Must-Know Tips for Training Your Marketing Team on Evolving Software

In today’s fast-paced marketing landscape, change is a constant - especially when it comes to the software your marketing team relies on every day. From CRM platforms to automation tools and analytics dashboards, updates seem to always be coming - often without any warning!

Image of a marketing team member stressed because of a software update — *Updates make it challenging to keep training current and your marketing team productive.*

If you’re trying to stay ahead in the game, your training needs to evolve just as quickly as the tools themselves. Not sure where to start? Here are some key considerations to keep your marketing team up-to-date with the latest changes:

Embrace Modular Training for Flexibility and Impact

One of the most effective ways to manage training on products that are constantly updating is to break up the content into small, digestible modules. You might have heard this described as “chunking” or “micro-learning".

Why is this helpful? Modular training makes it easier to update specific sections when changes occur. This keeps you from having to redo the entire course. Not to mention it has the potential to increase learning results if implemented in a meaningful way!

For example, if a marketing automation tool adds new segmentation features, you can simply update the relevant module instead of the entire training program. This approach not only saves you time but also allows your marketing team to focus on learning specific updates. That way, they won’t be overwhelmed by additional lengthy training sessions!

Tap Into the Software's Resources For Maximum Success

Many marketing tools come with their own built-in resources, like tutorials, help centers, and learning labs. These are designed to help users understand the features and feel confident in their use. If the company you purchased from has an organized training department, any updates to the software will be reflected here.

The biggest hurdle? Making sure your marketing team knows how to access these resources easily and feels comfortable using them.

Man and women look for information on a computer — *Ensuring your team knows how to access software resources is essential for unlocking their full potential!*

A great way to make sure this happens is to incorporate their use into your onboarding process. By guiding your team to leverage these tools early on, they’ll be better equipped to troubleshoot and learn on their own when updates occur.

Continue modeling the use of these resources after onboarding by placing accessible links in a centralized location (like your internal knowledge base or LMS) and reference them OFTEN. Quick access helps team members find what they need. Some teams have even had success pinning links to relevant Slack channels!

Encouraging the use of these resources as part of your regular marketing training program can save time and ensure your team stays up-to-date with minimal friction.

So what happens if the company doesn’t have up-to-date resources on their product?

Spotlight Core Features First for a Strong Foundation

While you might want to cover all of the product’s nuanced features, that probably won’t be realistic for you - especially if your team is a smaller start-up. If this is the case, focus on training your marketing team on the core functionality of the software first.

Once your team has mastered the essential features, they’ll be better prepared to understand and apply this knowledge to new ones. Core features, such as campaign creation, reporting dashboards, and user management, provide a strong basis for handling any updates or changes in the software.

Additionally, make sure there is a place they feel comfortable asking any questions that pop up. Make sure to document these questions in one place so you can use them to inform future training initiatives!

Training professional looking at data — *As your marketing team grows, leverage data on frequently asked questions to strategically tailor your training program and meet their needs!*

4. Get Hands-On with Interactive Simulations

Hands-on learning is still considered one of the most effective ways for your marketing team to grasp new concepts and software updates. When you incorporate interactive simulations into your training, team members can practice real-life scenarios without the risk of errors impacting actual campaigns. This helps build confidence and reinforces skills!

Use scenarios in tools like Articulate or Parta.io, or try trainer-guided practice simulations to help your team engage with the product in a controlled environment. The more they engage with the software, the quicker they'll adapt to real-world projects. Just make sure they receive constructive feedback to support their growth!

Now that you have the perfect recipe for crafting product training that can adapt to the ever-changing landscape of marketing, how should you tackle those updates when they inevitably arrive?

Keep Your Marketing Team in the Loop.

We have all felt the frustration of being asked a question we just answered for someone else. This was one of the hardest lessons we had to learn when we shifted to remote work on a global scale. It was a lot harder to pass information around when we didn’t have access to each other in real-time like we did at the office.

You will want to make sure you are still communicating updates clearly and consistently with your team. If your company mostly uses email, double-check that everyone who needs the information is on the email. Even better, create email groups on Google or Microsoft so you don’t have to type everyone out.

Using Slack, Discord, or Teams? Post and pin in the relevant channels and encourage people to “react” using an emoji or ask questions in the thread to make sure everyone is engaged and informed about the updates as they happen.

Computer with Slack open — *Team communication platforms help streamline updates and increase productivity.*

Flagging key updates and making sure everyone is aware of how changes impact their workflows is essential for minimizing confusion. Regular communication helps your marketing team stay on the same page and keeps productivity high - even during periods of transition.

Create Your Path to Effective Marketing Training!

With these tips in your toolkit, you’re ready to create a dynamic and impactful training program for your marketing team! Stay flexible and ready to adapt to the ever-evolving world of marketing software - success is just around the corner!

By breaking training into bite-sized pieces, tapping into valuable resources, providing opportunities to practice, and keeping communication open, you’ll empower your team to tackle updates with confidence and ease.

Now, go out there and make learning a fun and engaging experience! Your marketing team will thank you - and they’ll be ready to take on any challenge that comes their way!

Happy training! 🎉

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