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April 12, 2020

Copying your notes over from Snapdocs? Bad idea

Filed under: Your Notes Section — Tags: — admin @ 9:12 am

Many Notaries just like to copy and paste information. It is easy and thought-free. Thinking burns a lot of ATP, so why not conserve. The problem is that 123notary is not programmed like Snapdocs. The top of your notes section shows up on the search results. So, if you say, “Hi, my name is Mandy.” people will not click on you because they already know your name is Mandy, but don’t know what is unique about you and your experience.

It pays to have Jeremy (that’s me) go over your notes. No, it doesn’t cost anything, but it will benefit you a lot. When I go over people’s notes and fix them up, people get an average of 55% more clicks. It takes me about two minutes. I have done this tens of thousands of times and am good at it. Please allow me to pat myself on the back.

Notes sections on 123notary should focus on certain types of info, and be in a particular type of order. Don’t put all your info in an endless long jumbled paragraph. Divide into sections with experience and unique selling features at the top. Your personal introduction should NOT come at top, because that is not as critical to the hiring decision as what is unique about you and your experience.

So, read our tutorials on the blog about how to write a good notes section in the “your notes section” category on the right column of this blog. The comprehensive tutorials from back a few years ago are more thorough, but everything we have written on the topic is useful.

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February 5, 2020

Best older posts about how to write a great notes section

Filed under: Your Notes Section — admin @ 10:59 pm

Here are some older posts about how to write a great notes section. I wanted to bring these to the surface, so here they are.

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COMPREHENSIVE GUIDES

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How to write a notes section if you are a beginner
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16698

Everything you need to know about writing a great notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16074

Notary Marketing 102 – your notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19788

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INTERESTING ARTICLES ABOUT NOTES SECTIONS AS A WHOLE

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2014 Excerpts from great notes sections
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=13613

The ADD culture and your listing and notary marketing
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=22309

Documenting your experience and personal style in your notes
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19052

Documenting your experience and personal style in your notes
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19052

Notary notes makeover
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=18895

Examples of great notes sections
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=18862

Unique phrases from the Ninja course
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=14690

10 quick changes to your notes that double your calls
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=4499

What goes where in your notes?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=1076

Clarifying vague claims in your notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=4675

Your jumbled or too short notes section is costing you 50% of your business
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16572

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COMPONENTS OF A NOTES SECTION

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A list of things you probably did not add to your notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=22287

How many types of financial packages do you mention?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19997

Putting jails and hospitals in your notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19266

Is it better to be “bilingual” or speak Spanish?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19264

Being unique and factual in your notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19050

Buzzwords to avoid in your notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19054

What NOT to put at the top of your notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19056

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February 4, 2020

Cleaning up common mistakes in your profile’s notes section

Filed under: Your Notes Section — admin @ 10:56 pm

When I look over notes sections of our higher level members, I like to make suggestions that can help them appear in a more positive light to the users. There are a bunch of common mistakes people make. I want to go over those mistakes.

1. Real Estate Experience
It is common for those with Real Estate experience to claim that they have real estate experience the therefor they understand the documents. In real life, people who I quiz with Real Estate experience do not know their documents that well. If you want to prove knowledge, then please pass our certification test which is really hard. Another mistake people make is to put lots of information about their Real Estate career in the top of their notes section. This is a Notary directory, so please put notary achievements at the top of your listing and mention your Real Estate experience in the middle or bottom of your notes section as an additional point.

2. Mortgage Experience
Many of our members have some type of Mortgage experience. If you are a current Mortgage Broker, you might be seen as competition and people might not want to hire you. However, the mistake many Notaries name is to claim that they have “x” amount of years in the “Mortgage Industry.” They often do not disclose what job titles they had in the industry or what their tasks were. People who use our site reward those who give specifics and give you a clear idea of who you are, what you have done, and what you know how to do. Additionally, using the “x” number of years is a bad idea, because you might have a listing with us for ten or twenty years and you have to keep updating your # of years every year. It is easier to say, “Notary since 1986.” or “Mortgage Appraiser since 2009.” You could say, “I was a Mortgage Broker from 2004 to 2015.” which clears up when you did it, how long, and that you no longer do it which might com as a relief.

