So you want to be a Remote Online Notary, but you are still on the fence as to the true benefits of notarizing documents online? Don’t be! The positives far outweigh the negatives (but we will save the negatives for a later time). When it comes to RON, there are many benefits that are not offered or are minimally so, by traditional Mobile Notarization. Let’s dive into the Top 10 Benefits of Being a RON…. Perform Your Work Without Traveling (Or Pants) - Perhaps the greatest benefit one gets from being a Remote Online Notary is that everything is literally at your fingertips. All of your work can be done from your home office computer without the need to leave the house or even wear anything more than shorts all summer long and sweatpants all winter long. Like a good mullet, as long as it’s business on the top, the rest is all party. Multiple Locations and Multiple Participants Simultaneously - Gone are the days of split-signings where one party is in one location and then the docs must be shipped across the country to a secondary location. With online notarization, signers can all participate in the signing at the same time from varying locations. The signer can’t find a witness? No problem, they can be brought in remotely. The Realtor wants to be at the signing but can’t make it to the client’s location, no worries. RON makes multiple party signings and locations a breeze. Simplified Process Improves Efficiency - Because everything is performed from a single location, many of the processes from the “paper days” can be eliminated. No longer do you need dual tray printers. No longer do you have to run back to Escrow for last-minute document changes. Acceptance of the assignment, confirmation with the signers, completion of the signing and the return of the documents all can happen from the comfort of your office chair. Work Anywhere, Anytime You Want - Before Remote Online Notary, the Notary was somewhat location bound. If the signing was not in your area, you likely weren’t going to get the work, but now that barrier is stripped away. The signer can quite literally be anywhere in the world and as long as they have proper Identification and can pass through the Knowledge Based Assessment (KBA), the world is your oyster. Does someone want to meet at an odd hour in the middle of the night in a shady part of town? No problem with that either. As long as you both can get to a computer, the signing is a go. Fraud Risk Reduction - Have you ever been presented with an ID from a State whose ID you are completely unfamiliar with? Have you ever gotten an Arizona Driver’s License from a signer in their 50s and the photo on their ID is from someone when they were in their 20s? Because of KBA and Credential Analysis, there is a bit lessening of the potential for fraud based on the steps the signer must take before you can meet with them. They are quizzed about the only personal information they should know and their IDs are reviewed by computer software for validity. While it does not take the notary “off the hook,” it does help add an extra layer of security to the signing process. Connect To Tech Savvy Clients - In the day and age of Uber, DoorDash, Amazon, and almost anything else you can imagine at the tap of a button, today’s clients are much more comfortable with interacting with people and things in a digital manner. For the younger generation that has never known that phones were actually tethered to a wall at one time in history, this type of technology is a godsend. Of course, this knife can be cut both ways when you consider the aging population and their reluctance to adopt new ideas and technologies. But let’s focus on the positives and eliminate the negatives. Save on Resources - Let’s face it, one of the biggest drains on any business is controlling expenses and when it comes to the traditional notary, those can add up quickly. With inflation on the rise at places we haven’t seen in nearly four decades, the price of everything has gone up. Paper, toner, ink, office supplies, and mailing supplies are at all-time highs. Gas prices are through the roof. Car maintenance costs much more than it used to cost. Remote Online Notary is the “green” alternative to traditional notarization. There is no making double copies of documents and no adding pollutants to the air with carbon emissions from planes flying dead trees across the country. Added Security For All Parties Involved - Because RON is a fully digital experience, there are added securities that might not be present with traditional notarization. Documents are less likely to be lost, stolen, damaged or manipulated. Because the files are encrypted upon completion of the notarial act, it becomes much more difficult to tinker with a file after it has left that notary’s hands and in the event, it does happen, it is typically much more apparent. That’s not to say that there are not new types of security risks that didn’t exist before, but again we are focusing on the positive aspects of this brave new world. Everything is Fully Digital and Easily Accessible - Because everything in Online Notarization is done electronically, records are fully digital and, in many cases, are much more easily accessible. Journals are a breeze to search. Documents are easily returned to the requesting parties. Corrections are able to be made quickly. Email and electronic tracking with time and date stamps makes delivery and completion much more evident. The entire transaction is recorded, which can help eliminate the “he said, she said” aspect. Doing these types of signings makes the burden of proof much simpler for all parties involved. Show Me The Money - Probably one of the most attractive things about Remote Online Notary is the earnings potential. As we discussed earlier, you are not bound to set office hours any longer. Are you an early riser? Maybe you want to work with a time zone other than your own. Are you a night owl? People living in Europe and Asia are up and going about their normal routines even though everyone around them is off in Dreamland. And perhaps most importantly, because you are no longer traveling from location to location, the time/value coefficient increases considerably (I’m not sure if that’s a real term. Anything to do with math is FAR beyond my grasp). There is minimal downtime between signings. Since you can instantly travel from one place to another, it’s like having a time machine. Granted it’s not a fancy time machine, but it gets you all around the world at the tap of a button.

