Curious how many Realtors here are also e-Pro designated also. Is it worth spending the 400 buck or whatever it is to get this designation. Looking at their site, it looks like fairly simple designation. Think this designation helps you in anyway, does the end uer customer coming to my website know if this helps them in anyway? I haven't seen the NAR really promote this designation in their ads or anywhere else. Just curious if this is more of an industry insider designation (a feel good designation) or is the e-Pro something that the customer may be looking for?

I'm going to get it, but wondering if anybody has had any revenue increase or seen any real benefit from the e-Pro thing.

Thanks!
Rick Burton
http://www.UtahHomeSales.com

It is a very easy set of letters to get. It took less than 6 hours to do all of the "coursework" so IMO it is worthless. The class uses listservs (lets go back to the 80's please) and most of the stuff they "trained" on I learned in grade school.

If you are not good on a computer or the net then give it a shot, other than that save your money for a CRS class. Now those are worth the money if you have the production requirements.

waste of time, money and time

I wouldn't say I learned anything, but having a designation doesn't hurt. It's easy to do, so go for it. You may learn something too.

Ken,

About your remark, "The class uses listservs (lets go back to the 80's please)"...well, listserves are an excellent way for a community to communicate. They are by no means outdated and serve to keep the members much better informed, and involved, than just an online forum, since, for those who don't know, messages in a listserv are delivered to every member's email box and so members do not need to remember to visit a forum to keep updated.

I still read a very active listserv for a linux group (my web server and mail server run on linux), for e-Pro, and for CyberStars. I can look at my email box and tell at a glance when there is activity and also have to option of getting each as a "summary" email rather than getting individual emails for each group (I do this with the linux group).

But, back to the original reason for the post. The cost is quite low for the designation and, even for intermediate users, there can be some good information in the course. I would recommend it for all but the "power users".
Hope this helps!

I did it for the designation and it's worked out well. Myself, I'm a heavy-duty techie from the dot com world (power user) before getting into real estate. Some people respond to the little feathers on the cap, and I figured it wouldn't hurt to get another. It hasn't. Also, I like the real estate specific tips. The course was no-stress relaxing thing and I enjoyed it.

I disagree. Listservs are very outdated. They need to have a forum like this one. I would rather log in to view replies or set up a preference to have the reply delivered to me if I'm interested in the topic. Instead, you get emails each day with a ton of replies on topics that you may or may not be interested in. It's also harder to follow a specific thread.

I'm involved in a lot of online groups for real estate and other businesses. None of still them use listservs as a communication tool. Listservs remind me of floppy disks.

I'm completely with Ken on this one.

I've taken both e-PRO classes; the original one which folded because the company administering it went bankrupt and the new one The Internet Crusade guys run. I found them both to be good learning experience but the best thing is to be part of their referral roster.

I've received several good referrals from fellow e-PROs in different parts of the country.

Several thouand dollars in "bonus" commissions made it all worthwhile. That's also one of the reasons I maintain my CRS and ABR designations too.

I do agree that all of these designations that James has are worth obtaining. It doesn't cost much, gives you MCE credits in most cases, and gives you networking opportunities. In class, you often learn from other agents just as much as you learn from the instructor.

I've developed some great friendships with agents in these classes.

If you are contemplating getting the CRS, the E-Pro will satisfy one class requirement.

I was checking on a specific realtor to see how her website figured in the search engines (she uses the same web design company I do). Didn't find much reference to her site in itself (lol) but she was all over google on different e-Pro realtors sites. I was impressed.

Barry thats because there is a paid link program for e-Pro's. It isn't something that I would want my site to be associated with as it has one purpose...to manipulate the SE's.

Yeah........Heaven forbid someone would try to manipulate search engines. :p

Manipulate search engines? Don't think it's quite that bad. It is a link exchange with quality, relevant link partners. And I must say, it WORKS. I recommend that ALL of my clients get their ePRO specifically to participate in that list. Manipulation? Maybe. They want their sites to rank high and this is a completely legitimate way to do it!

http://www.IREAgents.com

Yeah, I need to try something. Sites been up two months now and I'm doing great in MSN!!! For crying out loud, people use MSN to search???

Google and Yahoo know I have a real estate site, but who do they list for "waterloo il real estate"? Not a single agent's site on the first page. Not even top producer's sites with actual Google PR. I suppose I should look at this as an opportunity...

Hmmm..I tried to find information on the paid inclusion program for e-PROs and don't see it. What program are you referring to? I didn't find any single program except the ones that anyone can join, whether or not you're an e-PRO.

http://www.ireagents.com/ is the site that has the linking program. Just go to "Agent Linking" from the top nav and you can read about it.

I loved the e-Pro class! These are the reasons I reccomend it:

1) The cost is not bad for a designation.
2) Unless you are a "power user" there's some great info. If all Realtors knew this stuff, business life would be easier for all of us.
3) You can do it anytime since it's online.
4) It's interesting, fun and doesn't take that long to complete.

Hope this helps anyone trying to decide!

I will eventually take this course just because the highest ranking agents in my area have the E-Pro designation.

They are on the first page of google for our area and that's where I want to be since we get alot of relo buyers because of Ft Benning.

Check www.linkpopularity.com and see if the highest ranking agents in your area are E-Pro agents.

Kim Olive
www.kimolive.com