On a regular basis, I hear Notaries complaining about Snapdocs. Yet, Notaries keep signing up for it. Notaries complain that:

1. Jobs are too far away (sometimes or often)
2. Jobs pay too little
3. You have to be fast getting back to people or you won’t get the job
4. They don’t get texted at all
5. They get texted too much only to find that they don’t get even one job.
6. The type of company that hires them micromanages them too much.

On the other hand, Notaries don’t have that many regular complaints about getting paid late for Snapdocs jobs, so that is a good thing.

So, who is SnapDocs best suited for?

1. If you like bells and whistles
If you like texts going off regularly throughout the day, you might like SnapDocs. You might be addicted to the action. Some people thrive on regular commotion, while some of us prefer peace and quiet.

2. If you like apps, portals and technology
You mean a stargate that takes you to the other side of the galaxy? Not that kind of portal. But, some people, even older people really like how well designed and intricate the SnapDocs software is. It keeps track of all of your accounts, reviews, stats, downloading docs is a snap (maybe they should call it DocsSnap), and texting back and forth is easy and partly automated. Personally, I only use technology when I have to, and I am generally far behind the times. On the other hand, I often master the effective use of certain technologies.

3. You are a beginner
I recommend SnapDocs to beginners regularly. It doesn’t work for all beginners, and beginners aren’t the only people who use SnapDocs in the long run. However, the people who hire from SnapDocs are not looking for the cream of the crop otherwise they would come to 123notary! SnapDocs is a way for beginners to sometimes get a lot of experience in a hurry. Some people get a heap of work all at once, while others get little or nothing. Business in general is unpredictable and often feast or famine, and feast sounds good if you get a Vegas style dessert buffet. Famine — not so good.

4. You like haggling
If you like to get $50 offers, and text the offerer back and say, “$125, and not a penny less. I have 20 years of experience, baby!” These experienced Notaries who wish they had been Moroccan and like to live as if they are permanently at a Bazaar love to bargain. If they answer enough $50 calls, eventually they get a few good offers from people who are either desperate, don’t care about the money, or are tired of novices.

SUMMARY
Snapdocs works well for some and is a disaster for others. My suggestion is that you try it if you love technology and need to pay your dues working for low wages while you get some experience. For all others, I recommend against it unless you like the excitement and you like to bargain.

One of my clients told me that Snapdocs has invested more than 100 million in its operation. That is a lot more than I ever invested. I only put in a few hundred thousand and that was for programming over a long period of time. I started on a shoestring just like I ran my other businesses as a kid doing landscaping.

I had no idea they were so big. No wonder their programming is so good. But, investing millions doesn’t make the notaries they list worth 100 million – and that’s an answer to the million dollar question.

They stole a lot of market share from us and NotaryRotary. But, honestly, one of my clients just called me thanking me for my work and informing me that I am in the “big three” of notary platforms. I told him it is because of many years of smart and strategic work and because I’m special. I patted myself on the back after I said that.

In today’s economy talent can often outperform investment. That is perhaps the reason I can successfully compete against multi-million dollar platforms like the NNA and Snapdocs. I’m amazed that I can do it year after year. On the other hand I am not slacking off, except that I got very behind on emails.

Originally posted in 2019

Notaries are always complaining about low-balling, cattle calls and a shortage of work. But, in the last few months, business has been so bad that many have reported that on Snapdocs, the texts stopped all together.

I have lived through different economic cycles from inflation in the 70’s to a recession in the 80’s to the dot com bust in 1999 and the 2008 financial crash. However, I have never seen an industry crash quite like now. I am amazed that 123notary is surviving so well in this difficult time.

So, what do you do when the texts stop? Do you get another job? Do you sit and wait? Do you cry?

When business is bad, I tend to work even harder. That means we get less sign ups so I have to scour the internet to sign people up myself, screen many out, and repeat the process. What about you? When business is bad do you try harder or get more apathetic? The winners in this industry try very hard. I suggest doing exactly that.

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You might also like:

Compilation of posts about Snapdocs
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21531

See our string of posts about Snapdocs
http://blog.123notary.com/?tag=snapdocs

I track people’s popularity on similarweb.com. I can see that 123notary has gone down hill in popularity, but remains popular with those who still pay well which is important. Snapdocs is an organization that gets boatloads of complaints. Some Notaries swear by them but most have relatively negative things to say and lots of complaints.

The fact remains that the convenience they offer is so popular that their market share continues to grow. So, in the long run, if you Notaries continue to work for cheap and agree to be treated like cattle, this business model will succeed. That is up to you. Now, it is time for dinner and I must go.

123notary started about twenty years ago, and our business model was to offer human to human consultations, help and sales. People like that we are interactive, knowledgeable, skilled and experienced. When you call the NNA, they also answer the phone, but the more experienced members seem to work at the hotline and I don’t know if that is still in existence. The hotline people do not know about marketing though, and 123notary specializes in that.

Snapdocs on the other hand does not take phone calls. They are too high tech for that. I wonder what people’s experience is dealing with a company so antisocial that they don’t engage in phone calls? For me this is a big negative. But, in today’s antisocial world, most people don’t want to talk to someone else anyway.

I believe in reincarnation, and a lot of the people in my city are extra-terrestrials at least spiritually. They don’t like to talk to humans, and they are very comfortable with futuristic devices and applications.

How is communicating with Snapdocs? Are they helpful? What are your reactions?

I am hearing all different stories from Notaries who use Snapdocs. Of course, it is not Snapdocs themselves who pay you but the companies who work through them. On the other hand, they are a portal and they have the power to have standards for payment terms if they want to.

One Notary said they got paid on average in 40 days.

Another says 30-45 days

Another says 50-60 days

Another says 14 days or less

One Notary got 700 jobs and then all of a sudden the phone stopped ringing, or beeping… whatever noise it makes when you get a text.

Snapdocs reportedly does not get involved in payment unless all parties involved want to use Vendorpay. Interesting.

But, how often do you just not get paid on Snapdocs? Is this regular? Is it a bad problem or just a once in a while phenomenon?