I took a look at the stats of Snapdocs, NotaryRotary, and 123notary over the last few months. Here is what I noticed.
1. Snapdocs got increasing amounts of traffic during 2016 while 123notary & NotaryRotary lost traffic. My stats indicate that this December I got about 17% less visits to 123notary than last December for example. Alexa.com showed a huge increase in site rank in Snapdocs while showing a small decline in 123notary’s and NotaryRotary’s site rank which is based on overall traffic.
2. In September 2016, based on similarweb.com 123notary experienced a huge surge in traffic while Snapdocs & NotaryRotary experienced a huge decline. My Google Analytics showed a surge in traffic on 123notary, but in August, not September. So, perhaps similarweb.com is a little bit off (or completely off) in its reporting.
My personal stats show that 123notary lost 8% of traffic in 2016 as a whole compared to 2015 as a whole. Part of that is due to Snapdocs. But, Snapdocs traffic grew a lot over 2016 which means that we lost more during the last few months of the year. According to one stats site, Snapdocs traffic was double what 123notary’s was. However, their traffic is low-ball where 123notary gets a lot more high quality traffic.
On the other hand, Alexa.com shows that 123notary’s rank is roughly equal to Snapdocs. So, which source of information is the most reliable? In my experience Google Analytics is the most reliable and detailed source of web stats information. Unfofortunately, I do not have Google analytics on my competitors’ stats.
New Profiles
I’m trying to make sense of what is happening, but it is so complicated. 123notary added several hundred new profiles in August which could have lead to a rise in stats for us in September. But, our stats show that our spike was in August, not September which leads me to feel that there is a lag in the reporting on the other stats site
Social Media
Our social media took a huge dive in clicks starting around August and our Facebook performance affects our general web traffic.
What to do?
I am looking at this information completely baffled. I work hard every day to ensure the best quality search experience on 123notary. We get traffic that pays notaries well on 123notary. But, the total clicks matter to me as well, and clicks are far down. Do I add more profiles? Do I do more on social media? Do I create a better mobile site experience? Should we try to get more reviews? Or should I emphasize different information than I do now? I think the answer is all of the above!
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You might also like:
See our string on Snapdocs posts
http://blog.123notary.com/?tag=snapdocs
Which directories get the high paying signings?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19201
I believe the reason they are receiving more traffic is because pictures of each notary are shown for each persons listing and their site. Snap docs you can actually book the closing through snap docs and snap docs. Snap docs is like a portal to hold the closing. I just don’t know who determines the cheap pay in closings. I am seeing them on there for $70.00… which is completely a disgrace to the whole signing industry. But for title companies it bypasses the middle man, the closing company. I would at least allow your notaries to upload pictures on your portal. Also, snap docs does not cost for the notaries as well. They get paid off of each closing that get’s booked with them. That is my opinion. I guess nothing can last forever. Notary work is already being diminished by title companies doing on line closings now. Soon we will be looking for other businesses.
Comment by Chris — January 25, 2017 @ 3:18 pm
The “shape” of the entire (what’s left of it) profession has changed. It used to be a group of seasoned notaries performing loan closings. A lot of notaries were hired directly by title companies. Signing companies came along, making a niche,and this was the first significant change. Some notaries started thumping their tubs and advertising they would “teach” notaries how to be Signing Agents. Even NNA would advertise “make easy money” become a notary and a signing agent today! The Signing Companies went on a binge to find notaries to sign their loans, so they signed up anything with a pulse. This was a defining moment. Some of these notaries never took any training, using the rationale of “how hard could this be?”
A flood of untrained notaries fanned out and destroyed loans left and right. Resigns were the order of the day. Sheet after sheet of “instructions” were then placed in each loan package, making those of us professionals wonder what the heck was going on. Then, some of the Signing Companies were operated by thieves, who would not pay the notaries they hired. This really roiled the waters. Notary Rotary came up with a great lookup system, however, when some uneducated and inexperienced notary felt slighted, they would enter inane and useless comments, skewing the validity of a particular listing.
