The Notary News -- Issue 58

T H E N O T A R Y N E W S

Published by Victoria Ring, CNSA
http://www.50statenotary.com
http://www.bankruptcybook.net
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Missed an issue? Read all past issues at http://www.50statenotary.com/ezine/
You can also read this issue online at http://www.50statenotary.com/ezine/issue57.html
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ISSUE 58 – October 29, 2004

IN THIS ISSUE:

** Marketing Your Notary Services without Any Effort
** Emails and Questions from Notaries
** NEW! Notary Website Link Exchange
** Rate this Ezine
** Bible Verse of the Week
** Resource Links for Notary Signing Agents

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MARKETING YOUR NOTARY SERVICES
WITHOUT ANY EFFORT

I receive many calls and emails every week from notaries who ask me how they can market their notary signing agent services and get more work. I have found that most people think the word “marketing” means strictly “door-to-door” selling – which is totally untrue.

Door-to-door selling is only one, very small, minute form of marketing. There are literally billions and billions of other ways to market your services and grow your business without going door-to-door making sales calls. I know this for a fact because I absolutely hate making sales door-to-door. Back in 1988 when I started my first business, I decided to find other ways to market that did not involve door-to-door selling. And believe me, I found a huge world filled with ideas existing all around me. Today, I am confronted with hundreds of ways to market my business on a daily basis. I wish I could split myself into ten persons so I would have the time to pursue all the ideas – but due to the limitations of my human body (which requires sleep and food) I am forced to limit myself to only pursuing the marketing ideas that I can actually achieve and perform.

When I was more active working as a notary signing agent, I found a great way to market myself without actually selling something. When I went to the borrower(s) home and completed the loan signing, I handed them a business card. I said something like: “Here is my business card if I can help you in any way. If you were happy with my services I would appreciate you letting ABC Company know. ”

Some notaries feel that leaving a business card with the borrower(s) constitutes a conflict of interest for the mortgage, title or signing company you are doing the loan closing for. Tell me – where is the conflict of interest? If you handed the borrower(s) your business card and said “You can save a lot of money on your interest rate if you will stop the loan with ABC Company and re-sign under DEF Company.” -- that would be a conflict of interest. Your statement would financially hurt ABC Company and actions like these are against the law!

However, handing your business card to borrower(s) for identification purposes shows professionalism. Your presentation in providing the borrower(s) your business card should never be an attempt to sell them anything. Don’t say something like: “If you ever need a notary for any documents feel free to call me.” This is crossing into the “gray” zone of a conflict of interest because this statement could be misinterpreted as soliciting.

That is why you should present your business card to the borrower(s) in a manner that relates to their loan and is beneficial for them. This type of marketing is not done to produce instant sales. It is a two-step marketing method that does not require any additional time but will aide in getting your name out in the marketplace and perhaps the borrower(s) will call you or recommend you to their co-workers. Wouldn’t it be nice if a mortgage company called you one day and said, “Your notary services have been personally requested by the borrower(s) because you notarized the documents on their sister’s loan.”

Train yourself to think outside the box and make every effort to market your services – not simply in an effort to make a sale, but rather to make additional business contacts which will ultimately bring you more work. If you concentrate on building your business, rather than making immediate money – the money will come naturally.

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EMAILS AND QUESTIONS FROM NOTARIES

Dear Victoria. I am very frustrated working for signing companies who either never pay me or pay very slowly. Do you have any suggestions?

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

I just read an excellent article written by a well-known signing agent Jamie Johns about this subject. Jamie suggested that you never work for a company unless you sign a contract with them. She also suggested joining Pre-Paid Legal Services, who will write a collection letter to companies who do not pay you at all.

These are two excellent suggestions. To get started, go to http://www.prepaidlegal.com/ and click on “Legal Plans” from the left-side of the web page. The cost is about $25 per month depending on the state you live in. I personally know this service is legitimate. I used to work for a law firm named Maguire and Schneider who had an entire section of their office dedicated to Pre-Paid Legal Services. Attorneys walked around with headsets on their heads, taking phone call after phone call from members. Other than collection letters, Pre-Paid Legal Services provides a host of other services that will benefit you and your business.

As far as Jamie’s suggestion about not signing up with companies unless they provide you with a contact -- make sure you READ it before you sign it. You also want to make sure the contract provides information such as: (1) How the notary is paid. (2) How much the notary receives if the borrower(s) do not sign the documents after the notary has arrived at the residence. (3) The company’s procedures for document processing (i.e., if you are required to fax back a lot of documents immediately after the appointment, etc.)

