Episode 321: Online Experience Design – How to Avoid Death By Videos

Online Experience Design: How to Avoid Overloading Your Audience with Videos

In the fast-evolving digital world, online experience design is more critical than ever. If you’re building an online course or program, you might think that producing an extensive library of videos is the key to delivering value. However, this “video vault” approach often leads to frustration, overwhelm, and disengagement from your audience.

In Episode 321 of the Podcast, we’re diving into why online experience design should prioritize simplicity, structure, and transformation—not just an endless stream of content.

Why More Videos Don’t Equal More Value

A colleague recently mentioned the growing trend of massive video vaults in online programs. On the surface, it seems like offering 95 videos as part of a course adds value. But here’s the truth: Your clients don’t need more information—they need results.

The challenge in online experience design is that people are already overwhelmed with content. More videos don’t help; in fact, they can create obstacles. When people feel buried under too much material, they disengage.

Instead of focusing on video quantity, focus on designing an orchestrated journey that leads users to their desired outcome in the fastest, simplest way possible.

Three Key Online Experience Design Takeaways from This Episode:

1. Create the Fastest Path to Results
   Your online program should feel like a guided journey. Think of it as a roadmap, not a library. The goal is to take learners from Point A (their problem) to Point B (their solution) with the least friction. In many cases, this means you only need four to five core videos, not dozens.

Ask yourself: What are the essential steps that will get my clients to their transformation as quickly as possible?

2. Differentiate Between ‘Need to Have’ and ‘Nice to Have’
   Effective online experience design separates essential content from extras. Not every piece of information belongs on the main path.

• Need to Have: These are the core videos and resources that provide the step-by-step actions required to achieve the desired result. Typically, this is around 10 to 12 videos max.
• Nice to Have: Supplementary content such as guest speakers, advanced techniques, or industry insights that enhance but do not distract from the primary goal.

This segmentation creates a streamlined experience and reduces cognitive load for learners.

3. Cut the Clutter: Stop Overloading with Marketing Material
   One of the biggest mistakes in online experience design is dumping marketing content into course platforms. While those videos may have been effective in attracting clients, they are not part of the learning path.

If you overload your membership area with past webinars, Facebook Lives, and sales presentations, your clients will feel disoriented. Instead, focus on fresh, actionable content designed specifically for where your clients are in their journey.

Why This Approach Works

The reality is that engaging online experience design isn’t about creating Netflix-style content libraries. It’s about clarity and direction. When clients feel like they’re on a clear path with minimal distractions, their chances of success—and satisfaction—increase exponentially.