5 Ways to Grow Your Business with Designations

Real estate agents are busy people, right? Between prospecting for business and working with clients, who has time to earn real estate designations?

It's true that only a small percentage of agents have completed the requirements for one of the official designations or certifications awarded by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). But don't assume they have plenty of time on their hands. Rather, designated agents represent the upper echelons in their field, go-getters who consistently outperform other agents. Here's what they gain from their designations:

1. Fresh ideas. Every agent can benefit from learning new and better ways to do things. NAR's designation courses are packed with regularly-updated information on the best ways to work with buyers and sellers—and deal with other agents. If taken in a classroom setting, designation courses also provide a great opportunity to hear fresh ideas from some of the best instructors in the industry, as well as other attendees.

2. Time savers. Designations are about much more than training and education. They also provide members-only access to many time-saving tools that simplify your work with buyers and sellers, including professional marketing materials, consumer education tools and other benefits.

3. Competitive edge. In a crowded market, designation training helps agents bring more skills to the table and tout their credentials online. It's tangible evidence that you've set the bar higher and could easily be a key difference-maker when consumers compare your credentials to a competitor's.

4. Referrals. Consumers aren't the only ones who view designated real estate professionals as having an edge. So do other agents. In fact, NAR designees regularly use our online directories to find their counterparts in other markets for referral purposes.

5. Niche opportunities. Several of NAR's designations and certifications were specifically developed to help agents understand the special needs of certain types of buyers and sellers including, for example, eco-conscious consumers, current and former members of the military, baby boomers and their aging parents, and many other real estate niches.

Year after year, NAR membership surveys find that designated agents earn substantially more than those who haven't completed advanced training. That's because more education equals more opportunities.

November is Designation Awareness Month, when REALTORS® are encouraged to start or complete an officially endorsed designation or certification through NAR or one of its Institutes, Societies and Councils. As a bonus, discounts are offered on numerous online courses this month. For more details on NAR designations and courses, or to register for a class, visit RealtorU.com.