MRP. RSPS. SRES. ALC. CRS.

You may be able to make sense of that alphabet soup, but can your prospects? And more importantly – does it matter?

Do you have experience with LEED certified homes and buildings? Are you a member of the million dollar club? Have you worked with seniors looking to downsize? Do you know a lot about grants for first-time homebuyers, or are you familiar with the needs of military families looking to relocate?

There are a lot of opinions out there about whether it makes sense to list additional qualifications on your Century 21 business card. This post will explain some of the pros and cons, so that you can decide what works best for your business.

Pros:

• Conversation starter – Whether someone asks about the letters on your card or you point them out, listing certification gives you something to talk about when you’re looking to break the ice.
• Instant credibility-booster with prospects – If you find out a potential client is a member of the armed services, and you’ve got your Military Relocation Professional certification listed on your business card, you’ve got an instant connection.
• Makes you more memorable – There are a lot of real estate agents out there. Anything you can do to stand out from the crowd helps, especially when you can show at a glance how you’ve invested in yourself to provide the best service possible for your clients.
• Useful for networking – When you’re looking for new connections, it helps to be as specific as possible. If you introduce yourself as a green home specialist, and your real estate business card is branded green, your contacts will know exactly who to refer to you.

Cons:

• May look intimidating or pretentious – Having a slew of letters after your name can be a gamble if it makes your prospect feel like he or she can’t relate to you. For some markets, using a symbol or spelling out your certifications in full on the back of your card may be a better choice.
• Clients may assume you only work within your specialty – Some prospects may notice a specialty designation listed on your card, and assume you only work within that niche.
• Can make your business card look cluttered – Let’s face it, there’s a lot of information that can be useful on a real estate business card. But if you list every last bit of it, the card would be so cluttered as to be unreadable. It comes down to choosing which information will be the most important in helping you make connections and close deals.

What it comes down to, as is so often the case, is knowing your market. It isn’t just about listing your certifications. Anything that shows potential clients that you’re particularly knowledgeable about something they need can be a big plus in the real estate market.