In this insightful episode of the Product Design for Learning (PDFL) Podcast, host Greg Arthur welcomes Alice Thompson, Development Partner at M&S. Together, they explore the intricacies of marketing and releasing learning products within a global organization. Alice shares her expertise in training international teams and emphasizes the importance of storytelling, audience understanding, and relationship building in effective learning product promotion.

Alice Thompson serves as a Development Partner at M&S, focusing on the international side of the business. With years of experience in learning and development, Alice is passionate about designing efficient training systems, leveraging internal expertise, and addressing the unique challenges of delivering high-quality learning experiences in diverse global markets.

• Think Like a Marketer Early On: Start considering your audience and marketing strategy from the initial stages of product design.
• Storytelling as a Superpower: Craft compelling narratives to make your learning initiatives resonate and drive engagement.
• Leverage Data and Insights: Use audience behavior and feedback to refine your approach continually.
• Build Relationships: Networking and maintaining open dialogue with stakeholders are key to understanding needs and building trust.
• Test and Iterate: Start small, gather feedback, and scale up effective ideas.

"Can you explain your role as a Development Partner at M&S?"

Alice outlines her work with global teams to create efficient training methods. She emphasizes collaboration with franchise partners and owned markets to address challenges in delivering a consistent customer experience.

"Why is the market and release phase so critical?"

Alice highlights this phase as the bridge between strategy and execution, focusing on delivering relevant content through the right channels to the right people.

"What are common mistakes in L&D marketing?"

Alice reflects on her early missteps, such as overloading audiences without understanding their needs, and stresses the value of relationship building and audience alignment.

"How can storytelling improve learning product marketing?"

Alice explains how storytelling can create emotional connections and communicate the value of learning initiatives effectively.

"What advice do you have for someone starting in this phase?"

Alice recommends understanding your audience, leveraging the right channels, and continuously learning from both successes and failures.

Greg introduces Alice and sets the stage for a conversation about marketing and releasing learning products.

Alice explains her work with international teams and the skills required to deliver impactful learning globally.

Alice discusses why this phase is essential for ensuring learning initiatives succeed.

A deep dive into the value of understanding audience needs and habits.

Alice offers practical advice for professionals new to the market and release phase.

Alice shares a candid account of a marketing misstep and the lessons learned.

Alice reveals her go-to tools and...