3. Business Experience
Many Notaries have run a business before. They put, “Former business owner.” In their notes. This is horrible. It doesn’t say what type of business you ran, what position you had, what your responsibilities were, or what time period you did it. Be specific and understand that the reader doesn’t know if you had a business collecting hub caps or if you ran a fortune 500 company. You need to specify!

4. Types of Loans
It is common for Notaries to say, “I know how to sign every type of loan.” This is bad, because there are so many types of financial packages that few notaries have signed them all. Just make a detailed list of the loans you have signed, i.e.: I have signed purchases, sales, refinances, FHA, VA, conventional, unconventional, conforming, modification, reverse mortgages, and debt consolidations. I suggest having another list of common documents that you have signed. If the user has one of the types of loans on your list, he is more likely to hire you than some other character who makes vague claims or no claims about their loan experience.

5. Number of Loans
Some Notaries who are smart keep their number of loans signed statistics up to date regularly. Others say that they have signed two hundred plus loans. Two hundred plus is not a number by the way. Two hundred is a number. Since the information is not date stamped, (hmm, perhaps I should add that as a feature to my directory) there is no way to know how accurate the information still is. Number of loans signed is a good indication of how much experience you have, and is much more helpful than how many years of experience you have. You might have one month of experience and have signed 200 loans, or you might have twenty years of experience only having signed one loan per year which would be 20 loans. Think about it.

6. Omitting to read through our thorough guides
123notary has published many point by point tutorials on how to write a good notes section, what buzzwords to add, which to omit, what to say and how to say it. By not spending at least two hours reading our comprehensive guides, taking notes, and writing a well organized and thorough notes section – you are losing business. We will even clean up your notes for free upon request, but we get very few requests.

7. Unique catchy phrases
It is hard to teach someone how to write a catchy phrase. I created some articles with the best phrases I could find. It takes time and thought to create a one liner. However, readers are so bored reading through notes sections that if you can write something spicy, they might like it, and they might call you first. So, put some time into thinking up something catchy to say, and see how people react. You might need to modify what you put at a later date.

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February 2, 2020

When Jeremy cleans up a notes section, the clicks go up by 55%

Filed under: Your Notes Section — admin @ 10:53 pm

I make it a practice to clean up people’s notes sections. But, I don’t do it every day. I do my sweeps from time to time and will go through a few thousand listings. What I prefer is if a Notary will email me and ask me to clean up their notes section and make suggestions. The problem I have is that most Notaries have a very stripped down notes section and say very little about themselves. At this point, I ask them to spend an hour or more reading our tutorials and taking notes about what they need to add to their notes that the didn’t add yet. Then, they need to compose a notes section. I cannot clean up a notes section that has two lines of content – there is nothing to work with.

What I found is that most Notaries write jumbled and disorganized notes sections. Sometimes the information is good, but the formatting is generally bad. Additionally, people tend to put the most critical information and bury it below. This is why I like to clean up people’s notes sections. I bring the most salient information to the top, as that will show up on the search results. I organize the content into a well structured easy to read format. Sometimes I rephrase things to cut through the fluff. People reading your profile have no time for inconsequential extra words. Get to the point and be factual and helpful.

Being unique and factual wins the game, while making vague claims about how adjective, adjective, and adjective you are does not help and can often hurt.

The bottom line is: When I clean up someone’s notes section, they get about 55% more clicks than before. I took a sample of twenty listings and took readings. People will click on your listing more if:

1. Salient information or selling features about you appear in the search results. They will appear in the search results if they are the first 150 or 200 characters in your notes section

2. You have a well organized and factual notes section

3. You have unique information

4. You have a lot of useful things to say about yourself.

Paying for a listing on our site is generally a good move, but you have to spend the time to make your presentation be helpful and stand out. This takes time. On the other hand, if you keep your listing for ten or twenty years you only have to write the notes section once, and then spruce it up a little perhaps twice per year. It is not that hard, and it will really pay off too in terms of clicks, calls, and jobs if you do a good job. So invest an hour or two, write a good notes section, and email me so I can do my magic cleaning it up at no cost to you!

