In an industry full of titles and designations, perhaps no phrase is more desired than that of the “top producer.” Indeed, all one has to do is view the numbers to see why. In Chicago Agent’s Real Data 2012, the 10 highest-performing agents in the Chicagoland area – in other words, Chicagoland’s top producers – had a combined total volume of $751.53 million, a 9.4 percent increase from 2011.

Such jaw-dropping numbers lead to an inevitable question: how did they do it? Through what means are top producers able to put up such spectacular numbers? The answer, it turns out, is a varied one, encompassing every aspect of the real estate profession. From marketing, to communication, to market analysis, attainting top-producer status requires expertise in no less than every step of the homebuying and selling process, and in expressing that mastery through unique, creative means. Think you have what it takes? Read on to find out.