Business.com |
- How to Promote Your eCommerce Business Offline
- 5 Tips To Managing A Remote Workforce
- It's Not Just CNP Fraud. Merchants Must Protect Themselves from New Cybercrime Scams
- Make Sustainability Part of Your Business Model
- How to use Social Media to Retain Customers
- Best Project Management Certifications
| How to Promote Your eCommerce Business Offline Posted: 25 Apr 2019 12:00 PM PDT  Having an online store doesn't mean you should limit yourself to online interactions and promotions. If you want your e-commerce business to be successful you need to be everywhere. Even though people spend much of their time behind laptops or mobile device screens, there's nothing quite like human-to-human interaction. By promoting your e-commerce business offline, you'll be able to meet and connect with your target audience face-to-face. Plus, the more places you're promoting your online business, the more sales you can make. Here's how to promote your e-commerce business offline. Get some business cardsBusiness cards might seem old-fashioned and unnecessary in e-commerce, but this simple piece of paper is still an effective tool to promote your e-commerce business offline. When you're out and about, you're constantly running into potential future customers. Say you're at a restaurant and the server compliments your scarf. You let them know that you sell that exact scarf on your website, and then instead of telling them your website address and hoping they remember it, you can hand them a business card. Of course, you'll want to make sure your website address is front and center on the business card. After all, you often won't need a physical address or even a phone number, so make sure your website stands out. Plus, with free online design tools, you can design a gorgeous business card for free. Attend events in your communityDon't sit behind your computer all day, get out there and meet people in the community. Attending events in-person is a great way to get the word out about your business and hand out a bunch of those stunning business cards you made. There are a ton of different events you could attend in your community and nearby cities. First, look into joining your local Chamber of Commerce or any other local groups that allow business owners to connect and network with each other. You should also look into conferences and trade shows related to your specific industry. Attending these types of events allows you to form meaningful industry relationships, learn new tips for running a successful e-commerce business and promote your online store to potential customers. Editor's note: Looking for ecommerce or shopping cart software for your business? Fill out the questionnaire below to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs. Set up a pop-up shopPop-up shops have been growing in popularity over the past few years, and they're a great way to build awareness for your online store. A pop-up shop is basically a short-term, temporary retail space. It "pops up" and then is gone quickly. It's the perfect opportunity for e-commerce businesses to introduce their brand to customers in-person. Plus, it gives customers the ability to see your products up close. Of course, to be able to set up a pop-up shop, you'll need to have your own inventory; a pop-up shop won't work for an affiliate e-commerce store. Although this strategy is more expensive than the others, if you've got the budget to make it work, it's worth it. But if you don't want to rent a temporary space, you could check out local art festivals or markets and just rent a booth. Offer free branded swagAnother way to promote your e-commerce business offline is to offer free branded swag. People love getting free stuff. Not only does free branded swag make your customers and potential customers jump for joy, but it promotes your business too. Consider getting swag such as t-shirts, pens, stationary or mugs printed with your logo and website address. You can hand out free swag at events in your community to spread the word about your online store. When you give a memorable or useful branded gift, your website will stay at the top of people's minds. Get in touch with local mediaClearly, digital marketing is important for e-commerce websites but don't forget about traditional media too. If you want to promote your online store to the people in your area, get in touch with local media. You could get your business featured in the local paper, land a feature in a local magazine or give an interview on a local radio station. Even if you haven't launched your website yet, you should still reach out to local media. Local news sources may be willing to announce the upcoming launch of your online store, which will create interest in it. Just make sure you have a Coming Soon page on your website to capture leads and create a buzz before your launch day. Put your online business out in the real worldJust because you have an online store, doesn't mean your customers are only online – they're everywhere – so you need to be everywhere too. Using these tips for promoting your e-commerce business offline will help you spread the word about your online store to potential customers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 Tips To Managing A Remote Workforce Posted: 25 Apr 2019 11:00 AM PDT  Managing a remote workforce is no easy feat, yet it's something that many more business owners are being forced to contend with today than ever before. The nature of the modern economy, inundated as it is with digital technology, means that remote workforces aren't just alluring but are oftentimes necessary. Nevertheless, many entrepreneurs, small business owner, and corporate professionals have driven themselves mad trying to manage a workforce that's simply out of their reach – literally. Here are five tips to keep in mind for managing a remote workforce, and what kind of leader you'll need to be to keep your far-away employees faithful and productive. 