IMI Certified Mediators and Mediation Advocates are able to be included in IMI’s ‘Find a Mediator’ search engine. This search engine, like all of the work of IMI, is entirely donation-funded, and the annual listing contributions paid by IMI Certified Mediators and Mediation Advocates is essential to the ongoing operations of IMI. Below are ten good reasons to have your IMI Certified profile listed with IMI.
1. You benefit from IMI’s global brand
IMI is the international standard-setting body for mediation, and being listed as ‘IMI Certified’ means that you are part of an international group of elite mediators. IMI is uniquely able to endorse professional competency through certification, because IMI is not a provider of mediation services. IMI Certified professionals can use their direct profile links and special IMI logos when marketing themselves, to indicate the high quality of their practice when compared to peers.
2. You have access to users and potential work
The ‘find a mediator’ page and mediator profiles are the most-visited parts of the IMI website. Users visit to find a professional mediator, and being listed in the IMI search engine means you have the opportunity for new work—vital in a competitive industry. Several international corporate users have indicated that they only consider mediators listed with IMI.
3. You gain credibility in your practice
Users can verify your experience and competency instantly by scrolling through your profile and your unique feedback digest.
4. You boost your web search results
IMI appears high in web search results, including for such general queries as ‘find a mediator’. Where your name and “mediator” are searched, IMI profiles appear even before professional services such as LinkedIn—IMI profiles have great visibility in search results.
5. You demonstrably meet user demand
Over 90% of users wish mediators to be professionally certified and held accountable to transparent standards of conduct set and applied by a professional mediation body. This is especially important in the era of the Singapore Convention. Only IMI Certified professionals qualify to have their profiles included in the IMI search engine, a key tool for users to find and verify mediator credentials, competency and suitability for a particular situation.
6. You are distinguished from your peers
Not everyone can become IMI Certified—it is a quality mark that distinguishes you nationally and internationally. IMI Certification is the closest designation there is to a ‘gold standard’ for mediation.
7. You qualify for international provider panels
Mediators find it easier to be accepted on the panels of courts and private dispute resolution bodies if they are IMI Certified, as their experience and skills can be instantly verified. For example, the Singapore International Mediation Centre and Florence International Mediation Chambers require all their mediators to be IMI Certified.
8. You qualify for other credentialing opportunities
IMI Certified Mediators are automatically eligible for certification by the Singapore International Mediation Institute (and vice versa!).
9. You help develop the future of mediation
Participate in and influence the many IMI taskforces and initiatives aimed at improving mediation and access to justice worldwide. You may be interested to become a Mentor to vetted Young Mediators Initiative members under the auspices of the Worldwide Mediation Mentorship Program. Your contribution goes directly to funding IMI’s important work worldwide.
10. You are marketed in conjunction with IMI
IMI runs regular advertising campaigns on search engines, advertising the ‘find a mediator’ page which displays IMI Certified Mediators and Advocates with up-to-date listing contributions. Where current members are celebrating a professional success such as winning an award or gaining a fellowship, IMI markets that specific individual to personnel in their area—for example, corporate decision-makers in that mediator’s countries of operation.