Microlearning: 5 quick tips for your website (part 2 of 2)

In a previous article on microlearning (part 1) we explained what it is and why it matters to your users. In this article we share concrete tips on how you can support microlearning on your website.

Our digitalized lives have changed the way we take in knowledge and information. Your users expect immediate value and no longer want to spend energy on unnecessary things. People expect to be able to access information on their own terms.

 
At the same time, your users can have different needs, backgrounds and prior knowledge when they visit your website. Some may be there for the first time, while others are there for the third time. Some want to learn more and compare while others are ready to convert immediately. This behaviour is something we can leverage when designing websites and digital experiences. Here are 5 quick concrete tips:

1. Have a plan

Number one is about having a strategy, a plan. What is the essence of what you want to convey? Both for your website in general and for the specific web page. Are you achieving what you want to achieve at the moment? Or is there something you can remove, simplify or clarify so that users find the right thing? What should come first - what is most important and what is secondary?

2. Set goals and prioritize

Define the goals of the website/webpage and design conversions accordingly. When you know the goals, it is often easier to package your content. Be careful not to have too many calls to action or goals that can compete with each other. Prioritize business-driving goals, but don't forget the users and how best to package the content for those who will consume it.

3. Chunk the content

A lot of information isn't always a bad thing, as long as it's well formulated and structured. Think about how you can group the content so users don't encounter too much information at once. See if you can break the content into portions and divide it up. Make it easier for the visitor to find exactly what they are interested in. Use clear headings and labels that give an idea of what the user can expect. Above all, use terms that are understandable to the user. Speak the user's language.

4. Vary the layout

Guide the user through the information hierarchy using scan points. Alternate text, images, videos, bullet lists, colored background panels and infographics that make the layout interesting and easier for users to scan. People learn and absorb information in different ways, keep that in mind.

When structuring a web page you can start by giving the user an overview, and let those who want more detailed information actively choose that. You can do this by including subpages, tabs, links and expandable elements. However, make sure the structure doesn't become too deep with too many subpages – that can instead make it harder to find the right thing. In the worst case the user gives up, and that's what we want to avoid.

Want more tips on how you can improve your online content? We give you 4 smart tips!

5. Get to know your users

Get to know your users so you know how to best use microlearning and chunking. Stop from assuming what you want to convey and instead find out the users' needs. What do the users want to know and what is important to them? What are their challenges? What motivates and triggers your users? Think about how you can make things easier for them. Design Thinking can be a good method for mapping your users' needs, goals and motivations.

In conclusion

By structuring and grouping information we can make it easier for a visitor to scan a webpage and more easily find what they are interested in. Microlearning is therefore about packaging information into smaller pieces so it becomes easier to take in. Take a look at your company's website — do you support microlearning or are you overwhelming users with too much information from the start?

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