1. Equip them with the tools to succeedA remote workforce can only achieve success if the workers have the right tools at their disposal. While many ignorant business owners view remote workforces as a way to cut back on the costs of doing business and avoid investing in their workers, the reality of the situation is that you have to spend money to make money. This means equipping your remote workforce with the digital tech they need to stay in constant contact with you, which often means going beyond mere desktops or laptops. Knowing what office equipment to give to remote workers begins with the understanding they can't make miracles happen by snapping their fingers – if you want to talk to them, they'll need phones. If you need to host a video conference, they'll need computers or tablets capable of joining in. Sometimes, however, you can just skip the process of selecting the tech and give your remote workforce a "technology stipend," or a fixed sum of cash that they can spend as they please on the tech that they feel they need the most. 2. Keep happiness in the equationMany business owners want to experiment with a remote workforce because they think it simplifies the business equation, but there are certain things you should always be keeping in mind regardless of how your workforce is composed. Remote workers oftentimes report lower levels of job satisfaction than their more traditional peers, for instance, which is often a result of lackluster communication schemes and an inability to convey their ideas to a distant boss. Understanding how to bridge the happiness gap with the help of technology is something every business owner should come to appreciate before trying to assemble a remote workforce. 3. You have to find the right workersMore so than even a traditional office setup, remote workforces necessitate that the people calling the shots work tirelessly to find the right candidates for the job. If you don't have a stellar team of remote workers using a low-cost VPN, who are capable self-starters, you'll effectively be breathing over their shoulders and making corrections constantly, which effectively mitigates the point of a remote workforce in the first place. Countless simple mistakes continue to beset the hiring process for remote workforces, though, and many entrepreneurs don't really know what special skills a remote worker should come equipped with. Reviewing some common mistakes managers make when onboarding new members to a remote workforce is a surefire way to avoid suffering from such mistakes yourself. 4. Bridge the social gapAnother conundrum of a remote workforce is the social gap that often exists between the boss and his or her remote workers. When your employees are stationed far away from you or are working at home, for instance, it can be immensely challenging for you to communicate or bond in a normal, human way. Staring at one another through a screen, the remote worker and boss begin to view one another as nothing more than an extension of their work-related equipment. Bridging the social gap and becoming connected with your workers is an essential part of having a remote workforce that's actually productive and committed to your brand's long-term success. Forging an emotional connection with your remote workers that resonates even at long-distance is perhaps one of the most important elements of a remote workforce manager's job. You don't have to get too sappy, but if you don't show your workers some love and attention you shouldn't be surprised when they drift away from you. 5. Don't treat remote workers like they're expendableFinally, you need to understand that your workers aren't expendable just because they're remote. If you fool yourself into thinking you can mistreat your far-away workers, you'll quickly stumble into inefficiency and perhaps even a lawsuit. Paying your remote workforce an adequate wage, equipping them with benefits to keep them healthy, and seeing to their personal needs is just as essential as doing all of these things for a "traditional" workforce. After coming to know and respect them, you may even discover that your remote workforce is an even more vital element of your team than you previously imagined possible. Managing a remote workforce successfully necessitates a leader who isn't themselves remote and unengaged from the rest of the team. Despite the distance between you and your employees, you need to forge a close bond that ties you together through thick and thin alike. Don't skimp out when it comes to buying them the right tools for the job, and certainly don't make the mistake of thinking they're just cogs in a machine. As long as you treat your remote workforce like they're real members of your team, you'll soon discover that managing your distant employees has become easier than ever before. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It's Not Just CNP Fraud. Merchants Must Protect Themselves from New Cybercrime Scams Posted: 25 Apr 2019 10:00 AM PDT  Retailers and other online merchants know all too well that fighting card-not-present (CNP) fraud is a constant battle. But it's not the only risk they face from cyber-scammers. As digital crime rings expand and "professionalize," security experts and law enforcement agencies are tracking a rise in fraud schemes that target businesses through email rather than the shopping cart. These scams are in a fraud category called business email compromise (BEC). Today's BEC attacks are the grown-up, more professional, harder-to-spot versions of yesteryear's amateurish phishing scams, and they are on the rise because they work. The FBI says BEC scammers have stolen more than $12.5 billion worldwide since 2013, and BEC attacks rose 250% from 2017 to 2018, according to the 2018 BDO Cyber Governance Survey. These scams take a variety of forms, but the goal is always the same – separate businesses from their money. Impersonating executives to request wire transfersScammers have learned that by gathering intel on executives – sometimes by purchasing legitimate marketing lists – they can send convincing-looking emails to the executives' assistants to make urgent wire-transfer requests. The pretext is often that a vendor needs immediate payment or that there's a deal on the line. The fraudsters sometimes follow their targets on social media and launch their attacks while the executive is away from the office to make it harder for the assistant to double check the request before the fake deadline. Sending fake invoices to accounts payableOther scammers use email to impersonate a company's vendors and request payment of fake invoices. A Lithuanian man recently pleaded guilty to wire-fraud charges for running this type of BEC scam to bilk Facebook and Google out of a total of $100 million. And while it's tempting to think that small merchants won't attract invoice fraudsters, cybercriminals are always looking for vulnerable targets to exploit, regardless of size. Requesting fake