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October 21, 2019

Having a good notes section is a priority

Filed under: Your Notes Section — admin @ 11:44 pm

Smart Notaries on 123notary do a good job on their notes section and ask for help. Newer and less sophisticated Notaries write some lame material in their notes, don’t have our certification and don’t have reviews and then wonder why the phone doesn’t ring. Notary advertising by definition is very competitive, so you have to have an edge. As a beginner, believe it or not, with our free help, you can have a good edge and good presentation.

Here are some quick tips on notes and then some links to some amazing material.

1. The top 150 characters of your notes section shows up on the search results. Don’t put fluff up there. Many people restate their name — we already know what your name is because it says at the top of your listing. They restate that are a signing agent. They say that they are a “professional” signing agent. Anybody on our site can claim to be professional, but that just means that you get paid to do it, and doesn’t prove that you are any good. This is all a waste. Put info about your experience, or that you do last minute jobs, languages, or anything that makes you stand out in a good way.

2. Designations, degrees, coverage areas, or more generic or information that is less critical in proving how great you are as a Notary can go lower in your notes section.

3. Email us for help at info@123notary.com. We cannot write your notes for you, but we can rearrange it easily and for free. But, we can’t do it if you don’t ask. People who get a notes makeover typically get 55% more clicks right away and that translates into work.

4. The key thing to remember in notes is to be specific, unique and stress experience above all else. Using adjectives like reliable and professional are words anyone can use and these words don’t mean anything to the reader — they are considered fluff.

LINKS

How to write a notes section if you are a beginner
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16698

Read our string on notes sections
http://blog.123notary.com/?cat=2057

What goes at the top of your notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19268
Documenting experience and personal style in your notes

Documenting your Experience & Personal Style in your notes

123notary’s index of popular notary articles
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=20282

Notary notes makeover
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=18895

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July 9, 2019

A list of things you probably did not add to your notes section

Filed under: Your Notes Section — Tags: , — admin @ 3:08 am

Every Notary profile has a notes section, but Notaries are notoriously sloppy about what they add to their notes section unless they are very seasoned Notaries. So, I compiled a quick list of things you need to add.

1. Uniqueness – What is unique about your service? Do you speak another language, go to hospitals, have an advanced degree, or are Fidelity approved? These things should go up top so that people can see this on the search results. The top of your notes section once again does show up on the search results.

2. Loan Types – What types of loans are you experienced with? Just saying that you do them all doesn’t say much. It is better to make a thoughtful list of the loan types and types of documents that you have signed before.

3. Equipment – Do you have a particular type of printer, scanner, fax, or a mobile office? Make sure to share that with the world.

4. Other Information – Do you have E&O insurance, how much? Are you certified by any particular agency? Are you background screened and by whom?

5. Coverage Areas: How many miles is your radius? What particular counties do you cover? Make it easy. If there are too many if-then statements about you only go to Horry County on an empty stomach if it is before 8pm, unless it is Summer in which case perhaps 8:30pm but only if you feel like it… That is too complicated. Just say you go to Horry County.

6. About You – It is hard for most Notaries to write about themselves. The tendency is to reduce yourself to some cliche adjectives that are identical to have 10,000 other notaries would describe themselves. Avoid this and paint a realistic picture of your style of doing work, about you, your professional background and what is unique to you.

7. Minimums – Some Notaries have a minimum of $100 plus eDocuments. If you stick to particular prices and are not wishy-washy, then publish them in your notes section. That way your calls are pre-filtered. But, if on Monday your minimum is $100, and then on Tuesday you are desperate and lower it to $80, then keep it verbal.

8. Professional backgrounds – Don’t be vague and say you worked in the financial industry. Say what positions you held and what types of work you did. People want specifics not vagueness. Don’t say you worked in the legal industry otherwise we will think you were the window washer at Hartman, Smith, and Stone.

9. A catchy phrase – Most Notaries do not bother to put a catchy one liner in their notes. It might take hours to think of. Good business names are equally hard to think of. People who search for Notaries are bored reading boring notes sections. If you can make up something interesting and catchy to say, you will inspire people to call you. If you are serious about the business, it is worth your time.

10. Organization tips – Don’t write a notes section that is a jumble. Keep each section well organized and separated by a line of space. It is easier to read and more pleasant too. Please remember that those reading your profile read hundreds of profiles and will be more likely to use you if you come across as being organized.

