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ActiveRain or e-PRO Certification or both?

ActiveRain or e-PRO® or both? ...or none of it? I guess that is an option too.

I got the e-PRO® Certification back in 2004 or 2005. They'd updated the course after I took it to include social media.... I believe the current version is at least the second version since I took the course.

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In an email from NAR yesterday:

Announcing the All-New e-PRO® Certification Course

"Staying up on technology also means being able to effectively conduct business on the Internet, using both standard tools and emerging technologies. With that in mind NAR is pleased to announce the all-new e-PRO® Certification Course, which has been updated to include in-depth information on social media and Web 2.0. Learn more about how these concepts can benefit real estate professionals looking to thrive in the online world of real estate."

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The info on the Realtor.org site includes an offer for those of us who have the e-PRO® Certification:

"There is a unique offer for existing e-PRO® graduates. Access the all-new e-PRO® course and take the Web 2.0 and Social Media Course for REALTORS® at a special price of $79 (vs. the new student member-rate of $99)."

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I learned via ActiveRain back in 2006 on ActiveRain that my e-PRO was a useless piece of Tinfoil.... and that I was still a dinosaur.... the Real Estate Tomato wrote an entry here... dinosaur walking

I can't find it but the version on his real blog: e-Pro is a Tinfoil Badge enraged me.

That was back in 2006... ActiveRain, e-PRO®Cert or a Tomato blog?

Fast Forward to 2009 and the ALL- New e-PRO® Certification and the unique offer for those of us who have it.

Any "e-PRO® graduates" thinking of taking them up on the unique offer for existing e-PRO® graduates?

Over and over and over we hear people say how much they learn from one another on ActiveRain. Do you think with everything you learn from your peers on ActiveRain you need a course? No continuing ed credit on ActiveRain....

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Image credit : Dinosaur Walk by Mykl Roventine shared on Flickr with a creative commons license that allows for commercial use. Thanks Mykl. Mykl Roventines Flickr photostream

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Posted by Maureen McCabe Central OH Homes on 07/30/2009 07:20 AM

Comments (22)

Social Media Continuing Education in the ActiveRain Channel

activerain, nar

Post is included in group: Real Living
Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: Addicted to Active Rain

22 Comments on ActiveRain or e-PRO Certification or both?

JUL

I've only been in the business for 2 1/2 years, but I've decided NOT to go after all those fancy letters behind my name because I've found they mean nothing to my clients nor do they impress anyone but other agents. My business is thriving without them.

The one thing I would like to see cleared up is the perception of so many e-PRO and prospective e-PRO students is that e-PRO is a designation. It is a certificate, not a designation like the various alphabet soup parts, GRI, etc.

That said, I can't see how a person who is not involved in Internet advertising, Internet networking (social media), etc. can not benefit from the course.

OTOH, if a person is skilled and/or experienced and is comfortable on the Internet, it's (the course) is probably going to be too basic and an unnecessary expenditure of funds.

Thanks for the information. Best of luck in obtaining additional certifications. Please share what you learn on how to use ActiveRain more effectively.

Sorry it's worthless. No need to spend any more money with them! I've learned more on AR than I ever could thru that course. They only sell seminars!

Lenn makes good points (go figure). I've heard some people say it was a waste of time. Others completely unfamiliar with technology may benefit - of course they will need to keep learning AFTER the class as well to get anywhere.

Bob I found in many but not all cases the certification and designation classes are better classes than the average RE continuing ed that I could get for less money.

That may not be your experience.

When I have to do 30 hours of continuing ed. I want to make good use of my time. Continuing ed has really, really gotten better over the years too, though IMHO. They have to compete with what we can learn from one another.

I think some of the people who have promoted that the consumers don't care about your certifications have something else they want you to spend your money on. While that is a valid point, every class you have an opportunity to get something out of it for your clientele, or just to put your time in.

Lenn I hope I got "certification" in and never said designation here. The extra ® are there in case I missed any wedged into "e-PRO ® certifiction" or it probably does not work that way, huh?

Maureen, I did my e-PRO several years ago, it may have been 2005 or 2006. I really don't remember. The e-PRO class was good and I did learn from it. I think the info on Active Rain is way more in depth than what I learned in the class. I'm not concerned about getting my CE credits. There are plenty of other classes for me to get my credits that could help me more.

The only other expenditurewe look at doing is Broker. I really think all the designations are a true waste of money. It hasnt helped me and I dropped them for all my cards, brochures ETC.

e-Pro is another way to separate you from your money...just my opinon.

Roy I am not sure if I will do the update or not. I do have to do my cont. ed. soon. I like doing cont. ed. online. I have no idea if the update is approved for cont. ed. in Ohio and that would probably be one thing that would make me decide to take the class or not take the update class.

Lyn Did you take it? I am pretty sure I met you on RealTalk so I am assuming you are a "graduate."