payroll data updatesFraudsters have found another way to target companies. They pose as employees or executives in emails to HR or payroll and ask to change their paycheck direct-deposit to a new account. According to the IRS, this type of scam is usually caught only after someone misses a paycheck or two. How criminals hijack email for scamsWhat all these schemes have in common is deception – impersonating someone the recipient trusts. Another common factor is that these scam emails don't contain malicious links or attachments, so they often make it past spam filters. In some cases, criminals create a fake domain that looks like a real one, such as app1e.com instead of apple.com. Then they use their "lookalike" domain to send scam emails, some of which will inevitably reach Apple customers. In some cases, merchants leave their email wide open to exploitation. Most retailers have not yet implemented domain-based message authentication, reporting and conformance (DMARC), an open-standard security protocol that shows businesses who's using their domains to send email and allows them to flag and stop emails from unauthorized senders. DMARC can dramatically reduce the number of scam emails sent from a merchant's domains – including scam emails sent within the company's network. Password hygiene is a problem, too. According to cybersecurity firm Digital Shadows, there are now more than 5 billion stolen username/password combinations available to criminals on the dark web. Scammers can buy and use these pairings to stuff credentials on a variety of websites to find matches. Because many people use the same password for multiple sites, the criminals often find a way into business email accounts, where they can launch legitimate-looking attacks. When fraudsters can't access a target's domain, use a lookalike domain, or hack their way into an employee's email account, they may impersonate the sender's name and hope that the recipient reads the message on their phone. That's because most email apps display the sender's name but not the email address, unless the recipient taps to review the sender data. Some scammers even time their BEC campaigns to their victims' off hours, when they're more likely to be on their phone than at their desk. How merchants can push back against BECStart by protecting your email network. Require everyone on your email network to use new, unique, strong passwords so that keyword stuffers don't break into your system. Implement DMARC on your company's email servers to keep domain hijackers out. Train your team to avoid BEC scams by checking senders' email addresses, treating urgent email requests with caution, and communicating with team members before moving money or changing payroll details. Have a process in place to report suspected scam emails or successful attacks to your IT team, local law enforcement and the FBI. By keeping the lines of communication open within your company, improving your email security, and making email caution a company value, you can reduce the likelihood of becoming a BEC attack target. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make Sustainability Part of Your Business Model Posted: 25 Apr 2019 07:09 AM PDT  Climate change has launched into the news in light of recent protests in London and across the world by activists demanding stronger action from governments regarding environmental policy. As the movement gains traction, more and more businesses are working to incorporate sustainable principles into their models. These principles include a variety of ethical concerns, such as the following:
Consumer interest in these principles could create huge economic opportunities for businesses, with a value of up to $12 trillion by 2030, according to estimates from the Business & Sustainable Development Commission. But building a business with a sustainable production model can be expensive and daunting, especially for small and midsize businesses or those just starting out. Molly Fienning experienced the challenges of creating a sustainable business when she and her partners launched Notra, their line of ethically made sunglasses with biodegradable frames. "We feel an innate responsibility to care for this planet for our kids, for their kids," Fienning said. That sense of responsibility helped her commit to finding sustainable solutions, from sourcing eco-friendly materials to creating an affordable marketing plan. She's also committed to encouraging other business owners to pursue sustainable business solutions of their own. Business News Daily talked to several businesses to get their best tips for how to create a successful, sustainable business model while still growing, expanding and making it all work financially. 1. Make it part of your mission.Making sustainability part of your business model can be difficult, and it is often more expensive or complex to implement. To do so authentically and effectively, sustainability should be a core part of your business mission, not just a marketing move or a public relations talking point. "When dreaming of our own adult shades, we wanted to create a value proposition that felt authentic to us, something that hopefully makes a positive difference in the world. Sustainability is infusing more and more of our own at-home lives," said Fienning, who reduces single-use plastics and eats less meat as personal steps toward sustainability. "We [wanted] to begin taking steps and making business decisions that care for the environment today and every day, even if they cost a little more in the short term." Fienning's and her partners' eco-friendly commitment is reflected at every level of their business, be it the compostable frames of their sunglasses, their packing and shipping materials, or the manufacturing facility they partner with in Italy. For your business, you may have similar considerations, or you may be thinking about corporate partners, investors, worker conditions, or waste management and recycling. Any of these elements can incorporate sustainable and ethical principles. "Sustainability is a core value of ours," said Mik Breiterman-Loader, CEO of Vestive. "It affects our business both internally and externally, [from] our branding, our investment models, to what snacks we have in the office." Regardless of the moving pieces that make up your business, if you define sustainability as a vital part of your business's values, it will naturally inform the decisions you have to make and create a more sustainable business model at every level. 