As another year draws to a close (where does the time go?), it's time to look forward and plan for a brand new one. What do you want to achieve in 2017? If getting Salesforce certified is not on your list, perhaps it should be.

With the constant evolution of cloud computing, Salesforce experts are in higher demand than ever. Being a skilled user is no longer competitive enough; only those who hold Salesforce credentials can truly prove their expertise. So why should you consider joining our network of certified professionals?

Whether you’re a Salesforce administrator, developer, implementation expert, or architect, building your Salesforce certification portfolio gets you noticed, furthers your career, and proves your value to both your current company and future employers. Not only is it a great testament to all you’ve learned, it also shows your commitment to your company’s success and your continued professional development.

Getting Salesforce certified can also help you become more productive than you ever thought possible. The certification process gives you a thorough understanding of Salesforce and its latest updates. This means it's about more than just proving what you know, but taking that knowledge and applying it to your business to make you truly indispensable. What's more, you’ll have the understanding to evangelize Salesforce benefits, values, and best practices to users across your business. The net result is a more educated and empowered workforce, inspired by you.

As a final recap on some of the great blog topics we covered this year, let's look at why certification really needs to be top of your New Year's resolution list.

Why Salesforce Certification Really Matters
Earlier in 2016, Tal Golan, Sr. Director—Innovation and Transformation Centers at Salesforce, shared why it can be easy to miss the Salesforce forest because of the product trees. And the whole Salesforce universe is much greater than the sum of its individual parts. In his post, he explains how certification is about learning to identify the connections between the different products for the purpose of deriving exponentially greater value from the platform as a whole.

3 Reasons Why Every Marketer Should Resolve to Get Certified in 2016 (nay, 2017!)
Tricia Austin, Sr. Director—Salesforce University Marketing, declared it was the year of the marketer! Why it is that marketers—who go through just as much training as some of their better-known tech colleagues—have been hiding behind the cubicle wall, instead of shouting from the rooftops that their knowledge is not simple to attain? Tricia shares how marketers should stand up and make a name for themselves around the world by validating their worth and standing out with a certification of their own.

Salesforce Certification Fail? 7 Tips for the Retake!
Finally, if you decided to take the leap, studied hard, sat for your exam, got to the end, and then saw that four-letter “F” word (FAIL?!), Instructor and Consultant Tani Long compares taking a test to riding a bike: when you fall off, you need to get right back on and try again. Here's how you should approach your next attempt.

We hope you have a happy and prosperous new year, and look forward to seeing you become Salesforce certified in 2017!