You said "They only sell seminars!"

By "They" do you mean NAR or Internet Crusade?

Steve I don't believe Lenn was totally unfamiliar with technology when she took the course.

Jen One of the agents in my office tried to discourage me from doing e-PRO® back when I did because I embraced technology on my own... and knew more than the average agent in my office. I have always wondered why it was any of her business?

Laura I don't use any of my alphabet soup... anywhere anymore. I still do use what I learned in the classes though.

Gary did you take it? you said "another way to separate you from your money." what are the other ways?....

I am an "e-PRO" an honestly I did not learn anything in the course. I am not taking another one. Waste of time and money. I rather learn in real time and from sites like AR and a dozen other sites.

Thanks Anne.

I loved the comments on the Tomato post back in 2006. One of the classier comments back in 2006 IMHO include Caleb Mardini of ActiveRain who wrote in part:

"The way I see it if one of those agents looks to educate themselves and get a better understanding of how to use technology in today's real estate world, then more power to them.

I don't know anything about the E-Pro course, but if they , like Bonnie Erickson, are getting value from it then it's good they received the education."

I miss Caleb....

And Rudy Bachraty of Sellsius Real Estate blog quoted:

"You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself." - Galileo

-rdb.sellsius°

Thanks for posting on this topic Maureen. The responses have answered my questions concerning expenditure vs. return.

Robert this crowd could be somewhat biased. ; - )

Hi Maureen,

I don't think we have the E Pro here in Canada. But then again we don't seem to have a lot of real estate bloggers either. (fine with me) It does sound like they are a little behind the 8 ball but I guess they are just trying to catch up those who are also really behind the 8 ball.

Jenny I think Chris Newell is an e-PRO and I know he is a Canadian. Sorry but Canadian's always confuse me... not Canadians in general as I deal with few... I sold a couple who are Canadians a house in 2007. They were lovely. Canadian real estate agents confuse me... I was going to call you Canadian REALTORS® but if you are not an NAR member you are not a REALTOR® right?

Anyway Chris may even be an e-PRO instructor. He is 6' tall. He told me so on Twitter this AM. I have not exchanged Tweets across international borders in I can't tell you how long. I don't even talk to RE agents much on Twitter but I tweeted about real estate agents being small people last night. Chris's mom is only 4'11" hmmm does Chris come from a real estate family? Was she a REALTOR I mean Candadian real estate agent.

Do you know Chris Newell? I know... I know Canada is a big country... hey he is in Ontario too... and was Re/Max when I first "met" him.

I probably should have asked everyoe if others in your market need the e-PRO® Certification or ActiveRain or nothing at all since so many of us (present company accepted) have such a great opinion of our abilities and so much disdain for the technical abilities of anyone else...

;-)

Hi Maureen... I think that Lenn makes an excellent observation when she indicates the value of e-PRO certification is probably dependent on the agent's existing level of experience with the topics covered.

Isn't that true of just about anything in life? Do you vote then for all those other agents in your market to take it... or do you think they'd all do just as well picking stuff up as they use it online ... in a place like ActiveRain? or via something like RE Barcamp?

I went to a "tech fair" at our board this week. For me it was a waste of time but I wondered if for others might have got more out of it. Vendors... CSS... we use it. Laptop guy piece of paper with the same offer as is available online but printed out on a piece of paper... our MLS vendor. Verizon wireless guys with their latest phones. Or maybe I somehow missed the latest technology that was being presented there. I skipped last year, worked it as a volunteer at least the previous two years. I went a time or two before I was on the committtee that puts it on. I have never thought of it as a great event to introduce technology to people. I was trying to get friends who feel technology challenged to go. They did not. I did.

Maureen - I don't have the e-pro certification, but after reading the comments, it doesn't seem worth it. I was considering taking the course, but I guess there are other free resources to obtain the same information. I don't have any designations, and now don't know that I will go for any after reading all the comments.

I loved the comments on the Tomato post back in 2006. One of the classier comments back in 2006 IMHO is Caleb Mardini of ActiveRain who wrote in part:

"The way I see it if one of those agents looks to educate themselves and get a better understanding of how to use technology in today's real estate world, then more power to them.

I don't know anything about the E-Pro course, but if they , like Bonnie Erickson, are getting value from it then it's good they received the education."

I miss Caleb....

And Rudy Bachraty of Sellsius Real Estate blog quoted:

"You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself." - Galileo

-rdb.sellsius°

I do indeed have the e-pro designation, but I have learned much, much, much, much more here on Active Rain and being ripped off by venders who take advantage of those who do not understand technology- there is not better lesson than being ripped off.

JUL

"and being ripped off by venders who take advantage of those who do not understand technology- there is not better lesson than being ripped off."

Have you blogged about that?

Lead generationa?

SEO?

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