2. Think outside the box.It can be difficult for small businesses to find partners that are both ethical and affordable to work with. Most established supply chains, for example, are not set up to meet sustainable and ethical principles. "A truly sustainable business model or supply chain is a step change, where you must think about disrupting the current business structure in order to make major changes to address more of the market," said William Crane, founder and CEO of IndustryStar Solutions. "Your company and your suppliers need to think more like strategists to create new industry structures." When creating the supply chain for Notra's sunglasses, Fienning and her partners had to spend a long time exploring their options. Less-expensive suppliers didn't meet their requirements for an ethical production process, while the industry-standard plastics used to make most sunglasses weren't eco-friendly. Their search eventually led them to a facility in Italy that produced a plastic-like, plant-based material, where they could also have their sunglasses manufactured according to their standards for worker treatment. Whether you're trying to create an ethical supply chain, looking for eco-friendly packing materials, developing a marketing plan or trying to solve any other challenge that arises in your business model, thinking outside industry norms can often lead to a more sustainable solution. Don't be afraid to look overseas, emulate businesses outside your industry, or see what previously unknown resources are available to you. 3. Accept imperfection.Fienning and her partners work hard to incorporate sustainability at every level of their business. Their packing materials, for example, avoid plastics, and the packaging Notra sunglasses come in is compostable. But they admit on the company website that nothing is perfect. Though the frames of the sunglasses are biodegradable, the lenses have to be thrown in the trash. Though Fienning would like that to change eventually, she doesn't let it discourage her. "Perfection is not possible," she said. "But all those small steps in the right direction will add up to a significant distance over time." Greenbar Distillery in Los Angeles has made imperfect, sustainable practices part of its style by rejecting the heavy, "luxurious" bottles favored by much of its competition and using more environmentally friendly lightweight glass, which even saves the company money on its bottom line by 30%. Though your business model should strive to incorporate your sustainable and ethical principles at every level, that may not be possible due to your budget, industry or other limitations. That shouldn't stop you from doing what you can from the beginning. As more sustainable businesses enter the market, you may find that other supply chains, materials or partnerships become both available and affordable. Then, as your company grows and expands, you will be better positioned to affect change in your industry or take advantage of solutions that were once outside your budget. 4. Embrace social marketing.The movement toward sustainable business has a strong online presence, with devoted followers of #zerowastelife, #minimalistliving, #organic and other sustainability practices on social media and blogs. Taking advantage of these social communities can help you reach a wide and engaged audience even with a limited marketing budget. "Our marketing efforts at Notra have really been focused on making beautiful outdoor photography," said Fienning. These images, she explains, are popular online, which has helped interest in the brand spread naturally in social media communities. Consumers interested in sustainability are also active in finding and sharing products made by ethical brands, which Fienning says Notra has also benefited from. "I've had multiple women approach me, saying they discovered Notra because their friend was wearing our shades and looked so great … This natural desire for consumers wanting to buy green has helped us," she said. "People already want to buy and support the brand without additional marketing." 5. Build a community.In addition to using the pre-existing online community, you can expand your brand's presence and marketing impact by making a conscious effort to build your own community. Seek out popular bloggers who fit with your brand's ethics and image, create your own hashtag for social sharing, and devote time to engaging with your followers and customers online. Don't forget to reach out to other sustainable brands. Because these businesses are operating from a place of ethics and core values, they are often deeply invested in promoting the work and products of other sustainable businesses to their own customers. "There are other really interesting green products out there from other cool companies, and we'd love to help boost those brands and their efforts," said Fienning. "I am thrilled when I see any company genuinely trying to be more eco-conscious, because we are all starting a wave that will get stronger the more people join the effort." This sort of community sharing and support is essential to the growth of sustainable businesses. Interacting with other ethical brands can help you access new resources and markets. It can reinforce the value of creating a business that meshes with your personal principles if you ever find yourself doubting or struggling. You may even encourage others in your industry to start incorporating sustainable principles into their own business models. "All these small changes, these businesses' baby steps, add up to make a difference," said Fienning. "If we make a … change in the right direction for our business today, maybe we inspire others – our customers, our competitors – to do the same." Additional reporting by Katharine Paljug. