Introduction:
If you’ve created an infoproduct and a sales funnel for it…
And you have all your download files ready and you’re close to launching it – congrats! But you’re not done yet.
You need a system in place to deliver your course. If it’s just an ebook, you could easily provide a download link and be done with it. But what if it’s a full-blown video course?
You may have chapters and modules, and you want your customers/students to follow your training in a step-by-step manner. You’ll also want to protect your content from those who haven’t paid.
Maybe you’d prefer to drip the content where your students get access to 1 chapter and 7 modules each week. This bite-sized approach to consuming content will keep them focused and on track without making things seem too overwhelming.
In order to do that, what you need is a learning management system (LMS). With such software, you’ll be able to lay out your course in an organized manner so that learning will be a pleasant experience for your students.
One of the most popular LMS software used by thousands of online marketers is Thrive Apprentice. Let’s see why it’s so popular…
The Pros
- No subscription/transaction fees
This is one of the strongest selling points of Thrive Apprentice. Unlike Teachable, Kajabi or other solutions, there’s no monthly fee with Thrive Apprentice.
You’ll keep 100% of the profits without needing to pay any transaction fees. Many marketers on a tight budget prefer Thrive because it’s a cost-effective solution.
- Full control
Thrive Apprentice is a theme that’s part of the Thrive Suite. What that means is that you’ll be installing it on a site you own… then you’ll customize the layout for your course.
Unlike other LMS where you’ll be adding your content to someone else’s site, with Thrive Apprentice, you’re not relying on anyone else.
What happens if the site your content is being hosted on shuts down or gives you the boot?
You’d have to set everything up again elsewhere. With Thrive Apprentice, you are in FULL control of your site.
- Easy to use
There are many tutorials to guide you on how to use this theme. Once you install the Thrive Apprentice plugin, you’ll have an intuitive feel as to how to use it. It’s really simple.
The interface is clean and clutter-free. While it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles as the other more advanced LMS software, there’s a certain beauty in its simplicity.
- Simple layout and customization
You can plan your course into modules, lessons and chapters. You can upload text-based lessons and/or video tutorials. The setup is very straightforward.
Your customers will automatically know how to navigate through your course because it’s well laid out for them.
- Wide range of features
Thrive Apprentice is one of the tools in the Thrive Suite. You’ll have to buy the entire suite to get the Apprentice plugin. But don’t panic. You’re getting a ton of value here.
You’ll have the Thrive Architect page builder, Thrive Leads pop up plugin, Thrive Ovation to get testimonials and much more. In fact, the Thrive Suite is so versatile you’ll be able to use it for most of your business needs without buying more software.
- Integrates with SendOwl
Your Thrive Apprentice plugin now integrates with SendOwl. So you can use SendOwl to process sales, run an affiliate program, and then link it to your site which will give paying customers access to the content while protecting the content from those who haven’t paid for it.
The Cons
We’ll be frank here. Thrive Apprentice is NOT the best LMS on the market. Far from it. What it is though is an effective and inexpensive solution for marketers to lay out their courses.
There are no quizzes or grading features. Even the progress monitoring isn’t very advanced. Managing your students is basic at best.
However, it’s still very effective because when an LMS has too many features, it can get distracting. The truth is that just like how most people never complete reading the books they buy, most don’t complete the courses they buy either.
When you keep things simple and focused, there’s a higher chance that your students will complete the training… and that’s what you want. In this aspect, Thrive Apprentice shines.
Should You Get It?
If you’re on a tight budget and just want a simple, no-frills way to deliver your training in a systematic manner while keeping the content protected, Thrive Apprentice is all you need.
You’ll not need to pay a monthly fee. Your customers will still get a course that’s laid out neatly for them.
And you’ll also have access to all the other tools in Thrive Suite that will help in your other marketing needs. This is a win-win.
Give Thrive Apprentice a try and you’ll realize that it’s the best learning management system for the budget-conscious marketer.
