The #1 Mistake Businesses Make When Building eLearning Programs

When it comes to building an eLearning program, I’ve seen organizations of every size—from solopreneurs to S&P 500 companies—make the same costly mistake. It’s a mistake that drains budgets, creates confusion, and leads to programs that never generate meaningful results. That mistake is starting with technology instead of strategy.

In today’s digital world, it’s easy to think the next step is to find a platform, choose the right software, and hit “launch.” But without first defining success, even the most advanced technology can become an expensive distraction. In this post (and in the YouTube video linked here and podcast episode linked here), I’m going to walk you through why this mistake happens, how to avoid it, and what to do instead to create an eLearning program that simplifies your business, drives revenue, and delivers long-term ROI.

Why Choosing Technology First Is the Biggest Mistake

The most common path I see organizations take goes something like this: they realize they need online training or an eLearning program, so they immediately start looking for technology. They might even rush to sign up for a platform demo or pay for a system that looks great on paper. The problem is that they haven’t taken the time to define what success looks like for their learners or their business.

Technology is seductive. It feels like action. It gives the illusion of progress. But without clarity around the results you’re trying to create, that technology becomes a cost center rather than a growth engine. I’ve seen companies spend tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on learning management systems that barely get used. The employees or customers who were supposed to engage with the program lose interest, and leadership eventually wonders if eLearning was ever worth it in the first place.

The truth is, technology should serve your strategy, not replace it. Before you pick a platform, you have to define what success and ROI look like. Are you trying to increase sales? Improve customer adoption? Reduce onboarding time? Build brand awareness through certification? Your answer will determine everything—from the type of platform you choose to how you design your content.

Step One: Start With an Honest Audit (A)

Before investing in any tool or platform, I always encourage businesses to start with an audit. I know the word “audit” can sound intimidating, but it’s the most valuable step in building a high-performing eLearning program. The purpose of this audit isn’t just to look at what you’re currently doing—it’s to uncover opportunities, gaps, and hidden costs within your organization.

Every business has untapped potential and inefficiencies that can be transformed through learning. For example, one of my VIP coaching clients realized they were paying for multiple disconnected tools that were duplicating efforts across departments. Once we mapped it all out, we consolidated their marketing and eLearning systems into Kajabi. That simple change eliminated a hidden cost and gave their team one unified platform to run their entire learning business.

An effective audit looks at both what your organization already does well and what your learners actually want and need. The best eLearning programs deliver what learners want so they engage, while also providing what they need to get results. Too many companies build courses around what they want to teach, not what their audience wants to learn. That’s the fastest way to lose attention and waste effort.

Step Two: Simplify Before You Scale (S)

Once you’ve identified your opportunities and hidden costs, the next step is simplification. If building an eLearning program doesn’t simplify your business, it’s not the right approach. The goal of integrating learning into your organization should be to streamline—not add complexity.

This is where the Pareto Principle comes in handy. The idea is simple: 80% of your results come from 20% of your actions. When I work with enterprise partners, we start by identifying which activities drive the biggest impact. Then we double down on those areas through eLearning.

For instance, let’s say only 20% of your sales team consistently closes most of your deals. Instead of trying to overhaul your entire training process, you can capture what those top performers are doing and use eLearning to teach the rest of your team those proven strategies. The same principle applies if you’re a software company. You might find that only 20% of your product features create 80% of customer satisfaction. Focus your eLearning program on those features, and you’ll immediately see stronger retention and adoption.

Simplifying is also about removing what no longer serves your business. Many companies spend valuable resources maintaining outdated or redundant systems. When we help clients streamline, we often discover they’re paying for overlapping tools or manual processes that could easily be automated. Simplification clears the path for innovation.

Step Three: Automate Intelligently (A)

Automation is powerful, but only when it’s applied with intention. I never recommend automating before completing the audit and simplification steps. Otherwise, you risk automating inefficiency. Once you’ve defined your goals and identified what truly matters, then it’s time to bring in technology and automation to scale your impact.

Automation can show up in several forms: using AI-driven platforms to track learner progress, setting up automated onboarding sequences, or integrating your learning platform with your CRM or HR system. The key is to let technology handle repetitive tasks so your people can focus on creativity, strategy, and human connection.

For example, one of my clients runs a certification program that used to require constant manual updates and emails. We implemented automated workflows inside Kajabi, freeing up their team to focus on creating better content. Within weeks, they saw higher learner satisfaction and reduced administrative time by over 40%.

The goal of automation isn’t to replace people—it’s to empower them. When done right, automation makes your program scalable, predictable, and profitable.

Step Four: Profit (P) Using the ASAP Method

After auditing, simplifying, and automating, the final step is to profit. This is where my framework, the ASAP Method, comes to life: Audit, Simplify, Automate, Profit.

When applied correctly, the ASAP Method transforms eLearning from a cost center into a revenue generator. For some organizations, profit looks like increased efficiency—saving six figures a year through smarter systems. For others, it’s about generating new income through certification programs, memberships, or external learning experiences.

Take software companies, for instance. When they create certifications around their products, they don’t just teach users—they build brand ambassadors. People who earn certifications proudly display them on LinkedIn and share them with colleagues, effectively turning learning into paid marketing. The more certifications sold, the more software is adopted, and vice versa. It creates a flywheel effect that fuels both sides of the business.

Profit also comes from reinvestment. Once you’ve streamlined costs and identified your most impactful initiatives, you can redirect those savings into further growth. It’s a cycle of continuous improvement—each audit reveals new opportunities, and each round of simplification and automation amplifies results.

Turning eLearning Into a Competitive Advantage

The organizations that win with eLearning are those that view it not as a project, but as a strategic advantage. They understand that technology is a tool, not a starting point. They lead with clarity, define success, and use learning to drive measurable business outcomes.

When you take the time to audit your business, simplify your processes, automate intelligently, and reinvest your profits, you build an engine for long-term growth. You create a culture of learning that scales alongside your organization.

I’ve seen this transformation firsthand with clients who went from spending hundreds of thousands on underused platforms to saving six figures annually and growing multi-million-dollar learning businesses. The difference wasn’t in the tools—it was in the strategy.

So before you choose your next platform, pause and ask yourself: what does success really look like for my business? If you start there, the technology will follow naturally, and your eLearning program will become one of the most powerful assets in your organization.

In short: the number one mistake businesses make when building eLearning programs is leading with technology instead of strategy. Start with purpose, audit your opportunities, simplify your systems, automate what works, and then watch your profits grow.

Because the future of learning isn’t about the platform you choose—it’s about the impact you create.