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How to use Social Media to Retain Customers Posted: 25 Apr 2019 07:00 AM PDT  Business owners are continually looking for ways to retain their current customer base. There's a good reason for their interest. According to Adobe, returning customers typically spend three to seven times as much as a first-time customer. Make no mistake; gaining new customers is vital to the success of your business. However, many marketers fail to take the time to focus on their customer retention strategy. Social media is an excellent way to keep your existing customers happy so that they will turn to your business in the future. Few websites offer the analytic data available through social media, making it the perfect tool for building connections with your audience. Here are some of the best ways you can use your business's social media profiles to retain customers. Look for Emerging TrendsThe great thing about social media is that people are free to talk about virtually anything they want. If you're interested in retaining customers, it's helpful to find out what kind of problems they are having – as it relates to your niche – by looking at trends in the community. For instance, if you're a WordPress plugin developer and want to find a product gap in the market, checking WordPress plugin chat groups and conversations can prove beneficial. When you're able to keep your eye on the trends, you can develop products or services that extend the customers' experience by offering them something new. It's hard to retain a solid customer base if you sell one or two products that never change. Social media allows business owners to look at emerging trends, identify gaps based on consumer needs, and develop new products. Improve Personalized OffersSocial media allows us to give our current customers personalized offers based on their past purchases. Email marketing is far from dead, but there are plenty of people who prefer to receive special offers through their social media profiles. There are two ways you can offer personalized discounts or products to current customers. The first method involves using retargeting pixels, or browser cookies, to offer a product that the customer was previously looking at on your site. If they are new customers, you can offer them a discount to encourage them to make a purchase, or you can provide an "exclusive discount" to current customers to keep them coming back. Studies show that customers love this kind of personalization. In fact, 63 percent of consumers prefer rewards based on their past purchases. Alternatively, you can use the messaging features (either through a chatbot or a real representative) on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to ping customers who follow you with a special promotion. Engage OftenEngaging with your customer base is perhaps the best way to keep them interested in your brand. Consumers like brands that have personality and interact with the community. You can engage with your audience in several ways. One of the easiest ways to gain the approval of a current customer is to thank them if they give you a shout out or follow. This small gesture can spark a conversation that may make them want to come back and shop with you again. It's also essential that you engage with customers as soon as possible if they message your account or post on your timeline with a problem or concern about a prior purchase. The quicker you resolve questions or issues, the more trust that customer will have in your company. Engagement also occurs when you respond to a customer who replies to one of your posts. There are systems in place that make the customer feel valued when they get a response from the business owner. For example, YouTube shows a picture of the video uploader if they respond to a comment on their video. ConclusionThe best way to keep your current customer base is by showing them you care. All of these social media tips show your customers that you are keeping them in mind and that you appreciate their business. Developing new products to address customer concerns show that you want to help. Personalized offers show that you're paying attention to their purchases and have other products that can improve their lives. Finally, engagement shows that you're human, willing to talk and want to build a connection with them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Project Management Certifications Posted: 25 Apr 2019 05:00 AM PDT  Project management certifications have claimed a place in every top IT certification list for years. That's because project managers are important to IT operations of all kinds. Whether you are interested in becoming an IT project manager or just want to add project management to your list of soft skills, these five leading certifications will help you add to or boost those skills and, in turn, increase your value. If there's a single set of soft skills that's been fixed on the IT radar for the past decade or so, to the point where it's become almost as sought after and every bit as valuable as top-level credentials, it must be project management. Thanks in large part to the immensely popular and widely pursued Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI), this area has become an incredibly valuable merit badge for IT professionals of all stripes. That's because it enhances and expands on the value of just about any other kind of technical credential. Project management has everything to do with planning, scheduling, budgeting for, and then executing and reporting on projects of all shapes and sizes. In fact, anything and everything that IT does can be understood or handled as a project of some kind. It applies to one-of-a-kind activities that happen only once or very seldom (think hardware or OS upgrades or migrating from older to newer platforms or infrastructures). Ditto for a recurring series of activities that repeat regularly (think security patches, software updates or other regular maintenance tasks). Thus, project management is incredibly important and valuable to IT operations across the board. According to PMI's Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey, 10th Edition, IT professionals who hold a PMP report median base annual salaries in the U.S. of almost $116,000. The top 25 percent of survey respondents report base salaries of at least $139,000. Depending on such factors as complexity and size of projects, location, fields of expertise (e.g., IT, construction or healthcare), and experience, salaries for some PMP credential holders can be much higher still. Robert Half's Technology & IT 2019 Salary Guide lists project management as a hot certification, with salaries varying slightly by technology area. It cites a salary range of $93,000 to $157,500 for project managers in application development environments. Project managers engaged in consulting and system integration roles can expect to earn $96,250 to $163,500 nationwide. This explains nicely why PMP appears in nearly every top 10 list of popular, targeted or most desirable certifications since the early 2000s. It's no surprise that Robert Half also lists the PMP credential, along with Agile and Scrum certifications, as "highly valued technology certifications" trending up in the IT industry. To give you an idea of which project management credentials employers look for in prospective candidates, we conducted a quick survey on some popular job boards. Clearly, the PMP is the overall favorite and remains our No. 1 pick for must-have project management certifications. PMI's entry-level project management credential, the CAPM, also made our top five. The CSM from Scrum Alliance, along with ASQ's Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Green Belt credentials, round out those picks. It's also worth noting that job postings for project managers increased by 20 percent from 2018 across all project management certifications. Job board survey results (in alphabetical order, by certification)