We’ve been talking a lot about where we all stand in the industry at the moment. Honestly, we’ve put out some of the strongest, most read, most well-received blogs we have ever put out in just the past two months just about this topic. If you missed any of them, please check them out at wwww.notarystars.com/blog because honestly, we now feel like we are in a rhythm with all of you and we want to keep it up. They were written with love and care for our industry and your beautiful responses to them have shown us the extra hours we worked to put them together were worth it! This month, we are moving away from the dreaded topic of high-interest rates and inflation of market changes but still trying to help our fellow Notaries and Loan Signing Agents. This month we are focusing on End-Of-Year, a term all Notary Loan Signing Agents understand. The last quarter of the year is sneaking up on us pretty quickly and regardless of higher interest rates, things are going to get busier. If you were on the cusp of going back to a full-time job you may just want to read those blogs and hang in there. The next three months are sure to be better than the last two because the last quarter of the year has always historically been busier for one main reason- most people are trying to wrap up their financial situations for a fiscal year. With that said, we wanted to give you: FIVE Great Tips for Loan Signing Agents &The End-Of-Year #1 September is Crucial To Update, Update, Update This goes beyond all of the dead listings which we talked about in our most recent blog & Podcast Notary Listing Sites & Databases Post Pandemic as you will want to make sure you are seen by every potential opportunity out there because they are going to be looking a little harder for you as we get closer to end-of-year. #2) Take Time Now To Understand The Bigger Picture You can relate better to your clients if you understand what exactly it is they go through. Here is a video that Travis Myers from Unlimited Ink did for Notary Stars that helps explain the entire lending process.This is actually one of our Notary Stars member’s only training sessions from our quarterly Boot Camps where Travis goes over the life of a loan. When you understand everything your Real Estate Agent, Signer, Lender, and Title Agency goes through just to get you to the table it will help you be more compassionate within your own job and a better Loan Signing Agent in their eyes. #3) What You Do, How You Perform at End-Of-Year Affects YOUR Beginning-of-Year It can take a while to mend a rocky relationship with a Signing Agency or a Title and Escrow office if you make a terrible mistake but it is always possible. Anyone who would hang an honest mistake over your head indefinitely just isn’t worth working with in the first place. During the end-of-year shuffle, it is a good time to let them know you are there for them if they need you and also update them on any training you’ve taken since your last mistake to remedy a rocky relationship. There is nothing wrong with saying, “You know, the last time we worked together it didn’t go so well so I want you to know I have done XYZ to ensure that I can better serve you and your clients". Here’s a video that we did this year at Notary Stars with The Most Common Mistakes That Notary Signing Agents Make.Even the most seasoned Notaries should take time to reflect and refresh their brains. #4) Title Must Close Out Books & So Do You Now, it might be just a hair too early to be talking about end-of-year close out and we don’t want you to jump the gun. However, it will be here much closer than you think. This is why we’ve partnered up with Notary Assist, Notary Accounting Software, and a professional Tax Preparer who specializes in accounting for Notaries for our October Notary Stars UnlimitedSession, which is absolutely FREE! If you would like to join that session, please register at NOTARY STARS UNLIMITED #5) You Have to Start Preparing For Next Year A great deal of Signing Agents like to take time at the end-of-year off for the holidays and family- which means is an ideal time to spend a little of that time catching up on back office work. If you are out in the field during this time it’s also a great time to build some new relationships for the beginning of the year. Regardless of your stance, you should spend some of that time preparing for next year by getting your ducks in a row. For instance, W9s are always one of the biggest issues at the beginning of the year, and here is why: We often hear Notaries in SigningOrder and Snapdocs who say “Well, the IRS says I don’t have to update my W9 every single year. And that may be true if you are working for a single company but when you work for platforms like these you are working for multiple companies, all of which have multiple rules for their clients to follow. When you work direct a lot of your direct Title Clients will request this of you just to stay working with them. You should make it a point to get your W9s updated and ready to go in your end-of-year prep so that come January 1st, 2022 you won’t be chasing payments or wondering why the orders aren’t coming in through the platforms. We will be talking about this LIVE later this week on Notary Entrepreneur! If you are looking for a great Notary Podcast to listen to we highly recommend following Abraham’s Podcast. He’s really the Notary Entrepreneur! We will also be talking about this again on Wednesday, September 21st, 2022 at 5 pm PST / EST on Notary Stars Unlimited. Laura Biewer from Coach Me Laura will also be stopping by to give us an update on her upcoming Annual Notary Symposium. If you are curious to learn more please visit us on the 21st at Notary Stars Unlimited to learn more!

