Issue #27: How to Make the Most of World Certification Week (April 15-19)

It’s World Certification Week, y’all! ????

This global week of learning was developed by the folks at HubSpot Academy to celebrate professional development and do some good in the world at the same time.

For every HubSpot Academy certification awarded between April 15-19th, HubSpot will donate $5 USD to an education-focused charity (up to $25,000 USD).?

There’s never been a better time to focus on your professional development. To join the effort, sign up here.

#WorldCertificationWeek

With Over 30 Certifications in the HubSpot Academy, Where Do You Begin?

One of Growth Spurt's core values is that "we never stop learning." What started as a lovely sentiment has turned into a heated competition over who can earn the most HubSpot certifications.

Our team has earned more than 30 combined certifications this year, which makes us qualified ambassadors to help you get the most out of World Certification Week 2024.

I’ve asked my team to share their thoughts on the best way to approach your learning this week. And while they were writing, I was sneaking my way back into the lead in our competition.

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The Best Certification if You’re Just Getting Started with Inbound

This recommendation comes from Jessica Bell Wiggins, Digital Marketing Strategist at Growth Spurt.

Course Name: Inbound

Description: Learn the fundamentals of the inbound methodology and the flywheel and how to apply them to your business. The Inbound Certification course teaches you how to run a successful inbound business, from marketing to sales to services.

Take this course.

The Inbound Certification was the first certification I ever earned from the HubSpot Academy and I'm glad it was. It provides a fantastic foundation for the methodology on which all of the other courses are based.

This course will introduce you to the concept of inbound and provide an overview of everything you need for a successful inbound strategy, from marketing to sales, to service.

If you're just getting started with Inbound, HubSpot, or the HubSpot Academy, it's important to set the right foundation and this course will help you do just that!

The Best Certifications for Getting the Most Out of Your Investment in HubSpot

This recommendation comes from Sean McGauley, Director of Content at Growth Spurt.

If you already have a strong inbound foundation but want to learn more about the HubSpot software you’re using to support your inbound strategy, check these out:

• Take the Marketing Software Certification
• Take the Sales Software Certification
• Take the Service Hub Certification

HubSpot is an amazing platform, but your success relies on knowing how to use it. These three courses will walk you through the features and functionality of each Hub and provide best practices along the way.

Pro tip: You only need to take the courses that correspond to the tools you’re using. If your company has no plans to implement Service Hub, for example, you can safely skip that one.

I wouldn't be the HubSpot Power User I am today if it weren't for these three courses setting me up for success.

The Best Certification for Taking Your Sales and Marketing to the Next Level

Course Name: HubSpot Reporting

Description: Learn how to incorporate data-driven decision-making at your organization with the use of the HubSpot reporting tools. This certification course consists of eight lessons that discuss data literacy, and HubSpot reporting tools across the CRM, Marketing Hub, Content Hub, Sales Hub, and Service Hub.

Take this course.

As a small business owner, I can't afford to spend on marketing that doesn't move the needle or waste a minute's time on a lead that isn't qualified. I need to maximize effectiveness at every turn to get my business to the next level.

This requires making data-backed decisions. The HubSpot Reporting course showed me how to unlock all of the data in my portal, analyze it, and turn it into action.

During this 5-hour course, you’ll learn how to build reports in HubSpot, measure performance, and tell a story with your HubSpot data. When done effectively, you'll see your sales, marketing, and service efforts improve over time.

You can't improve what you don't measure, so get to measuring!

Celebrate Your Learning (for Fun and Profit)

Earning a new certification is rewarding, so why not brag about it a little? There are actually some pretty great benefits that come with showcasing your certification on social media.

According to LinkedIn,

• Users with certifications receive 6x more views on their profiles
• Users with certifications are 5x more likely to be contacted by recruiters
• Profiles with certifications are 27% more likely to get noticed by employers

So, once you’ve earned your certification, your next step is to add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Step 1: After you’ve earned your certification, HubSpot Academy will invite you to download and share your certificate.

Step 2: Click the icon to download your certificate

Step 3: Then, click “Share your achievement”

Step 4: Click “LinkedIn Licenses & Certifications” to automatically bring up your LinkedIn profile with an auto-populated certificate listing for LinkedIn.

Step 5: Make sure to add your associated skills to help boost your profile.

Step 6: Click to add media and upload the certificate image downloaded from HubSpot in step 2.

Step 7: Share your achievement with your LinkedIn following. Let the people know! Shout it from the rooftops!

What’s Next?

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Keep an eye out for next week’s issue, where we’ll highlight more digital marketing trends and news.