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
·   Partner with influencers or industry leaders to promote courses.

By adopting a phased and targeted approach like the examples above, an entrepreneur can scale their eLearning platform and achieve multi-million-dollar revenue goals.

Monetisation Opportunities In An E-Learning Platform 

Developing an eLearning app opens up numerous revenue streams, ranging from direct user payments to partnerships with organizations. Align your monetization strategies with your app’s niche, target audience, and unique value proposition.

Below are some of the most effective monetization models, each tailored to maximize profitability and user satisfaction.

1. Subscription Model

Users pay a recurring fee (monthly, quarterly, or annually) for unlimited or tiered access to courses and content. This model ensures steady revenue. Examples: Skillshare, Duolingo Plus.

2. Pay-Per-Course Model

Users purchase individual courses based on their interests or needs. This model is ideal for platforms offering unique, high-value content. Examples: Udemy, MasterClass.

3. Freemium Model

Basic courses or features are free, while premium content and advanced features require payment. Examples: Coursera, EdX.

4. Corporate Partnerships and Licensing

Collaborate with companies to offer tailored courses for employee upskilling or license your platform to educational institutions. Examples: Coursera for Business, LinkedIn Learning.

5. Advertisements and Sponsorship

Display targeted ads or partner with sponsors for specific courses or events. Examples: Many free apps like Khan Academy

6. Certification Fees

Charge users for verified certificates after completing courses. This works well for professional and skill-based learning. Examples: Coursera, EdX.

7. Affiliate Marketing

Recommend third-party tools, books, or resources related to the course and earn a commission on sales. Examples: Language learning apps often recommend books or apps like Grammarly.

8. Marketplace for Tutors and Content Creators

Allow individual educators to host courses on your platform and earn a share of their earnings. Examples: Udemy, Teachable.

9. In-App Purchases and Microtransactions

Offer additional features like study aids, practice tests, or exclusive resources as in-app purchases. Examples: Quizlet, Duolingo.

Choosing the right monetization model depends on your app’s target audience, niche, and goals. Combining multiple strategies, such as subscriptions with certification fees or freemium with ads, often yields the best results.

Each strategy should be seamlessly integrated into your platform to ensure a balance between profitability and user satisfaction.

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FAQs: Build An ELearning Platform

1. Why Build an eLearning Platform?

If monetization is the priority, opt for models like pay-per-course, subscription plans, or bundled packages, just as Udemy. Those aiming for audience engagement can focus on community-centric platforms. You can also offer professional certification courses. 

2.         How do I start an online tutoring platform?

There are 2 main identifiers, who are you building it for and how will you build it. So, begin by identifying your target audience. Next choose a pre-built solution for the advantages it offers. And don’t forget to focus on creating high-quality content tailored to your niche.

3.         How long does it take to create 1 hour of eLearning content?

The time needed to develop eLearning content depends on the complexity of the material, interactivity level, design quality, and the experience of the developer. That said, it would be anywhere between 40 to 150 hours. 

4.         How do you monetize an eLearning platform?

There are several options on how you can monetise an e-Learning platform, such as subscription models, pay-per-course, freemium plans, and corporate partnerships. You can also drive revenue by offering certifications.

5.         Can I teach online from home?

Absolutely! There are many platforms that make it possible to teach online from any location including your home. Appscrip’s platform also supports individual instructors. Courses can be created and delivered from homes with basic technical requirements.

6.         How do I make an eLearning platform like Coursera?

Firstly define your niche and target audience, choose a business model, and design a friendly UI. Then develop a robust platform with features for course creation, student management, and payment processing; consider using a pre-built solution.

7.       What are the key features an e-learning platform must have to ensure a great user experience?

An e-learning platform should include course creation tools for uploading and organizing content, integrated video hosting for seamless playback, student progress tracking with detailed analytics, and cross-device accessibility using frameworks like Flutter or React Native to provide a consistent experience on mobile and web.

8.      What are the key advantages of Appscrip’s pre-built eLearning platform?

Appscrip’s pre-built platform offers dual functionality by combining self-paced courses with live consultations, creating a seamless learning experience. It is highly customizable, allowing tailored branding, content, and interactive elements to suit specific audiences and objectives. 

With scalable architecture, it accommodates user growth, advanced features, and cost-efficiency, enabling MVP launches under $20,000 compared to traditional costs exceeding $50,000.

9.      How to create an online course for beginners?

In this video, you will learn how to create online courses for any subject or niche. You can then sell this to those wanting to monetize their knowledge including creators, coaches, and educators. 

The video will show you how you can build a revenue stream by selling online courses. The 6 steps mentioned in this video are comprehensive and will get you going on creating online courses.