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| Certification name | Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) |
| Prerequisites/required courses | High school diploma, associate's degree or global equivalent, plus 1,500 hours of project management experience or 23 hours of project management education |
| Number of exams | One (150 questions; 15 questions are unscored; three hours to complete) |
| Cost per exam | Computer- or paper-based exams: |
| URL | www.pmi.org/Certification/Certified-Associate-in-Project-Management-CAPM.aspx |
| Self-study materials | PMI maintains a list of self-study materials on its exam guidance webpage, including the Exam Content Outline, sample exam questions and the CAPM Handbook. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Sixth Edition; Sept. 22, 2017; Project Management Institute; ISBN-10: 1628251840; ISBN-13: 978-1628251845 (available for free download to PMI members) CAPM Exam Prep, Third Edition, by Rita Mulcahy, Sept. 2013, RMC Publications, ISBN-10: 1932735720, ISBN-13: 978-1932735727 CAPM/PMP Project Management Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Fourth Edition, by Joseph Phillips; April 23, 2018; McGraw-Hill Education; ISBN-10: 1259861627; ISBN-13: 978-1259861628 |
CSM: Certified ScrumMaster
As companies seek to deliver more for less, many adopt Agile methodologies to streamline processes, build quality into products and ensure that final builds meet customer requirements. As Agile methodologies have become more popular, it's no surprise that we see increased demand for IT practitioners qualified to manage projects in Agile environments.
While different Scrum master certifications are available, our pick is the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) from the Scrum Alliance. This nonprofit encourages adoption of Scrum and Agile practices, promotes user groups and learning events, and provides resources for professional development. The organization boasts more than 500,000 certified practitioners worldwide.
The Scrum Alliance provides a support system for Scrum practitioners, including Scrum Gatherings, user groups, virtual communications, coaching, online training and much more. In addition to community and advocacy activities, the Scrum Alliance offers numerous Scrum-related certifications at the foundation, advanced, professional, elevated (guide) and leadership levels. Scrum Alliance certifications are designed for team members engaged in Scrum master, product owners and developer roles. The Scrum master and product owner tracks offer credentials at the foundation, advanced and professional levels which the developer track only offers a foundation and professional level cert.
- Scrum Master Track: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM), and Certified Scrum Professional – Scrum Master (CSP-SM)
- Product Owner Track: Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) and Certified Scrum Professional – Product Owner (CSP-PO)
- Developer Track: Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) and Certified Scrum Professional (CSP)
- Elevated or guide credentials: Certified Scrum Trainer (CST), Certified Team Coach (CTC) and Certified Enterprise Coach (CEC)
- Agile Leadership: The Scrum Alliance also offers the Certified Agile Leadership (CAL) program, a credential based on a combination of education and validated practice. There are two credentials – the Certified Agile Leadership I and Certified Agile Leadership II.
For project managers getting started as Scrum practitioners, the CSM makes an excellent entry-level credential. Not only must candidates demonstrate an understanding of Scrum principles and values, but they'll learn how to implement and apply Scrum in practice. The Scrum Alliance provides CSMs with multiple resources, plus checklists and information about the servant-leader role of the Scrum master.
Certified ScrumMaster facts and figures
| Certification name | Certified ScrumMaster |
| Prerequisites/required courses | General familiarity with Scrum Completion of a two-day CSM training course (price varies by training provider; candidates can expect to pay $920 to $1,295) Note: Some training providers are affiliated with PMI; candidates may earn 14 PDUs for their PMI certification. |
| Number of exams | One (37 correct answers out of 50 questions required to pass;60-minute time limit)) |
| Cost per exam | Fees for online test paid by the training provider |
| URL | https://www.scrumalliance.org/certifications/practitioners/certified-scrummaster-csm |
| Self-study materials | Scrum Alliance offers blogs, articles, reports, online learning, suggested reading, presentations, Certified ScrumMaster Learning Objectives, Scrum Foundations Learning Objectives and more. |
CSSBB: Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
Globally recognized, ASQ certifications attest to candidate expertise, mastery of industry and regulation standards, and mastery of the ASQ Body of Knowledge. Currently, ASQ offers 18 credentials, three of which specifically target project management: the Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) (expert level), the Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB) (professional level) and the Six Sigma Yellow Belt (CSSYB) (entry level).
The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt is ASQ's highest Six Sigma credential. The CSSBB aims at experienced practitioners who understand Six Sigma methodologies (including the DMAIC model), tools, systems and philosophies. CSSBBs can lead teams or manage team dynamics, roles and responsibilities.