Duly Sworn I have been a notary for over 21-years and have developed habits that I perform consistently based on decisions I have made born of experience. Sometimes I have been challenged to explain why I do something a particular way and it takes a minute to remember the details of the groundwork laid leading up to those decisions. But I really love it when that happens, because I must take a step back and re-analyze that evidence to make sure it is still valid. That just happen this week. Someone recently told me that their only responsibility as a Notary is to be concerned with the notary block or certificate and not the body of the document. That may not be a completely true statement. Some of our basic training as Notaries Public is that what is in the body of a document is not for us to be concerned with. That it is private personal information for the signer. That when we are presented with a document to be notarized that we should only scan it for completeness and never read the private contents of the document. And this applies in many ways to Loan Signings as well as General/Specialty Notary Work. But sometimes our instructions are contained within the body of the document. That is ever-so-true with respect to Affidavits (in loan document packages or not), Advance Directive documents and sometimes Power of Attorney documents. Let me give you a few examples; Virginia Durable Power of Attorney, for example, gives instructions in the body of the document (section IV) that must be read in order to know if the Notarial certificate even needs to be completed, “This document is not valid unless it is acknowledged before a notary public OR is signed by at least two adult witnesses”. Arizona Financial Durable POA gives instructions right above the Principal’s signature line “I, _____________________________, the principal, sign my name to this Financial Durable General Power of Attorney this ___ day of _______, 20__, and being first duly sworn, do declare to the undersigned authority that …” Tennessee Affidavit of Inheritance gives instructions in the first few sentences of the document. “Under penalties of perjury, the undersigned, duly sworn, deposes and says that”. Loan Signings will contain ‘Affidavits’ that will have the statement at the beginning of the document that says, ‘After first being duly sworn’. Sometimes that statement will be just above the Principals’ signature line and yet our Notarial certificate will be an Acknowledgement. This is not reading through the entire document. Instead, we are skimming the document for instructions and should know, with experience, which documents we should be looking closer at for those instructions. And looking for key words like ‘Affidavit’ in the title of the document to alert us as to whether we should be administering an oath to the signer, regardless of the type of certificate that is included with the document. Universally we know that we are not authorized to choose the type of certificate to be used…that would be the unauthorized practice of law. That is up to the maker of the document. And sometimes the maker just doesn’t quite understand the significant difference in a notarial certificate. Leaving us with an Acknowledgement on a document that says “After first being duly sworn”. If you look up the law definition of “Being first duly sworn” you will find; ‘The term duly sworn refers to having been put under oath, before an officer authorized to administer oaths, in the manner and form required by law.’ In our daily situations, the only one in the room authorized to administer that oath is YOU, the Notary. So, yes you do need to scan the document for those key words to know if, in the absence of a notarial certificate or in the presence of the ‘wrong’ certificate on the document, whether you are to administer an oath to your signer. Sometimes an Affidavit can be just a truthful statement. Something that the signer says ’truthfully’, on his/her own integrity, but not necessarily swearing that it is true. Those key words might look something like; “I, the undersigned ________________________, do hereby declare that …” Or “The undersigned deposes and says…” To "depose" is merely to state or acknowledge some matter of fact and doesn’t require an Oath be administered unless it is accompanied by a Jurat notarial certificate. So you see, as you gain more experience in this industry, that it is not always an easy job. We don’t just stamp and collect our fee. So many details to be aware of and you can’t ever know it all because it can change over time. But for this issue, my practice of administering an Oath when I see those instructions was sound when I made the decision and is still valid today.

In the recent article posted by the National Notary Association titled 2022 NNA Notary Census Part 1: A New Generation of Notaries we are finally starting to see some light being shed on what is happening within our industry but it's not exactly shining the light on the entire situation either. Point blank, our industry has been changing for a long-time now and it would not be very helpful for their following to hear it like it really is because the truth doesn't always get people to buy more courses, supplies, or conferences. Within the article, we are introduced to the idea that the Pandemic gave our industry a boost in both work and workers, which was true, but that boost was not permanent. It would be nice to think that it was permanent but any Mobile Notary or Loan Signing Agent who has been in the industry for over a decade will tell you that Real Estate (which is primarily where most of us get our higher-paying jobs from) has always been feast or famine. Failing to include this information within such a positive spin may be misleading to those coming into the industry to make the best decision. Was it just forgotten or skipped over lightly for a reason? It could leave a potential Notary believing there is more room within the industry than there really is- which we are seeing a plethora of Notary Signing Agents really suffering because of being misled into coming into this industry unprepared (on many different levels). We are not saying there isn't hope, or any mal-intention, but why aren't we dissecting this more? The article goes on to talk about one important topic but doesn't seem to really address the concerns of this topic at all: Influencers! If you don't understand who, or what, an influencer is then please let us educate you. An Influencer is someone who a person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media. This means it is someone who may be able to convince you to purchase something you would normally not purchase. One of the most popular things Influencers are doing to the Notary Loan Signing Industry as of late is stating how they "Make Six Figures," and can show you how they do it. But oftentimes, what they aren't telling you is they are getting paid one way or another just for making the video. Some of them may be paid through monetized YouTube Channels where advertisers pay them for their content or they may be getting up to 35% of the sale of the same course they took to learn how to do loan signings to turn around and sell it to you. Instagram and TikTok is also becoming increasingly popular amongst Notary Loan Signing Agent Influencers. It is easy for them to promote a video for just $50 to $100 to reach over 50K people with stories that pull at innocent people's heartstrings telling them how their life is so amazing because they make "Six-Figures," and they are getting money back from the sales of courses, advertisers placing ads within their videos, affiliate links for supplies they suggest, and advertisers placing ads within their pages that track you for up to 1 year so that if you buy the product they'll make money. Just check out any "High Ticket Item or Affiliate Marketing Video on Youtube." It's a way of life for some! There is nothing wrong with affiliate marketing but if you thought automated text messages and Notary databases were a problem in our industry before Influencers entered the story there just wait! Unless we take control of that soon it is going to be the one thing that makes all of our lives a little more uncomfortable. We are not only competing with big tech anymore! We are competing with those who will keep bringing more and more people into this industry to saturate it and those who are just going to keep drilling at the bank accounts of others and not really doing the work! The National Notary Association's article also addresses where the future may go with new technologies within the industry which all sounds hopeful but they aren't addressing the other big elephant in the room in the article either- RON. There are companies now who are aggressively swiping up as much business as they can and paying Loan Signing Agents just $25 to notarize Remote Closings. That doesn't sound too promising, does it? Don't worry, we've got information coming on that too!

