Many associations and chambers toy with the idea of adding a Learning Management System (or LMS) to their tech ecosystem. This especially holds true if you’re in an industry that depends on continued education and certifications.

But, finding the right combination of cost, accessibility, and functionality always seems to stump those in search of an LMS that’ll accomplish organizational goals. Here are some do’s and don’ts that should send you down the right path:

• Do keep user experience top of mind. That means for your learners, and you, the administrator! Without a great user experience, you’ll be hard pressed to get anyone to actually use the system. Find a platform that’s easy to navigate, loads quickly, and will match the look and feel of your existing website.

• Do choose a platform that’ll pay for itself. Adding software will always come with a cost, but an LMS in particular is poised to bring money into your organization, too. A robust platform that can easily grant different levels of access is key: You’ll increase membership value by adding access to your benefits package, while earning non-dues revenue with paid access for non-members. (That functionality, combined with an already affordable rate, is a huge win!)

• Do your homework on the provider. What’s their reputation? Do they provide other services? What do their customers say about them? What will their role be in the onboarding process? You want to partner with a company that’s known for having excellent customer service, as well as a number of options for training and support.

• Don’t be intimidated. Getting started with an LMS can sound like a lot of work, but if you do your research and focus on the above traits when looking for yours, getting started should be a cinch. Accessibility is super important! Move forward with a platform that makes it easy to dive right in.

• Don’t assume an LMS has to be used for traditional “learning” management. Administering courses and tracking continuing education credits, while key to LMS functionality, may not be key to your goals. That said, an LMS is still an amazing platform for simply hosting and distributing all of the valuable content you have (videos, whitepapers, webinars, etc.) in a streamlined way to all of your stakeholders.

Hopefully, these do’s and don’ts will get you started on a short list of Learning Management System platforms that make sense for your organization. And hopefully, you’ll consider adding MC | LMS to that list - the new, full-scale Learning Management System from MemberClicks! Built with the user in mind, MC | LMS is here to give you a way to easily and affordably deliver valuable content. Click below to learn more. (And request a demo!)