You might also like:

How to write a notes section if you are a beginner
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16698

2014 Excerpts from great notes sections
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=13613

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March 24, 2019

A list of things you probably forgot to put in your notes section

Filed under: Your Notes Section — Tags: , — admin @ 4:34 am

Most Notaries write a notes section for their listing on 123notary. However, many do not know what to write. Here are some things you should write about. Take this as a check list.

Experience
Write about the types of loans or documents you know how to sign. Write about the type of work you did before you were a Notary or what distinguishes your experience as a notary. How many loans as well as how many years would also help the reader get an idea of what type of experience you have. Read more by clicking the link below…
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19052

Additional Information
Your certifications, courses taken, E&O, background screening, etc., Don’t forget to write about this because people do care.

Equipment
If you have special equipment, portable printers, scanners, fax machines, inverters, etc., people want to read about this. But, don’t put it up top as this is supplemental information. Experience and selling features go up top.

Special Skills
Are you bilingual? Do you visit hospitals or jails? How about a wide radius? Are you on the white glove list somewhere? Do you take credit cares or square? Put this up top as it is a selling feature.

Areas Covered
Your radius, counties or cities covered go at the bottom and there are 12 boxes to put your counties covered which includes your home county. We discourage putting zip codes as the list gets very long and messy and nobody wants to read it.

About You
This is the most misunderstood aspect of notes writing. Most people cannot write about themselves other than a long string of adjectives. Any idiot can write about how responsible and reliable they are and the more they claim these adjectives the less true I find them to be. However, describing yourself with specific facts is more helpful as well as credible. The fact you have an MBA, worked with the elderly at a nursing home for ten years or are ex-military are real facts about you. The fact you triple check your work and have your local FedEx stations memorized is fact vs. fluff.

Catchy Phrases
It is hard for most people to write a catchy phrase, but it can really pay off. People are bored with reading 1000 notes sections that all seem very similar. It sometimes looks like the same person wrote all of the notes sections on Notary Rotary… “I am reliable, background screened and have 50,000 E&O. I have signed many loans and do a lot of refinances.” After you see this a few thousand times you start seeing double. Put something unique and organized for a change. We wrote a few articles (that I linked below) on catchy phrases in notes sections and you should read those.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=14690

Buzzwords to avoid
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19054

You might also like:
Examples of great notes sections
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=18862

How to write a notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16698

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March 20, 2018

Notary Marketing 102 — The Top of Your Notes

Filed under: Loan Signing 101 — admin @ 7:51 am

Return to the Notary Marketing 102 Notes Tutorial

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1. TOP — Selling Points & Experience
A good notes section should start out by mentioning some quick points about why someone would want to hire you. Here are some points that do well in the top section:

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Number of Loans Signed – Most Notaries hide behind their years of experience. But, the Title companies want to know how many loans first as years is not a definitive metric of how much actual experience you have. What if you signed ten loans per year for ten years, that is only 100 loans. If you have thirty or more years of experience, list it in a format such as: Notary since 1985.

Jail & Hospital Signings — Many people need service in unusual places, so if you are specializing in jails and hospitals, you should mention this at the top of your notes.

100 Mile Radius — In remote areas, people need service far from where you live. If you offer this service with a smile, you will attract a lot more business.

eSignings — Listing unusual services makes you look highly skilled, and will attract specific types of work.

Hours — If you are a 24/7 Notary or a night owl, let the world know this first, because a lot of people need help at night and the other Notaries probably don’t want to be bothered.

Languages — Spanish and Vietnamese are the most demanded languages. But, if you speak another language, put that up top so people will know right away. If you speak Spanish, it is better to claim to be “bilingual” as it carries positive cultural connotations.

Specific Experience — Mention specific types of financial packages or documents that you are accustomed to signing. If a client has that exact package they might be more likely to call you first.

Catchy Phrase — Sometimes a catchy phrase about yourself, your business or service can win the game. Often it is a one-liner that is artfully phrased and catches people’s attention. Don’t bore them with fluff, dazzle them with class!