Remote Online Notarization, also referred to as RON, is all the rage. If you are currently working in the Notary field you hear mention of it every day. More and more businesses are incorporating it into their workflows and it is shaping the way we are currently doing business in manners we never thought possible. But where did it all begin? While Online Notary may seem like a new idea born of the COVID-19 pandemic, nothing could be further from the truth. Remote Online Notary has been around for 11 years!! To most of us, that doesn’t seem possible, but it is true. The state of Virginia was the first state to adopt laws for RON signings all the way back in 2011. That’s right, Remote Online Notarization premiered in the same year as The Game of Thrones. That’s the same year Adele was “Rolling in the Deep” and Katy Perry was a “Firework.” The average cost of gas was $3.52 a gallon and we thought we had it bad then! It took another four years for the next state to come “online,” and that state was Montana. Nevada and Texas followed suit in 2017 and from there the ball started rolling. At the time of writing this blog, 40 states have RON capability of some sort and it will likely soon sweep the entire nation. The first Mortgage closing was performed by a little company called Notarize in July 2017 with United Wholesale Mortgage, Stewart Title, and Freddie Mac. RON was on the move, slowly but surely, plodding along at a snail’s pace while it tried to gain traction. Some were quick adopters of the technology, but most were playing the “waiting game.” Then 2020 happened and the world came to a screeching halt. In March of 2020 as the nation entered lockdowns and “business as usual” could no longer take place in a conventional manner, huge changes took place. A star was born! Finally, people began to realize that this new-fangled technology was actually the best way to get business done. With Remote Online Notarization, social distancing was able to be preserved and while people were locked up tight in their homes, “normal” activities could still be performed via the computer. Emergency and provisional use were approved in almost all 50 states, excluding California and South Carolina and according to American Land Title Association (ALTA), usage of Online Notarization grew by a whopping 547% in 2020. From there onward, there was no turning back. Businesses learned how to incorporate RON into their day-to-day operations, the Public learned that nearly everything their hearts desired was at their fingertips, including getting their documents notarized, and Notaries learned that in order to succeed in this new world they needed to adopt technology in a brand new way. From 2011 to 2022, a lot has changed in those 11 years. Remote Online Notarization was pushed quickly to the forefront and, like it or not, it’s not going away. In order to be successful in the future, Notaries need to learn this new technology, challenges and all, or they will run the risk of going the way of the dinosaur. Don’t let the business that you have worked so hard for go extinct. The information is out there to help you face the changes. Become a member of www.notarystars.com and learn how to embrace this new world and craft it to fit your business. We are still at the precipice of RON. Will you take the leap of faith and reap the rewards, or will you shrink back from the edge and watch as everyone passes you by and becomes leaders in their field? Come in, the water’s fine! Take action now!

In my Notary Business Marketing Course, I explain to Notaries should not buy gifts for potential clients like Realtors, Escrow Officers, and Loan Officers. In some States, this can actually get you in trouble and honestly- if they aren’t going to hire you then you are just wasting valuable marketing dollars. Don’t get me wrong, buying lunch or a muffin for a scheduled meeting is one thing but making purchases for unsolicited walk-ins is a big mistake. I was guilty of this myself in the beginning but one day it dawned on me that in no other industry do you get a job by buying some cookies. You get hired as a Notary Signing Agent by being needed, liked, and being the best candidate, and of course, knowing how to market your Notary business adequately. However, there are special times of year that are crucial to formulating new relationships and the biggest is the last quarter of the year- September, October, November, December, and January. Planning for it really should start in August! End-of-year is not only generally busier (regardless of rates) but it is also the last chance for you to make a good impression and secure new relationships for next year which generally starts out slower. So formulating any new relationship you can at the end of the year is important.If you missed our three most recent blogs (which so many of you wrote in thanking us for…thank you back!) you can read them at: After The Pandemic: Listing Sites, Databases, and Signing Agencies Five Free Tips To Increase Your Notary Business Five Ways To Save On Cost As A Notary Business Owner This month at Notary Stars, we are all about Holiday Marketing. It’s even the topic of our Free Monthly Scheduled Event, Notary Stars Unlimited. If you want to talk more about this topic with fellow Notaries then this would be a great session for you to attend. Here are Five Holiday Marketing Tips Every Notary Should Know About Holiday Marketing Should Be Non-Religious, Non-Specific, and Seasonal I have a hard time not being religious in everything I do. My religious beliefs are a part of my life. And yes, work is a part of my life. But I work so that I can live my life and I have to keep work and life separate- especially when marketing my notary business. When you are prospecting for business, or even if you are sending a card to someone you know, you have to remain on neutral ground. We are living in the most culturally sensitive time to the culturally insensitive. Whether you know your client well or not you should use seasonal messages and images to ensure that you will not offend them. I know- there may be at least one person out there who is thinking… “I don’t care if it’s offensive to say Merry Christmas.” And my response to that would be, if you aren’t worried about new business relationships- good for you. I definitely am! Holiday Treats Should Reach Everyone In The Office- Thinking Small Goes Big I have to give credit for this next top to Abraham Zamora, The Notary Entrepreneur, who I’ve recently started doing Podcast with. When Abraham sends out marketing materials he keeps it short, sweet, and to the point. For instance, one of my favorite mailers he did was a card with a mini Rubix Cube KeyChain that said something like “Are You Puzzled About How To Find A Great Notary?” That is brilliant! In a similar fashion you can come up with gift ideas that are meaningful, and inexpensive, and you can distribute them to everyone in an office. Everyone can get the same thing but during the Holidays I recommend not talking too much or at all about business which leads me to my next point. Remember to keep it seasonal and nothing personal. Be