The next turning point was marketing by signing companies which offered their services to title companies now, at bargain rates to get business, and thusly, offering notaries pathetic rates to sign loans. These actions were followed closely by the introduction of Snap Docs, who merely automated what had been done manually – offering notaries garbage rates for signings. Now, the signing companies and SnapDocs were feeding at the signing trough, leaving precious little for the notary.
In sum, I see fewer loans, higher interest rates, electronic automation, and experienced notaries pulling out of this business. Title companies want to save money, and some signing companies continue to spew out SnapDocs offers for $50 signings. Newbie notaries are slowly coming to the realization that they’re merely pawns, making money for someone other than themselves. It doesn’t take a prescient being to see that this profession is going the way of the Dodo Bird.
Comment by Ralph Wedertz — January 25, 2017 @ 5:15 pm
I get a lot of personal business along with loan jobs. There has not been one personal job done where the client told me they got my name off of 123notary. I’m not sure what is going on. Most tell me they found me on Yelp or Google. For loan jobs I do get texts and emails from snapdoc companies. It seems their system is set up for businesses to easily access a notary. All of my certs and background checks were downloaded to snapdocs a couple years ago when the first signing agency to use me on snapdocs sent me the link and asked me to do so.
What I’m getting at is it seems like an entirely different system all together. They don’t make me view and upkeep my profile every 3 months. There are no fees. They work directly with several signing agencies it seems.
Most of my business comes from the many signing agencies I’ve been in business with consistently for 13 years. Snapdocs is maybe 20% of my business. But I do find it very efficient. They don’t always pay as well as my regulars though.
Sorry if spelling is incorrect. The font must be a 6. I can hardly see it.
Comment by Kathy Hageman — January 25, 2017 @ 5:16 pm
I maintain accounts with Notary Rotary, Notary 123 and Notary Café. Occasionally, I received work through Snapdocs from companies that know my work history. They will call me. For the most part I get the fee that I ask for. The best part about the Snapdocs system is that my money is deposited into my bank account within 2 – 3 weeks. I don’t have to chase signing companies to get paid for work successfully completed. I am very careful about accepting work from companies that I do not have a work history with. Although, I have been round since 2005, I not been paid for work that was successfully completed.
The fee to close a refi loan should be $100 – $125 for all Notary Signing Agents in part because the costs of doing this business have increased significantly such as tolls roads fees, gas prices, the price of copy paper, parking, etc. Additionally, there should be a $25 charge for mandatory faxbacks. My notary business consists of loan signings from title companies, law firms, and general notary work (estate planning, adoptions, etic).
Comment by Linda James — January 26, 2017 @ 4:34 am
I receive no calls from 123Notary or Notary Rotary so I can’t possibly get GREAT reviews from your site but I receive job offers from snap docs and signing trac, to name a few,on a daily basis and I do not have to pay for them. Sorry you have a great site and information is great but it is the jobs that count.
Comment by Linda Mattera — January 26, 2017 @ 2:15 pm
Snapdocs provides convenience. The compensation depends on the job,and company. You can id on the job or reject it.
I had two companies that owed me at the end of the year. I had repeatedly invoiced these companies. When I sent notice of intent to place them in collections I was paid immediately.
I also do business with other companies who don’t use snapdocs. Their payments are comparable.
The best part of snapdocs is having all my information loaded in one site where I can be found easily. No loading information over and over. Docs are loaded into snapdocs and I can load scan backs into the site also.
If I’m paid a few dollars less, it was worth my time to be able to work through an all inclusive site that I can even track closing and payments.
Comment by Carol Wright — March 3, 2017 @ 3:03 pm
I always counter the low ball pay on SD and get what I am worth. They can book, track, upload faxbacks and pay you on SD so it is convenient. That may be the allure but I still have over half of my new companies tell me they found me on 123notary!
Comment by Lisa — March 3, 2017 @ 6:07 pm
I got a call the other day from a signing company for a HELOC signing for $60. I said, “Wow! Is that the going price these days?” He said pretty much- what’s your fee? I asked if he’d go for $75? His response floored me. “I’ve already got someone for $75. I’m just calling more to see if I can get it for less.”
Comment by Carol C — March 3, 2017 @ 9:10 pm