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LINK: Buzzwords to avoid in your notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19054

LINK: What NOT to put at the top of your notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19056

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Examples:

EFFECTIVE
24/7 service; 8500 loans signed; last minute signings; Bilingual; Experienced with Modifications, eSignings, REO, Time Shares, Refinances, VA, FHA, 1sts, 2nds, and Helocs.

Commentary
The effective top of your notes section stresses time of availability, level of experience you can really put your finger on (# of loans is a better analytic than years because the reader could assume that you did very few loans per year for ten years which is not impressive.) “Last minute signings” is a great phrase because many notaries do not like to be bothered at the last minute. Unusual types of financial packages are also good to list and this section lists ten types of packages. I would stop at twelve types of packages per paragraph to avoid overload.

HORRIBLE
I have been a notary for twelve years and know my way around the business. I am responsible and know everything I need to know. NNA certified.

Commentary
The horrible top of your notes section commentary lists years which is bad because you don’t know what quantity of actual work was done per year. There is some bragging and self-promotion which I called “inexpensively bought credibility” which carries no weight because it is self-verified credibility. Then there is the NNA certification which is not a selling feature as almost all Notaries on 123notary are NNA Certified. You have to mention what makes you different and better, rather than what makes you average.

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March 18, 2018

Notary Marketing 102 –Notes Section Additional Info

Return to Notary Marketing 102 Notes Tutorial

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3. Additional Information

In the middle of your notes section is where you mention your NNA certification, etc. Do not put this up top as it makes you look like just another Notary. What is special about you and a selling feature goes up top. Specific details about your credentials come in the middle. Here are some things you should list in your information section which you can write in bullet format for best results:

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Certifications — List your NNA, Notary2Pro or 123notary certification here.

Background Screening — Mention what agency background screened you and the dates of effectiveness.

E&O Insurance — Mention how much you have, and if you forget then look it up because this matters to Title companies.

Equipment — If you have special equipment you want to mention, put it here. Scanners, Fancy Fax Machines, Dual Tray Printers that print 200 pages per second, Cable Internet, Mobile Printing in your Car, etc. Specifics that make your equipment stand out help.

Memberships — If you have any other Notary memberships with the PAN, AAN, etc., list them here. It is NOT a good idea to list Real Estate memberships or memberships that pertain to other careers that you might have.

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Additional Links

Compilation of certification posts
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16264

Background Screening for Notaries? Who needs it?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=2418

Is having an NNA background screening really necessary to get work?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=10385

Which dual tray printers do notaries like?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19351

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March 16, 2018

Notary Marketing 102 — The Bottom of your Notes Section

Filed under: Loan Signing 101 — admin @ 7:43 am

Return to Notary Marketing 102 Notes Tutorial

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This article continues the discussion of what goes in your notes section on your 123notary profile. The following content covers what goes in the lower-middle or bottom of your notes:

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4. Coverage Areas and Special Terms
The lower middle of your notes can talk about what counties or cities you serve. I do not like lists of zip codes, but if you insist you can include them. Listing a radius is fine, but back it up with mention of specific counties or parts of counties so the public will have a clear idea of where you go. Clear information wins the game and vague self-descriptions looks sloppy. If you take credit cards, Square or Paypal, mention that too. Here is an itemization of what to put here:

Areas Covered — A radius in miles and the names of counties or parts of counties are most effective. You might list specific city names too. Keep county lists as county lists and it is confusing to mix cities and counties together. Format is important, so if you ramble on and on about how you sometimes go to Northeast Butler County, but only if it is not raining and not after 8pm except if it is during the summer, that is too complicated.

Credit Cards — If you take square, paypal, or credit cards, mention that here.

Online Booking — If you have some fancy technological system or do online booking, mention that here.

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5. Closing Phrases
Finish off your notes with a catchy closing phrase. Call today! Satisfaction Guaranteed. I look forward to working with you.

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6. Other
Please make sure the general fields in your listing are all filled out. 123notary has many fields to fill out and it is common for Notaries to swear to me that they filled everything out when most fields were left blank. Fill in your number of signings, hours, specialties, etc. The additional information area has room for a lot more information about hospital signings, immigration documents, and more.

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LINK: Excerpts from great notes sections
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=13613

LINK: Your jumbled or too short notes section is costing you 50% of your business!
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16572

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