Sincere And Don’t Talk About You- They Can See Who Sent It If I walked up to you and wished you a Happy Holiday Season and immediately started shoving my businesses down your throat you probably wouldn’t think I was very sincere, would you? When you are sending Holiday Cards or dropping off those small gifts you only need to identify who you are, your business type, and how to contact you. They know deep down why you are gifting - there is no reason to prove it to them. They do the same things with their clients too. However, I have found over the years leaving out any talk of work in my Holiday messages has gotten me the maximum return. Holiday Cards Must Be Sent at least 7 Business Days Before The Holiday If you are personally designing your Holiday Cards or Postcards in an editor like Canva then you will want to make sure you have time to print them, ship them to yourself, fill them out, and get them in the mail at least 7 days prior to the actual holiday. I personally suggest scheduling a “mail by date” on your calendar so that you don’t miss your opportunity. Video greeting cards from you that are less than 30 seconds are also an excellent idea. One of my marketing students has a video greeting card that he sends on major holidays and he applies these concepts. I get a lot of cards but his cards are always short, engaging, and seasonal, and I look forward to seeing them!Consider Donating To Their Favorite Charity Or Give Options I know, I know- it’s slow and gas prices are still too high. But, everybody loves the kids right? And, everyone loves helping someone or helping someone who helps someone else. Sorry, for the tongue twister there. Consider offering a portion (even if it’s a very small portion) of your proceeds from any signings assigned to you from a particular office to a local charity that will be made in both your and the office's name or anonymously. Make sure to get their permission to use their name if they team up with you. Maybe come up with a selection of local charities and give your clients options. Just be prepared to show proof that the donation actually was made. In fact, that could be another opportunity to contact that office again. A ‘Thank-you’ with the receipt. If you are part of a Notary Group that services the same office, see if you can get others to join. Set a goal with this one! Here’s an example: “I’m trying to raise $500 for Toys for Tots. I’ll be donating 20% of my signing fees from November 1st to December 16th but need your help. During this holiday season, I’d love for you to hire me and help me raise money in the local area for children in need. For every signing, you send to me ‘direct’ I am willing to make a donation of 20% of my earnings in both of our names to go toward this cause.” PS- Donations should be tax deductible. Make sure to check out all of our blogs and podcast at www.notarystars.com for more useful tips and subscribe to Abrahams Podcast to see us film a recap of these tips live. Subscribe to our Youtube Channel to get a notification when the replay of the expanded conversations on this topic go out this month! We really hope that you'll join us for Notary Stars Unlimited to talk more about this topic and that it will help you in growing your Notary Business. Sincerely, The Notary Stars Team Watch The Pod Cast That Goes Along With This Article Below:

Many times, we hear the terms interpreter and translator used interchangeably, but did you know, they are not one in the same? Interpreters convert spoken language orally from one target language to another, in real time while translators work with written messages and requires processing time. Translators work in one direction whereas interpreters are going between two or more languages during the encounter. The main purpose of a notary is to deter fraud. There is an increase when the notary and signer do not speak the same language. During a notarization, it is best if the notary and the signer are able to communicate directly in the desired language. The notary should be able to confidently complete the notarial act. If the notary feels unsure about the document's contents or the signer's understanding of the document, they should decline to complete the notarization. In addition, if a signer asks a notary for a translation (document to document), and the notary is fluent in both languages, the notary may translate the document. When using an interpreter or translator, it is best practice to use a certified interpreter or someone who is competent in both the source and target languages. The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf https://rid.org Atlanta Translators and Interpreters | Translators USA, LLC https://lnkd.in/gekT4w2K World Translation Center https://lnkd.in/gimvMBuZ If you are in the Atlanta Georgia Area, Notary NeedZ (mobile) is able to provide services for American Sign Language users. If you are in need of a notary, call 770.756.6290 ph/txt.

You are not just a Notary Loan Signing Agent- You are also a business owner. This means when the economy shifts, or changes, it affects everything for you. It might seem, for some, that it is just higher gas prices and interest rates but everything else is going up too as a result! As a business owner, you may have to make adjustments so that you can ride out times like these. Sure, you could just bury your head in the sand and hope that it doesn’t last long- but what if things linger longer than you can keep your head buried? Last week we gave you Five Free Tips On How To Increase Your Notary Business. And this week we want to fuel that fire with: Five Ways To Save On Cost As A Notary Signing Agent, Business Owner Tip #1- Start With Your Home and Home Office Call Your Cable/Internet Company, Cell Phone Provider, and Car Insurance and ask if there is any way they can reduce your cost. If you’ve been with them for one year it is highly likely there is room for re-negotiations. Shoot low and offer them your budget and tell them you might have to cancel if you can’t get within that budget. Some cell phone providers offer discounts if you are a business (LLC) and you work in the Real Estate sector. While you are on the line with them, go paperless. Many companies offer discounts for going paperless. We’ve seen up to $10 savings on bills just for going paperless. It may be a little harder but often times discounts are also offered on how you pay your bill. Meaning some companies offer autopay discounts whereas others offer discounts if you pay a certain way (like echeck or card). They do this because they save money if you pay that way. So check on savings for payment methods while you are on the line with them. If you aren’t able to find savings- explore other options. Car insurance providers are highly competitive as well as cell phone carriers. PS- For this one, you still want Unlimited Data on your cell phone service as GPS pulls from data and Notary Loan Signing Agents use a lot of data! Tip #2- Start Tracking Your Tax Write-Offs Notary business owners can be worst at this, and that’s okay. Most of us were just trying to work for ourselves because we do a great job