The path to CSSBB certification is rigorous. In addition to passing a comprehensive exam, candidates must complete two projects that employ Six Sigma tools and processes, resulting in project improvement and a positive financial project impact. An affidavit is also required to attest to the veracity of the project. Alternatively, candidates with at least three years of experience in one or more of the Six Sigma Body of Knowledge areas need only complete one Black Belt project.
CSSBB candidates are expected to demonstrate mastery of the ASQ Black Belt Body of Knowledge, called standards:
- Organization-wide Planning and Deployment (organization-wide considerations, leadership)
- Organization Process Management and Measures (impact on stakeholders, benchmarking, business measures)
- Team Management (team formation, facilitation, dynamics, training)
- Define (voice of the customer, business case and project charter, project management tools, analytical tools)
- Measure (process characteristics, data collection, measurement systems, basic statistics, probability, process capability)
- Analyze (measuring and modeling relationships between variables, hypothesis testing, failure mode and effects analysis, other analysis methods)
- Improve (design of experiments, lean methods, implementation)
- Control (statistical process control and other controls, maintain controls, sustain improvements)
- Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) Framework and Methodologies (common DFSS methodologies, design for DVX, robust designs)
The CSSBB is valid for three years. To recertify, candidates must earn 18 recertification units or retake the exam.
CSSBB facts and figures
| Certification name | Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) |
| Prerequisites/required courses | Two completed projects with signed project affidavit, or one completed project with signed affidavit plus three years of experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Body of Knowledge |
| Number of exams | One: computer-based (165 questions, 4.5 hours) or paper-based (150 questions, 4 hours) |
| Cost per exam | $438 members, $538 nonmembers (retakes $338) Exams administered by Prometric. |
| URL | |
| Self-study materials | ASQ maintains a comprehensive list of exam prep materials, including training opportunities, question banks, interactive sample exams, books and other recommended references. |
CSSGB: Certified Six Sigma Green Belt
The Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB) by ASQ is a professional-level credential targeting experienced Six Sigma practitioners. Often, a CSSGB works under the direction of the more senior CSSBB or as an assistant. CSSGBs identify issues and drive quality and process improvements in projects.
To earn the credential, candidates should have at least three years of experience working with Six Sigma processes, systems and tools. The work experience must have been full time and compensated; an unpaid internship, for example, doesn't count. In addition, work performed must have been in at least one of the Six Sigma Green Belt Body of Knowledge competency areas.
In addition to work experience, candidates must pass an exam that tests their knowledge of the Six Sigma Green Belt Body of Knowledge. Currently, the Green Belt Body of Knowledge includes six competency areas:
- Overview: Six Sigma and the Organization (organizational goals, lean principles, design methodologies)
- Define Phase (project identification, customer voice, project management basics, management and planning tools, project business results, team dynamics and performance)
- Measurement Phase (process analysis and documentation, probability and statistics, statistical distributions, data collection, measurement system analysis, process and performance capability)
- Analyze Phase (exploratory data analysis, hypothesis testing)
- Improve Phase (design of experiments, root cause analysis, lean tools)
- Control Phase (statistical process control, control plan, lean tools for process control)
Overall, this is an excellent credential for those who have some experience but are not quite ready to take on the roles and responsibilities of a Black Belt.
CSSGB facts and figures
| Certification name | Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB) |
| Prerequisites/required courses | Three years of experience in one or more of the Six Sigma Green Belt Body of Knowledge areas |
| Number of exams | One: computer-based (110 questions, 4.5 hours) or paper-based (100 questions, 4 hours) |
| Cost per exam | $338 members, $438 nonmembers; retakes cost $238 Exams administered by Prometric. |
| URL | |
| Self-study materials | ASQ maintains a comprehensive list of exam prep materials, including training opportunities, question banks, interactive sample exams, books and other recommended references. |
PMP: Project Management Professional
The Project Management Institute (PMI) not only stands behind its Project Management Professional certification, it works with academia and training companies to ensure proper coverage and currency in the various curricula that support this and other PMI credentials. Boasting more than 500,000 global members and 750,000 PMP certified professionals around the world, PMI's PMP remains one of the most prestigious project management credentials available. (Note: The PMP's precursor, the CAPM, is covered in an earlier section of this article.)
That's why you can obtain college- and university-based PMP training from so many institutions. It's also why you may sometimes find PMP coverage integrated into certain degree programs (often at the master's degree level).
The PMP credential is coveted by employers seeking the most highly skilled project management professionals. Developed by project managers, the PMP certification is the highest level offered in PMI certifications. It is designed to ensure that credential-holders possess the skills and qualifications necessary to successfully manage all phases of a project, including initiating, planning, scheduling, controlling and monitoring, and closing out the project.
