Published March 2004

E-learning options abound for tech challenged

Dear BizBest: I’ve feared this. My most tech-savvy employee is leaving. She’s the person everyone goes to with software questions — including me! We don’t use anything exotic, just the main Microsoft products and a few others. Where can we get low-cost, user-friendly tutorials that can help everyone here become more PC proficient, without Patty? — Left in the Lurch

Dear Left in the Lurch: Most small businesses are in the same boat. You or your employees may be skilled enough in certain software to get by, but when it comes to getting the most out of a program’s capabilities, dealing with upgrades or learning something new, you probably fall short.

But there’s good news. The “e-learning” field is electric with good tutorials you can order or view online. Some basic help is available free, though you can expect to pay $20 to $100 or more for the best training courses. Choose the format that suits you best, whether it’s CD, online, interactive or a combination. These outlets offer tech training that BizBest rates high for small business.

n Learn2 is a specialist in desktop and Web-based tutorials for learning Microsoft Office, plus a variety of business skills, such as sales, writing and human resources. Everything you need comes in one box and helps learners at all levels. A membership plan gets you access to over 90 popular Microsoft training courses online, by the month ($19.95), or year ($199.95). The course library overall offers training on over 1,000 different topics. Visit www.tutorials.com for details.

n e-Learning for Dummies is an online training version of the popular “For Dummies” book series. Co-ventured by Wiley Publishing and MindLeaders, it can be both effective and inexpensive for small business. The online courses are sold by series, offering you unlimited access to high-quality training for a year. Each series covers one application or topic. Basic learning courses are available for Excel, Outlook, Photoshop, Word, PowerPoint, Macromedia Flash and others. Like the “Dummies” books, the online courses provide straightforward explanations of intimidating or complex topics, presented in a fun, interactive environment. Offered through www.mindleaders.com, or you can also go to www.elearningfordummies.com.

n If the tech “expertise” inside your business is exhausted after the on/off button is pushed, the Newbie Club is something to know about. This UK-based outfit is famous for its down-to-earth approach to all things techie. Here’s where all those little software and hardware mysteries can finally be solved. Owner Joe Robson has put together an amazing collection of the most “newbie” friendly PC and Internet learning resources available anywhere. A free membership gets you immediate access to information on how to use search engines, PC, e-mail and Web browser tutorials, plus help writing Web copy, and more. Offers a six-volume PC and Internet tutorial library for $39.95. Go to www.newbieclub.com and sign up for the free membership. E-mail support@newbieclub.com.

n World Wide Learn is a massive Web-based directory of online training courses, including many for small business, offered by educational institutions, companies and individuals worldwide. For example, you’ll find 22 categories of online computer, Web design and information technology training courses. Go to www.worldwidelearn.com.

n Mentor products offer a kind of shortcut approach to software training. Instead of taking time to complete a training course, you attach a Mentor training module to the software you are using and simply forge ahead. When you have a question or problem, Mentor provides immediate “on the fly” help and demonstrations of how to proceed. Mentors work with a variety of software, hardware, Internet and e-commerce products and services and range in price from $19.95 to $44.95. Visit www.trymentor.com, e-mail sales@trymentor.com or call 203-847-5555.

BizBest (www.bizbest.com) publishes independent ratings and analyses of nearly 2,000 small-business resources in hundreds of subject categories. Daniel Kehrer is editor and publisher. E-mail questions to dan@bizbest.com.

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