Return to Notary Marketing 102 Contents

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It is critical for your success as a Signing Agent to get reviews on your profile. Any Notary who is any good has reviews. By not having a single review you are telling the world that you are not a good person to hire. Additionally, if you only have old reviews, you are telling the world that you are tired and washed out. The secret is to make it a habit to always ask for reviews from anyone who likes your work. Here are my basic principles for getting reviews.

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12 tips for getting reviews on your notary listing

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1. Gee, I love your work!
The minute anyone says, “Gee, I love your work”, ask them for a review and send them a LINK to your review page so that they don’t have to search for it.

2. Read our comprehensive guide to reviews!
Read 123notary’s comprehensive guide to getting reviews before you inhale your next breath.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16290

3. Five or six reviews doubles your incoming calls.
You don’t need a million reviews on 123notary, just five or six reviews in the last three years is enough.

4. Reviews from Title companies count more.
In general reviews are good. But reviews from Title companies carry more credibility.

5. Reviews from Jeremy mean a lot.
Since I am an impartial source of information about how good Notaries are, if you pass my Notary quiz with a high score, I will write a good review.

6. Reviews that are well written or emotionally charged mean more.
“My dog was dying and Jeff the Notary came running and saved the day. Fluffy would have died if it were not for Jeff (sob). I am crying tears of relief. I recommend Jeff to anyone, and so does Fluffy.”

7. Try to get a new review every quarter.
That is all you need. The more the merrier, but once per quarter puts you in the top 1% of Notaries on our site in terms of reviews, although Ken Edelstein in NYC will still have outdone you because he is special and has more than 400 reviews which are all legit.

8. The 8% rule.
On average only 8% of people you ask for a review will actually write it, so don’t be disappointed if you asketh more than you receiveth. Ask lots of people who like you for reviews and take what you get. But, each review is like platinum. On the other hand, if you are a really bad Notary, you might need to ask thirty people to get one review.

9. Offer amazing service
Being a considerate and competent Notary who arrives on time, dresses well, answers questions in a helpful and educated sounding way, and gets the job done on time will help you get reviews. People write reviews for people who gave them the best service they’ve ever had and the worst — not for the most average service.

10. Try to space your reviews out.
If you get five reviews within minutes of each other, I won’t publish them and it looks fake.

11. Old reviews carry very little weight.
If all your reviews are old, you look washed out and like a hasbeen. Reviews are only potent for attracting business if they were written in the last two or three years. The newer the better.

12. Your city page will benefit from your review.
Having reviews not only strengthens your listing, but strengthens your search results for your entire city on Google for 123notary.

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Links:

123notary’s comprehensive guide to getting reviews (mentioned above)
This guide includes many supplemental and highly relevant and helpful links.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16290

You lose $333 every time you don’t ask for a review.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=18893

5-6 reviews doubles your business!
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=8484

The link is the missing link to getting reviews on 123notary.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=18890

Don’t ask for a review at the wrong time.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=15800

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Return to Notary Marketing 102 Contents

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If you advertise on online directories, you are well aware of how important and effective it is to have online profiles advertising your Notary services. However, there is a difference between an effective advertisement and one that merely collects dust. I am going to gear this section towards those advertising with us on 123notary.com. However, many of the principles I am going to teach could apply to any online advertising on any medium. Basically, there are a variety of reasons why an advertisement might attract large amounts of business, and reasons why it might not. Here they are.

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High Placement on 123notary
High placements on 123notary not only attract a lot more quantity of business, but a lot more title & escrow business which typically pays a lot more than average work. Email us for a quote for a particular county at info@123notary.com

If you advertise with 123notary, but your listing is buried at the bottom of the list as is the case with free and economy listings, you might find that you do not attract much business simply because clients do not easily find you. Being buried is not a good business strategy for growing your business, but is a good strategy for those who want to maintain a presence while their business slows down little by little. The Notary business has those starting up, maturing, slowing down, and quitting. Your business strategy should be appropriate to your stage in the business.

For those who are starting up in business, the first step is education. Studying to be an expert Notary and expert Loan Signer should come before investing in advertising. 123notary can help you become an expert Notary, so don’t be afraid to ask how. After you have proven your knowledge to us at 123notary, then a high placed listing is the next step in my prescribed route to Notarial success.

