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Successful Notary Tip #2 - Network, Network, Network

By LaShon James-Major

Services for Real Estate Pros with The Document Diva

February 06, 2008 12:54 PM

One way to increase your chances of success as a notary is to network with other notaries. An easy way to do this is to read and participate on the many popular notary boards, such as Notary Rotary, Go Mobile Notary, and Mobile Notary Network (view MyNotarySource for a comprehensive list). There you will find new and experienced notaries that you can learn from, get your questions answered and exchange marketing ideas with.

When you first log on to a board it is always good to read and get a feel for the board before you post. Once you feel comfortable you can introduce yourself to let your voice be heard. The board I recommend the most for newbies is Mobile Notary Network because the notaries are friendly and helpful.

Another way to network with other notaries is contact local notaries in your area to set up a referral system. Because I have been in contact with other Long Beach notaries, I can easily refer business to them that I am unable to accept. If am presented with an assignment that conflicts with my schedule I tell the caller that I can have one of my associates perform the notarization.

I then proceed to take down their information so the other notary can contact them (this is the best way because when you just give them another notaries' phone number they never seem to call).

Our Long Beach notary group has set up a referral system so if the notary makes $100 and up from the assignment then a 20% referral fee is paid to the referring notary.

Do not be afraid get out there and network you way to success!

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LaShon James-Major

The Document Diva - Long Beach, CA

Long Beach Mobile Notary - 562.314.4319

Thanks for stopping by, Linda. No matter the industry it is always important to network. It helps you keep abreast of what's going on in your industry.

Feb 07, 2008 10:14 AM

Joan Bergstrom

Joan Bergstrom Mobile Notary - Riverside, CA

Mobile Notary, Riverside CA

I network with 3-4 notaries in Riverside Ca and I completely agree that this is one of the best ways to succeed.

Answering your phone is going to be a major key to success in the future months because so many notaries have left the business during the last 6 months.

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

Feb 07, 2008 07:23 PM

LaShon James-Major

The Document Diva - Long Beach, CA

Long Beach Mobile Notary - 562.314.4319

Joan, it will definitely be the best man standing after it's all said and down.

Feb 11, 2008 12:24 PM

Find a Notary Public needAnotary

QEC Internet Services - Long Beach, CA

You are very prudent in getting the phone numbers as stated. You need to be proactive as if you don't get a number to give to your associate, that person calling will more than likely not call your referral source.

It also reduces expectations on your part. Once tip about getting phone numbers. When the caller gives you their phone number. Not directly after they give it to you, but before you end the call, ask them if you could just confirm the number and repeat it back to them very clearly but, transpose the last two numbers and see if they correct you. If they don't correct you, you more than likely have a bad phone number and no referral.

Practice with it until you get good at it and you will quickly learn to separate the the wheat from the shaft. As a referral partner, I would not be pleased to continually get bad phone numbers.

Feb 11, 2008 08:53 PM

Barbara Linker

Linker Loan Signings - Vail, AZ

You are right, LaShon. I have several notaries in the area I network with and give/receive referrals to/from.

Also important is to network with everyone you meet - not just notaries. My goodness, the business you can pick up is suprising. You never know what leads and referrals you'll get.

I love networking with people.

It works!

Feb 13, 2008 02:01 PM

LaShon James-Major

The Document Diva - Long Beach, CA

Long Beach Mobile Notary - 562.314.4319

Thanks for the tip, Ntsike. That'll take some practice.

Barbara, as you stated it's important to network in and out of your industry. You never know where new business will come from.

Feb 14, 2008 03:57 PM

Find a Notary Public needAnotary

QEC Internet Services - Long Beach, CA

LaShon,

We offer quality tips and insights in our monthly ENewsletter for notaries in our network each month. If you learn to own these tips and insights they become second nature. Networking needs to extend beyond the notary community.

Here is a free tip to get your knuckles around. People in town handling business often need documents notarized. They usually stay at some hotel and whenever they need services that are unfamiliar, they call the front desk of their hotel. A few friends behind the front desk and you can easily earn $300 - $500 monthly. Don't sound like much but it equates to $3600 - $6000, roughly 10% of the median income in California. Much better than a stick in the eye!

We have a national campaign we operate for having hotels bookmark our website www.needanotary.net on their desktop to give to guests upon request.

There are so many places to network. Find one technique or community you enjoy and feel comfortable performing on a regular basis and you can drive your business to success.

