e-Pro Certification
The only technology certification program recognized by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, the all-new e-PRO has been built by REALTORS® for REALTORS®.
e-PRO has been developed and will be delivered by one of the most respected real estate education technology companies in the industry, InternetCrusade®. And it’s packed with critical Internet learning applications to give you enhanced Internet skills, increasing your opportunities for success in the real estate industry.
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What is e-PRO Certification?
The e-PRO certification course is NAR's new online training program to certify real estate professionals as Internet professionals. The program is comprehensive and incorporates online interactivity with other successful real estate professionals who are taking the course at the same time. The e-PRO course is the only certification program of its kind, recognized nationwide and endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS®. You will be able to complete the course at your own pace, when and where you want, with any Internet connection. The e-PRO certification course is presented entirely online. The course is designed to help REALTORS® stay at the leading edge of technology and identify, evaluate, and implement new Internet business models.
What does the e-PRO Certification curriculum cover?
The course consists of four modules, each containing four sections. Each module has its own ListServ for questions and answers. The ListServ is an online interface with the instructors, current and past students including many long-term successful real estate professionals.
Module 1: Understanding the Miracle of the Internet
In this module, students learn about the technology challenge and making the technology investment. This includes, among other things, an understanding and awareness of: Consumer Use of the Internet, the e-Transaction, Real Estate Portals, Privacy Issues, Connectivity Choices, Domain Name Structure, and Hosting.
Module 2: Becoming an eMail Power House
Most people’s concept of email is “send and receive.” This limits the power email can bring to your business. To more effectively handle email, real estate professionals must get better at taking advantage of the functionality on both the client and server side. Setting up your permanent email address is one of the most important lessons for today’s real estate professional. Your email address is your identity on the Internet. Among other topics, Module 2 covers the following: Email as a Communication Tool, Fundamentals of Effective Email-based Marketing, Importance of Promptness When Replying to Email, Build Distribution Lists or Groups for Every Transaction, Making the Most of Email Embedded Links, Driving People to Your Web Site, Mass Mailings, Auto-Responder, Fundamental Elements of an Email Marketing Strategy.
Module 3: World Wide Web ... Marketing, Publishing, Service and Support
An Internet presence is made up of both an email presence and a Web presence. Just as your domain is the foundation of your email presence (You@YourBrand.com), your domain is the center of your Web presence as well. The address of your Web site, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) should contain your domain (http://YourBrand.com). The focus of Module 3 is the examination of Web site options and how they are being used by today’s (and in some cases tomorrow’s) real estate professional and the home buying and selling public. A sampling of topics covered: Importance of a Web Strategy, Web Sites in the Real Estate Industry, Your Web Site is You to the Visitor, Getting Return Visitors to Your Web Site, Search Engines and Behind-the-Scenes Content – Meta Tags, Listing Package and Listing Presentation, Creating a Buyer Internet Resource Presentation.
Module 4: Tying It All Together ... Tools of the Trade, Virtual Community and Technology Plan of Action
Module 4 helps you tie everything together. You will learn about: Virtual Communities – Their Functions and Benefits, Power of the Real Estate Industry and the Virtual Community, Joining the e-PRO Talk Community, Relationship and Referral Business through Community, Advertising and Lead Generation on the Internet, Technology Tools Available to Real Estate Professionals, Fundamentals of a Technology Plan of Action.
Why would customers come to someone who's e-PRO Certified?
More homebuyers are going to the Internet to research and gather information prior to contacting a real estate professional. As a result, they are further along in the home buying process but still require that the e-PRO, the local expert, will help them make a better home buying decision.
Customers will have confidence that you are proactive and savvy about the Internet and that you take the connected consumer seriously as well as meet their online needs. This affluent and rapidly growing consumer group will appreciate your interest and ability in using the Internet and want to work with you! Today's connected consumers want to be actively engaged in the process. Moreover, they demand that the real estate salespeople working on their behalf add real value to the transaction, typically in the form of interpreting and applying the wealth of information in the best interests of the client. There is no mistaking the new real estate professional. Online consumers will be accustomed to look for the one with the e-PRO logo.
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