at what we do but were underappreciated. We don’t have that business training or HR reminding us monthly to plug in our receipts. As a business owner, you have to know what you can write off! Notaries can write off mileage, supplies, oil changes, tire changes, office space, notary training, renewal applications, RON Platform fees, marketing cost, and more. Did you know you are even able to write off your Notarial Acts and deduct these from your Loan Singing Agent fees? This is definitely the year you will want to write things off on your taxes. These may not be costs that you can pass on to your clients but become a year-end tax deduction- and deductions add up for business owners. And, if you file your taxes annually you've still got plenty of time to go back and add up your deductions. Check out two Notary specific accounting software to assist you with organizing your taxes at: Notary Stars | Accounting Software Tip #3- You Can Cut Expenses On Supplies Without Compromising Quality Anywhere you shop for supplies will probably have a ‘Customer Loyalty program. Sign up for them everywhere. Staples, Office Max, and Office Depot have them and you can recycle your toner cartridges with them and earn extra points. Mrs. Beth earned over $300 in 2021. V4Ink on Amazon is great for saving money on Toner & Drums. It carries most brands. However, since these are refurbished toners and drums you always want to buy an extra just in case you get a dud. Ronnie has used these for years and as long as you buy more than what you need (which is still less than the actual cost) it can help you bring down your cost of printing. The only downside is you can't trade them in at Staples since they are off-brand. Team up with one or more of your fellow notaries and buy in bulk at Costco or Sam’s club. Split the cost and the product. Need to replace your electronics? Buy used or refurbished. We just did an entire training session on Team Work and the benefits of forming a local team (including cost savings). Tip #4- There Are A Lot Of Ways To Save On Gas & Vehicle Maintenance Use a credit card for these purchases that offer ‘cash back on that category. And, if you are not yet creditworthy for credit cards there are many programs out there nowadays that still offer cash back for purchases like Walmart. You can fund the new Walmart Card and use it online or in-store for up to $75 cashback per year. Or you can set up a Dave Account to help you grow your credit score, borrow up to $250 until your paycheck arrives, receive cashback on certain purchases, and also find a side hustle (yep, they have a whole section on that!) For Gas, apply for a Gas-station branded Rewards credit card (think Shell or Mobile) and combine that with fuel rewards at a particular station. Most people don't know that when you enter your phone number at your local grocery store like Safeway or Fryes you are earning discounts on gas at the pump! Check out your grocery savings receipt to find out what gas station pumps you should enter in your phone number for more savings at the pumps. Or, you can use Apps to find the best prices in your community….GasBuddy, GetUpSide, Waze, and Walmart. Yes, Walmart helps you save at more than 1,200 gas stations as well www.walmart.com/walmartPlus/FuelBenefit. Consumer Reports says to fill up early in the week as gas prices tend to be higher Thursday thru Sunday. Coast a lot more when you are driving….it doesn’t need to be just the gas pedal or brake pedal. Accelerating slowly also helps to save some gas usage as well as engaging the cruise control on the highway. Tire pressure also can affect your gas mileage so make sure you are at optimal psi for each tire. Use the right oil during oil changes and skip the 3,000-mile reminder. Most newer vehicles use synthetic oil and can go much farther than that sticker on your windshield. Check your manufacturer’s handbook for your vehicle. You might get more than twice the mileage between oil changes. If you are able to change your car at the time going hybrid or electric might be a viable solution for you if you are in the Signing Agent industry for the long haul. And vehicles are also tax deductible! #5- Luxuries Don’t Have To Go Away! Groupon is an excellent way for you to save money on your personal life. You can often get hair, nails, massage, restaurants, and even get-away packages for up to 50% off for first-time customers. And, although you may not let a new hairstylist into your life you might consider trying new service providers for new things while you are trying to save money. Try buying discounted gift cards. Gift cards to specific stores or Salon services and even visa cash cards can be had at a discount of anywhere from 2% up to 15%. It’s like buying money at a discount. Try www.raise.com, www.cardcash.com, www.giftcardgranny.com, or a directory of discounted sites at www.giftcards.com. Just wake up your spidey sense when visiting these reseller sites. Consumer Reports says to use the cards immediately lessening the opportunity for the original seller to use the value after it is transferred to you. Look for sites that offer a money-back guarantee. There are still many ways to save on cost! These are just to get your mind churning! The Notary Stars Team 7-24-2022 Watch The Replay of the Podcast with Abraham Zamora, The Notary Entrepreneur Below:

Some of our Notary brothers and sisters are worried about the slowing down of files with interest rates being higher- but do not worry!Everything is okay!!! There is still plenty of business out there! If you've been in the industry a long time you probably already know our industry has always been feast or famine and things are just leveling out. Still, we are seeing a higher percentage of Notaries who are throwing in the towel after just getting started in the industry because they are worried, they won't make it. And, although there may be some out there that hope that the Notary pools will dwindle down for less competition, no one should give up just yet. Even if you aren't worried (which we hope not) you should always be thinking about how to market or expand your business. Here are Five Free Tips That Can Help You Increase Your Notary Work Tip #1- Focus First On Signing Agencies Who Have Business In Your AreaAll of us know that we have to sign up with every single Signing Agency out there (even if we are trying to work direct) so that we can fill up our calendars. Notaries often make mistakes by going after Signing Agencies that do not have enough business in their areas. I personally like to call this "spinning your wheels." It's like you're pressing the gas but not getting anywhere. So, try this! Take 1-2 months to see who is actually sending you the most business while you continue to sign up with Signing Agencies. Over the course of a month see who sends the most orders from Snapdocs, Signing Order, and Zig Sig. Once you pinpoint exactly who has the most business in your area then you will know who to zero in on. Here's a list of Starter Nationwide Signing Agencies on and off these platforms if you need to get back to the grind of signing up. We've got more