PMP certified projects managers are also well versed and skilled in managing all aspects of the triple constraints – time, cost and scope. Employers depend on the skills of PMP professionals to manage budgets, track costs, manage scope creep, identify how changes to the triple constraints may introduce risk into the project, and minimize such risk to protect the project investment.
The standards for PMP certification are rigorous. Beyond passing a comprehensive exam, credential holders must first demonstrate and certify that they have the skills and education necessary to succeed in the project management field. Credential seekers should be ready to provide documentation for items such as education, projects worked on and hours spent in each of the five project management stages – initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing out the project.
While it's difficult to achieve, the rewards for PMP credential holders can be significant. According to PMI's Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey, 10th Edition, PMPs in the U.S. earn an average of 23 percent more than their non-credentialed counterparts. The survey reports median salaries of PMPs in the United States at $115,000, as opposed to $92,000 for non-PMP certified project managers.
For those interested in program management or wishing to specialize in a project management area, PMI offers several interesting additional credentials:
- Program Management Professional (PgMP): Targets professionals who manage multiple projects on an organizational level
- Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP): Targets professionals managing organizational project portfolios
- PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP): Targets project management professionals working with the Agile methodology of project management
- PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA): Focuses on business analysis and ability to define stakeholder requirements, project scope and outcome of business solutions
- PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP): A specialized credential focusing on risk assessment, identification and mitigation
- PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP): A credential for project managers charged with the task of developing and maintaining project schedules
The PMP remains a nonpareil certification for IT and other professionals whose responsibilities encompass project management. It is the standard against which all other project management credentials are judged.
It should be noted that, after meeting the prerequisites, candidates are also required to pass a rigorous exam. Candidates must obtain an eligibility ID from PMI before they can register for the exam.
PMP facts and figures
| Certification name | Project Management Professional (PMP) |
| Prerequisites/required Courses | Required courses: None Prerequisite skills: Four-year degree, 4,500 hours in leading and directing projects, and 35 hours of project management education OR Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate's degree or equivalent), 7,500 hours leading and directing projects, and 35 hours of project management education Note: Credential holders must earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) per each three-year cycle to maintain certification. |
| Number of exams | One (200 questions, 4 hours) |
| Cost per exam | Paper* and computer-based exams: |
| URL | www.pmi.org/Certification/Project-Management-Professional-PMP.aspx |
| Self-study materials | PMI maintains a list of training resources on the PMP exam guidance webpage, including links to sample questions, the PMP Exam Content Outline and the PMP Handbook. Additional training materials (quizzes, publications, books, practice guides and more) are available from the PMI Store. Numerous books are available, including: Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Sixth Edition; Sept. 22, 2017; Project Management Institute; ISBN-10: 1628251840; ISBN-13: 978-1628251845 (available for free download to PMI members) PMP Exam Prep: Accelerated Learning to Pass the Project Management Professional (PMP) Exam, Ninth Edition, by Rita Mulcahy; Feb. 1, 2018; RMC Publications Inc.; ISBN-10: 1943704040; ISBN-13: 978-143704040 CAPM/PMP Project Management Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Fourth Edition, by Joseph Phillips; April 23, 2018; McGraw-Hill Education; ISBN-10: 1259861627; ISBN-13: 978-1259861628 Practice exams: PMP Exam Practice Test and Study Guide, Ninth Edition, by J. LeRoy Ward and Ginger Levin; June 28, 2018; Auerbach Publications, ISBN-10: 1138440299; ISBN-13: 978-1138440299 |
Beyond the top 5: More project management certifications
Project management is truly a white-hot area for both certification seekers and employers. Several other project management certifications are available, for general IT project management as well as software development project management.
Honorable mention goes to the Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM) project management certifications, such as the Professional in Project Management, Associate in Project Management and Certified Project Director. The Prince2 Foundation and Practitioner qualifications (featured in the 2017 top-five list) are also excellent credentials and worth honorable mention.
The CompTIA Project+ credential (featured in the 2017 top-five list and honorable mention in 2018) remains a well-known entry-level project management certification for those starting their project management careers. ASQ's Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt (CSSYB) is another entry-level credential worth exploring, particularly if you're interested in eventually moving up to the more senior Green and Black Belt credentials.
Most graduate business, management and management information systems (MIS) programs offer project management training to students, and some offer certificate programs outside the project management organizations as well.
You'll also find training and occasional certification around various project management tool sets. For example, some Microsoft Learning Partners offer courses on Microsoft Project, and you can find a dizzying array of project management packages on Wikipedia's comparison of project management software page.
The CAPM and Project+ remain the best-known entry-level project management certifications, with the PMP as the primary professional target and capstone for would-be professional IT project managers. Don't forget to consider PMI's related certifications as well. For project managers seeking entry into the realm of Scrum, the CSM is the best entry-level cert for Scrum practitioners.
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