What Does a Successful Badging Program Look Like? Hear from Top Issuers (PART II)

In Part II of this factsheet, we shift the focus to the broader organizational impact of a successful digital credentialing program, shared by the Credly Top Elite Issuers of 2024. While learner outcomes are essential, the true value of credentialing programs extends to the organization as well. From enhancing brand reputation to driving employee retention and development, effective credentialing can align with business goals and contribute to long-term organizational success.

Enhance Brand Reputation & Credibiity

Issuing recognized, valuable badges helps organizations build a reputation as leaders in training and skills validation. Credly's tamper-proof badges safeguard against fraud, preserving the integrity of certification programs and reinforcing the organization's credibility as a trusted provider of legitimate credentials.

Casey Marks, Chief Qualifications Officer at ISC2, discussed how Credly's digital badges helped prevent credential fraud and safeguard their brand credibility.

Watch ISC2's interview

Increase Brand Awareness

A successful credentialing program empowers learners while boosting brand visibility. As individuals earn and share digital badges, they promote their achievements and highlight the organization behind the credential. This organic sharing enhances brand presence and can attract potential learners, partners, and employers who value the program’s credibility and validated skills.

In an interview with Scaled Agile, Senior Director Brandon Burtner shared how earners enjoy sharing their badges online, helping attract more learners.

Watcher Interview

Create a Community of Champions

A successful credentialing program can foster a group of "champions"—earners who endorse and encourage others to pursue the organization’s courses and earn badges. This community of advocates not only helps promote the organization’s programs but also supports fellow badge earners, creating an ongoing cycle of engagement and growth.

Enhances Talent Acquisition and Retention

For those issuing badges to their internal employees, a successful credentialing program allows organizations to attract and retain top talent by offering recognized credentials that validate employee skills and demonstrate a commitment to professional growth.

Key Ingredients for Credentialing Program Success

A successful program requires a strategic approach that aligns with both organizational goals and learner outcomes.  In this section, we’ll explore the essential components that contribute to the effectiveness and longevity of a credentialing program, ensuring that both learners and organizations reap the maximum benefits.

• Set clear objectives aligned with business goals: Start by defining program objectives, like enhancing employee skills or driving customer loyalty. Align those objectives with business goals to ensure the program delivers value. By establishing measurable outcomes, organizations can track progress and assess the program’s impact.
• Communicate with and understand learners: Dive deep to uncover learners’ needs and motivations. Effective programs deliver relevant content and clearly communicate the benefits of earning credentials. Actively engage with learners, provide support and gather feedback to improve the experience continually.
  

One of the things that’s been very successful for our program is that we are always very close to our learner. We’re always talking to our learning community, we’re always talking to our certified community.

Ryan Rose

Director Learning and Development

• Invest in a platform that allows you to grow: The right platform should provide scalable credentialing solutions as your needs grow, offering flexibility, security and the ability to handle increased volumes of badge issuance and learner engagement. Robust programs allow your program to expand while seamlessly maintaining consistency and quality for learners. [Download our Ultimate Buyer’s Guide to help you choose the right credentialing platform]
• Look for seamless integration with learning platforms: Effective credentialing platforms easily integrate with existing tools, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring scalability in building a learning community. This allows organizations to grow their programs without compromising quality or efficiency, providing a seamless experience for growing numbers of learners.

Setting the Standard for Credentialing Success

A successful credentialing program can create long-term impacts for both learners and issuing organizations. While Part I explored how the Credly Top Elite Issuers of 2024 demonstrated success through learner outcomes, Part II showcased the organizational benefits, such as enhanced brand reputation, increased visibility, and improved talent retention.

To learn more from these elite issuers, visit their profiles, where they share their journey, key strategies, and thoughts on leveraging the Credly platform for maximum impact.

You can also speak with our team now to discover how Credly can support you in building or refining a successful credentialing program.