on our expanded hiring list, but this isn't all about Signing Agencies! We know you want direct business as well. And you should be diversifying as much as possible while things are leveling out. Tip #2- Use Your Time Between Appointments WiselyWhen I was out in the field building up my own company while signing clients, I would use the time and distance I already drove to seek out more clients. If I ever had about two hours, or more, between my appointments I would map the closest Title Agencies to where I ended up and I would walk in. I, of course, was already dressed for work and I always have my business cards, resume, and any credentials that are commonly asked for in a nice folder, so I never had to have them request anything from me after I left. In the beginning, I got a lot of no not right now, or come back later... but the Yes was what I lived for! Tip #3- Change Your Approach With Signing Agencies and Direct ClientsOwning a Signing Agency has given me a lot of insight into this one. It really doesn't matter if you are working with a Signing Agency or Direct Business. You really want to focus on what you can do for them! Do not let your first question be, "Do you have any business in my area?" Start with something like "How can I help you grow your business?" Or "What do you look for when you are hiring a Notary?" Here is a free video we did at Notary Stars about Direct Business titled What They Know That You Don't Know. Tip #4- Create A Local Notary Coalition or AllianceThis might sound a bit cheesy to some of you, butit works. In fact, that's exactly how I got Unlimited Ink Notary off the ground! Initially, our Nationwide Signing Agency was a local team of just 8 Notaries who divided our city like a piece of pie, and we protected the business we brought in, only bringing more Notaries into the mix as needed. They became my work family, and we helped each other in so many ways until we made it! We will be talking about forming healthy partnerships with other Notaries at our next Notary Stars Unlimited episode this Wednesday. If you haven't registered yet- consider joining us by Registering Here. It's absolutely FREE! You can also watch all of the previous sessions on that registration page as well if you are interested. Tip #5- Expand Your Services Here's a list of services you can consider adding: Apostilles, Life Care Planning Packages, Trust Signings, Wedding Officiant, I9 Verifications, Car Loans, Purchase Option Agreements, Credit Repair Services, Finger Printing, Field Inspections, Photo Assignments, and more! And here's a list of clients you shouldn't forget exist as a Mobile Notary Public & Loan Signing Agent: Attornies, Medical Offices, Hospitals, Rehab Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, Social Workers, Psychiatrist, Counselors, Senior Living Apartments, Schools, Real Estate Agencies, Churches, Car Dealerships, Insurance Agencies, Hotels, Banks, Jails, and Adoption Services. Also, check out our most recent CommuniTip about "Spreading Your Business Cards Around Like Pixie Dust."as it fits the mood for this email. We really hope that these tips help keep you pointed in the right direction and a lot more confident. Please have a wonderful week and don't forget to keep checking back on all of the free training & resources we have available throughout NotaryStars.com. Watch The Podcast Replay About This Article with Abraham Zamorah The Notary Entrepreneur Below:

During the Pandemic, things were just different for us Loan Signing Agents. For the past two years, we've been so busy we let a lot of things slide- like regularly updating our Notary Listing Resources. Hiring parties didn't mind so much during the Pandemic because they were busy but now that things are returning to normal- some of them are deciding to narrow down their hiring list. This is why we wanted to send out this friendly reminder for some things we all can do now that we have a little more time on our hands in order to continue building healthy relationships with existing and potential clients and make sure we aren't discarded as a Pandemic Notary. Here are a few tips for things you should be doing now that things have slowed down that will ensure that you get brushed off as no longer active. #1)Update Your Websites and Business Listings- Freshen up your websites with your new working hours and during the holidays find ways to add non-offensive seasonal artwork to let people know you are still working. As the "seasonal" Signing Agents make their way back into full-time work you will find that keeping yourself marked as working will work wonders for you! And yes, we are hearing nearly every day Notaries stating that they are going back to their full-time jobs as things are slowing down for them. This will mean an uptick in files for everyone else who works full-time as a Signing Agent. And it will level out! Note: July, September, October, November, and December are great times to add some extra clip art to your website or to your photos. If you aren't great with photo editing- try Canva! It makes it so easy. Or simply just use text on your website. Little things like this can show you are still active without seeming desperate for work. #2)Update Your Biographies on all Major Notary Platforms- Make sure to update your biographies with your new order counts. For those of you who were here for the full two years of the Pandemic, you might have really raked in some higher order counts on a single platform but it may not be showing on all of them. Most sites only calculate their own order counts so direct people to where you were working and how many orders you've now done. SigningOrder, Snapdocs, ZigSig, BancServ, and Signature Closers are a few places you may want to update your bio. If you took additional training courses- make sure those stand out in your profile as well. And if you are taking time down (or reducing your own hours now) make sure to adjust your hours or use the vacation settings for the sites that have them. Now that things are slowing down you could easily get dumped from a lot of list if you aren't responding when you say you are available. This is a fact! #3) Don't Forget The Usual Suspects!NotaryRotary.com, 123Notary.com, NotaryStars.com, OnlineNotariesPublic.com, NotaryCafe.com, Yelp, and Google My Business all should get an update as well. Updating resources like these help you get picked more often. You never know who might have passed you up before when you only had a few orders. If you haven't updated your listing in two years (because you were really busy) people might now be thinking you gave up. Here's our final tip: Start adding "LAST UPDATED ON XX/XX/XXXX for the next little bit when updating your profile and schedule time to come back and update every month or so. It is tedious but as we return to a normal flow of business you don't want to get marked as inactive whilst some abandon their listings. We really hope that this information will help you. Don't forget to check out our Free Replays of Notary Stars Unlimited at Notary Stars Unlimited where we provide you valuable information every month just like this!