High-placed listings are for sale in all counties on 123notary.com. We sell placements based on county, and not based on zip code. We sell fixed high spots in all counties of the United States and prices are customized based on what area, what spot, and how good your overall score is in our algorithm, which matters a lot to us. By being high on the list, clients can see you without trying because your information will be in their face which is highly effective. But, there is more…

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Creating a Great Notes Section
You also need to create a well-organized and informative notes section on your listing. Read about that in the next chapter in this course.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19788

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Getting Reviews on your Notary Profile
Getting reviews on your listing is a matter of doing great work, waiting for compliments and then asking for a review. Please read our section on getting reviews.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19760

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Additional Related Reading

What is a high placement on 123notary worth?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16720

What is the difference between a listing getting 16 clicks / month & 100+
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=13185

LINK: Notary Education; Signing Agent Classes
http://www.123notary.com/loan_signing_courses.html

LINK: Notary Public 101; A comprehensive FREE course about Notary best practices.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19493

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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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Return to Notary Marketing 102 Notes Tutorial

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This article continues the discussion about notes sections in your 123notary profile. The below information is about the upper middle of your notes section:

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2. About You
You should write what is unique about you after you finish your top section. Many Notaries do not know what to say about themselves. The point here is to write about what is different about you that stands out. If you are the same as other Notaries there might not be much to write about. Do you have unusual equipment? Do you work at a company with multiple Notaries? Do you have special training? Do you have a professional background that helps make you a better Notary such as being a Mortgage or Title worker? Some people have a police or military background that might help handling stressful situations or being more disciplined or orderly. If you are able to write a catchy phrase about your work that would be great too. Below is an itemization of what to write in the second paragraph:

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Professional Background — Write about your work experience and what you used to do for a living before you were a Notary. People want to know who you are before they call you. Whether you were an acrobat, teacher, or Joe the cable guy, put that in your profile in this section. The most valuable types of experience are Mortgage and Escrow. Real Estate is business-like, but not as related as Realtors think. Being a Paralegal or Legal Assistant helps a little as well, but not as much as people think. A background in law enforcement or the military is actually very helpful as you know how to be disciplined and deal with tough situations.

What is Unique About You — Try to think about what is unique about how you do your work. Do you triple check your work? Do you arrive early and wait? Do you have all of the Fedex stations within 100 miles memorized? Do you bring crayons and dog treats to the signing? Do you love meeting new people? This type of information means a lot to people, and you should not omit it.

Avoid Adjectives — Do not tell the world you are adjective, adjective and adjective. Anyone can claim to be responsible, reliable and professional. This counts against you if you include it, as Title companies are tired of hearing it and think it is fake. The most unreliable Notaries claim to be reliable, so by claiming you are reliable, the message received is that you are full of it.

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Additional Reading:

Unique Phrases from Notary Notes over the years
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=14690

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

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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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Return to Notary Marketing 102 Contents

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As a Notary Signing Agent there are various types of marketing you need to understand. Getting new clients is important and the first sixty seconds you talk to them can make you or break you. However, interacting with existing clients matters too. Here are some rules and principles of dealing with existing clients:

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1. Get on the lists of as many signing companies as possible
If you are a beginner, 123notary lists many signing companies on our list of signing companies. We also have lists of companies that hire new signers on our blog. They might not pay well, but you can develop some experience working for them. Signing companies will want proof of E&O insurance, background checks, certifications, and a lot of forms to fill out. So get used to supplying information and filling out applications in mass.

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2. Get on the lists of title companies too
I’m not sure if title companies will hire beginners, but once you have experience, you can call local title companies one by one and get on their list.

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3. Do good work
Obviously as a Notary if you want repeat clients, you need to do good work. You need to be responsive before the job, during and after to ensure good service. You need to get docs delivered on time and answer your phone and email until the rescission date — you are still on call.

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4. Keep in touch
If you don’t hear from a company for a month, let them know you are available and willing. Ask them if they have a job in your area today. Keeping in touch keeps you on the front burner of people’s minds.

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5. Do a few lower paying jobs for them
If you want to get in with a client, onto the top of their list, working for less is one way to do it. People are tired of Notaries trying to get paid a fair wage (gouging them in their opinion). They want people who stop whining and start working. So, from time to time, it might make sense to do a few not that far jobs for a little less to grease the wheels. After all, there is not that much work out there. I guess that is not what you wanted to hear.

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6. Giving small gifts
If you give small gifts or cards to existing clients, that sometimes helps a lot. It gives people a good feeling and gets you remembered. Small food items, cards, gifts, chocolate, 21 year-old Scotch (only if they are really special), etc. I remember that Julie gave me two coupons for one hour free massages over the last two years. I reciprocated by being her loyal client and I gave her a gift too of a Chinese cupping set which is for reducing blood stagnation. The Olympics athletes are using cupping now too. It leaves purple marks on your body for a few days and is great for circulation.

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After you finish a job, it is important to send a text or phone call letting them know the tracking number, and where you dropped the package. Good follow up is as important as good work. It shows you are on top of things and care. The minute you have a fancy client and you slack off on the followup, that is a red flag and could cost you.

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