If you are creating a pay-to-learn website, you have no doubt looked at the various web-based open-source LMS (Learning Management Systems) or sometimes called CMS (Course Management Systems). These programs were designed by educators, not marketers, so they don’t contain the payment solutions that marketers want to cash in on the ‘Boom’ in pay-to-learn web sites.
The sad fact is, that the open-source LMS products today just do not have robust ecommerce support. It is possible to add a shopping cart to an open-source LMS product like Moodle. With a little set of hacks and the E-Junkie shopping cart system, it’s really quite easy to do, even if you have basic to moderate coding skills.
Use Remote Enrollment
They key to doing this in Moodle is by using the remote enrollment database feature. You ‘intercept’ the enrollment code within Moodle, and replace it with your shopping cart buttons. Then the remote callback feature of the EJunkie shopping cart populates your external enrollment database.
I have created an electronic web e-course that shows how to do all of this in detail. If you are handy with PHP, it should not be any problem for you to set up – if you are not, consult an expert to help you with the mods. Also, this procedure should be viewed as a ‘hack’, not a ‘module’. It would be unlikely to survive an upgrade without some modification.
E-Junkie Shopping Cart
This course shows you how to use the popular e-Junkie service with Moodle. This site has all the e-commerce functions you need to add a powerful shopping cart to your Moodle system. This setup offers:
- A professional-looking cart and checkout system
- The ability to use any payment processor – not just PayPal
- A pro-grade affiliate management system
- Ability to track payments
- A system that integrates with popular 3rd party systems such as autoresponders
- Professional design and a reliable system
Here Is A Preview
I used to give this course away – but many of you who took my offer had numerous support issues, so to make it worth my while, I’ve decided to charge $29 for the course. Dozens of users have successfully implemented this solution – it really harnesses the power of e-Junkie. There are 5 videos, over 40 minutes of instruction.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
this is pretty slick. I’ve used Moodle for selling courses and because there was no shopping cart feature we actually used meta courses to sell course packages. It works, but it’s not necessarily the best.
Thanks for the video, I would be interested in writing up a post for Moodlemonthly.com about the process and the video if you’re willing. Email me anytime,
-Joe
Hello. I’m considering ordering this solution and want to make sure you or someone would be available if I run into any problems. Please let me know.
Hi Michael – sure thing – I have a support desk at http://www.datasystemsplus.net/support – be glad to help you along.
nice article Thanks for the video, I would be interested in writing up a post for Moodlemonthly.com about the process and the video if you’re willing. Email me anytime,great
Thanks for the video, I’ve used Moodle for selling courses and because there was no shopping cart feature we actually used meta courses to sell course packages. It works, but it’s not necessarily the best.
Carl,
Shopping carts, rss automation…wow, is there anything you don’t know for building a business online?
Believe me, there is plenty I don’t know! Thanks for the comment!
Interesting I’ve used Moodle for selling courses and because there was no shopping cart feature we actually used meta courses to sell course packages.
How is Moodle different from other CMS packages that are available on the web? If it effectively works as a type of portal aren’t there more mature and capable platforms out there that can be easily tailored to meet your own personal needs? I’m not trying to be aggressive, I’d just like to know if it’s a better option than customising another CMS.
Carl – I’m using e-junkie currently to sell online courses and need to do exactly this (link e-junkie to an LMS). Do you contract to do work like this, or would you recommend a developer who would do this? thanks!
Michael bloch