Below you will find the Top 10 National Loan Signing Agencies and Notary Management Platforms rated by Notary Stars in no particular order. If you are looking for more Signing Agencies to work with- check out our free National Hiring List for a list of great companies and our Expanded Hiring List With Reviews exclusively for Notary Star members. If you'd really like to impress these companies show off your Notary2Pro and NotaryStars.com training when applying. #1 SigningOrder.com - is a notary management platform used by 100's if not 1000's of Signing Agencies across the country. Your Notary listing must be filled out in its entirety to get much work (including a photo). Reputation is everything to the Signing Order Notary Management platform which means you will need to keep your quality score up with the companies that you work with and they will continue to send great work your way! Notary2Pro graduates are often given a preference within the searches by many companies. Make sure you upload your Notary2Pro certification! #2) Snapdocs.com - is generally utilized by Title agencies more so than Signing Agencies because it is a rather expensive platform. The start-up cost of using Snapdocs is fairly pricy for smaller Signing Agencies as well as the per order fee. Snapdocs has a great deal of business and reputation is also important here. You also have to keep your response rate high or it will go down. If you aren't working, make sure to put up your vacation responder! #3) BancServ.com - is part of Fidelity National Title. Fidelity rarely approves direct Notaries any longer because they want their Escrow officers to use their Notary Management Platform. BancServ has a once-a-month onboarding and it's recommended to complete the video interview to get more Signings. #4) Signature Closers - is now owned by Stewart Title. This platform offers a hybrid function of Signing Agencies, Title Agencies, and Signing services all in one. Reading the orders really helps. Notary2Pro graduates are often given a preference within the searches by many companies. Make sure they know you are a Notary2Pro graduate! #5) ZigSig.com - is an up-and-coming Notary Management Software. You earn points for things like completing components of your profile and completing orders correctly. You can also let them know when you've completed your NotaryStars.com training to get an extra boost in your profile. #6) Amrock - is owned by Rocket Mortgage fka Quicken Loans and is one of the busiest Signing Agencies in the country. They are very selective so when applying through every training course you can think of at them to get them to hear you out. If they turn you down the first time- follow up in 3-month intervals. Notaries retire every day. #7) Solidify - handles mostly Chase Bank business and pays usually higher than most companies. Onboarding is easy and if you are nice to them- they'll keep the work coming! #8) Mortgage Connect & Inspire Closing - generally handles mostly Bank of America and Wells Fargo loans (and usually refinances). Mortgage Connect and Inspire closing are sister companies. Onboarding with one puts you in the database for the other but it never hurts to give the other a call to ensure they can find you and know you want to work with them. #9) First American Loan Mortgage Solutions - is an oldie but a goodie. You will want to be with First American as a Signing Agent because they are one of the largest Signing Services in the country and First American is one of the largest Title Companies in the United States. Get in good with them, do a great job, and they'll keep calling you! #10) Unlimited Ink Notary - is a Signing Service located in Phoenix Arizona. It is owned by the same owners as NotaryStars.com (and the author of this article). Unlimited Ink Notary processes over 3000 transactions per month nationwide and is growing exponentially. They are headquartered in Phoenix Arizona but offer files nationwide and have their largest presence (as of 2022) in Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington, Florida, Wisconsin, Nevada, Parts of Texas, and Pennsylvania.

As interest rates continue to climb in 2022 many Notaries may find themselves looking for alternative means of generating revenue- and that's okay! Side Hustles and lateral moves in in business are a large part of our industry. And, if you're still growing your Notary business while things are slowing down one thing you may want to look into is the ever growing Credit Repair Industry. I disovered credit repair while trying to bring up my own credit score (which I was able to do on my own). I must say though that it did not come without a great deal of leg work and research when I first started working on my own credit. I was doing this part-time, behind the scenes, never dreaming of becoming a Credit Repair Specalist myself but as I got closer to my own goals I'd talked about it so much with friends and family they started asking me to help them as well. The next thing I knew I was learning more, and more, and more about Credit Repair (which turns out to be fairly easy). During my journey I discovered Credit Repair Cloud, a software that helps you repair credit easily and also trains you on every aspect of Credit Repair. Daniel Rosen is to Credit Repair as to what I am to Notary Stars- a relentless teacher who keeps the information flowing. I actually realized when I took his course that I was getting a taste of my own medicine because he was so in-depth. The way I see it is that Credit Repair is an excellent side hustle for any Notary. You are alreayd making contacts with Realtors, Escrow Officers who an refer you, and Loan Officers who can send business your way. And, right here after the Pandemic and a not so great economy- there isn't any hurt for clients who are trying to get their lives back on track. Daniel does a free onboaring session online if you are intersted you can watch it anytime at: Credit Repair Cloud Full Disclosure: This is something that I am learning myself and if you decide to take the journey as well- you will need to work with Daniel Rosen and Credit Repair Cloud. I do not intend to open classes on this topic as I'm very happy with my mentorship here at Notary Stars. The only purpose of posting this article is to guide those of you looking for Side Hustles to something I've invested my time and money into.