Feb 22, 2008 03:45 AM

Laura Vestanen

Bellingham, WA

My book "Notary Marketing 2019" is on Amazon.com

LaShon,

You are absolutely right about networking with your competitors. I do this and refer my overload work to rival notaries.

Referring work to NSA rivals also worked for me in an odd way.

One of my RevMort LOs had a signing while I was on vacation. Normally she would wait for my return but the borrowers desperately needed the money quickly. Only one of my rivals had RevMort experience so I gave the LO her number. The substitute NSA did the paperwork fine but was not nearly as professional in dress and demeanor as me. The LO was horrified at the difference and is now even more respectful and loyal to me than before.

Another NSA rival has become a friend. She is also going to be on the Board of Directors of the non-profit corporation to help WA small business owners which we will launch next week.

I met both rivals at an NSA networking group. I started the group and organized its events.

Laura Vestanen

Feb 26, 2008 10:16 AM

Joan Bergstrom

Joan Bergstrom Mobile Notary - Riverside, CA

Mobile Notary, Riverside CA

When a notary or notary loan signers give a referral it make this person part of the "problem solving solution.

This makes us all team players and I have found companies/individuals/etc love this sort of help!

Feb 26, 2008 03:49 PM

Find a Notary Public needAnotary

QEC Internet Services - Long Beach, CA

I think this referral and networking is a great thing. I think it is responsible to state that this won't work for notaries who accept assignments exclusively from signing companies. These types of companies will drop you like a hot potato if they find out you referred an assignment of theirs to another notary, as their claim to fame is the control they exert over the transaction. They go into marketing and negotiation meeting with their clients and stress to the client their control as a benefit using their firm instead of randomly selecting notaries.

This is especially easy to discern if the company required a faxback document. The notary stamp and name on the signing order don’t match. New notaries attempting this strategy need to ensure there is enough profit in the assignment to make it worthwhile for another notary to handle the order.

I’ve read in many forums and bulletin boards that notaries are accepting $40 and $50 loan document assignments to keep gas in their cars. I for one would be very upset if another notary committed me to such and assignment! I believe there need to exist a working relationship where each notary in the network know the other notaries in the network price point. Furthermore, I firmly believe notaries should STOP accepting or agreeing to assignments that don’t provide a livable wage.

Gas has increased; repairs on vehicles have increased; the general cost of living has increased, notary fees are being decreased. The NNA is partially to blame as well as notaries for letting people who don’t perform the work dictate what is an acceptable fee and they don’t have a dog in the fight. Remember signing companies are a product of RESPA Reform that took place back in the early 90’s.

RESPA had nothing to do with notaries but they became the whipping boy as title and escrow companies sought to streamline fees. Ironically, escrow and title companies have not experienced significantly decreases in their fees. See escrow and title used to handle the notary functions on closing. I would encourage any new notary to learn the history of the industry and the business to better understand your role and keep your eyes and mind open to developing exclusive relationship with business builders other than signing companies to make it profitable to refer assignments you’re unable to handle.

Feb 26, 2008 04:27 PM

Find a Notary Public needAnotary

QEC Internet Services - Long Beach, CA

Here is something funny, Alphonso Johnson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development has been promising RESPA reform every since he took over the job from Mel Martinez. Some industry observers and insiders will tell you that RESPA reform was what cost Secretary Martinez his job on Capital Hill. The proposals he submitted was more consumer friendly than the industry wanted and companies in this industry depend on junk fees to pad their profit margins.

Feb 26, 2008 04:41 PM

Joan Bergstrom

Joan Bergstrom Mobile Notary - Riverside, CA

Mobile Notary, Riverside CA

I think the comment from need a notary is correct about referring loan signing assignments to other notaries and shouldn't be done without calling the company that hired you and telling them you can't do the assignment.

The offering of another notary's name who could help them out is a valued marketing tool for the notary offering this help.

Signing companies and all other companies that hire us love this type of help.. If they want to hire their own choice, than we at least tried to be helpful.

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

Feb 26, 2008 05:15 PM

Lacey D. Horton

LDH Services - Heath, TX

Certified Signing Agent Texas

Thank you, I am a member of all and looking into MyNotarySource.

Feb 27, 2008 05:30 AM

Inna Ivchenko

Barcode Properties - Encino, CA

Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

You never know where the next business connection could take your career. I find it necessary to attend networking events when I can, that are great for creating relationships, making new friends, share ideas, or just having a good time reconnecting with an old friend.

Oct 10, 2017 01:41 PM