While you are reading over the contract, if you come to a section you do not fully understand – call the company. So many people are scared to contact a company because they think the company will believe they are dumb. This is NOT TRUE. The company will be impressed with the fact you care enough about your job to ask a question. It shows the company you are paying attention and want to do the best job for them. Additionally, when you call the company to ask a question – you have the opportunity to market yourself and get your name known. Say something like: “Hello. My name is Jane Doe and I’m calling from Doe’s Notary Services. I have a question concerning the contract and would like to speak to someone in your legal department.” Also, make sure you repeat your name to any other parties you may speak with at the company. And finally, always conduct yourself in a professional manner. That means listening while the other person speaks and remaining calm and personable throughout the conversation.

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Dear Victoria: I am wondering what software programs you might recommend to convert e mail documents to PDF for NSA purposes. I've been looking, but I do not know where to start.

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

I use a software program called pdf Factory Pro which you can get at http://www.fineprint.com for converting documents to PDF format. The thing I love about this software is that it installs itself as a printer driver. Then, when you want to convert anything to PDF format, you click the PRINT key and print the document to the PDF printer driver. It’s quick, easy and will work with any Windows software program.

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Ms. Ring, I love what you have done. I am in the process of becoming a notary. I have a job interview tomorrow at a mortgage company and a friend suggested I become a notary. I just came from the book store looking for ANYTHING you have written, to no avail :(. I dropped off my application to my bonding company today. Thank you for being a caring and sharing individual. BLESS YOU!!!

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

In order for my books to appear on the shelves in bookstores one of two things must happen: (1) A wholesale book distributor would need to carry my books and recommend them to the bookstore for purchasing; or (2) People call and request the bookstore carries the book. If the bookstore receives enough requests they will order copies from Graphico Publishing and place them on the bookstore shelves. The shelf-life of a book is normally about 3 weeks. If all copies of the book have not sold within that period of time, the bookstore will not reorder copies and may even return the unsold books back to the publisher.

This is exactly why so many good books are available on the internet versus the local bookstore. It was easy to submit my books to Amazon and Barnes and Noble because they are on the internet. But if you go to your local Barnes and Noble bookstore, my book will not appear on the shelves simply because no one has requested it.

So if you would like to see the notary and bankruptcy book on your local bookstore shelf, call the bookstore and ask them to please carry the following:

1. How to Start, Operate and Market a Freelance Notary Signing Agent Business
ISBN: 0-9761591-0-4

2. How to Start a Bankruptcy Forms Processing Service
ISBN: 0-9761591-1-2

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Dear Victoria: I think it is so wonderful of you to write two of the best books I have ever read. Your books have inspired me to write my own. Can you tell me how to self-publish my own book without submitting manuscripts and waiting for a publisher to buy my material?

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

I have provided step-by-step instructions at http://www.graphicopublishing.com/index2.html

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Good Morning Victoria. I wanted you to share this with all your readers! I am so excited as I am sure you know. I was nominated for notary of the year for 2005 and came in as a Runner up. I have never had an honor like this before and want to thank you and all the companies that nominated me! I am on the back of your Book also which I was not aware of. I have NEVER been to Las Vegas because I am always working, trying to pay bills and help others, and it has paid off.

I also received a Letter from the Commonwealth of Virginia for this special nomination. Thank you for all your wonderful advise in your newsletters and books, I do not know what I would have done without help that you give to everyone also. Please share this with everyone. Thank You.

Mary K. LaBelle
Virginia

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

Congratulations Mary! If anyone would like to email Mary personally her email address is

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Dear Victoria. I purchased your book, How to Start a Bankruptcy Forms Processing Service on September 14 and want to thank you for opening a whole new world to me. I just signed up my first attorney to use my service. The law firm is an attorney/wife team and they were so overjoyed I contacted them. They were so overloaded with work they didn’t know what to do. I am so excited since the attorney says he can keep me busy with 20-25 new petitions per month.

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

Thank you so much Charlene for sending your success story. Some people believe you have to obtain a paralegal education to draft petitions – although the information in the book is not taught in the average paralegal classes. I am glad you didn’t let this fear stop you and you used the information in the bankruptcy book to start your own company. Please be sure to keep me up to date on your progress.

If you have not ordered your copy of How to Start a Bankruptcy Forms Processing Service yet, go to http://www.bankruptcybook.net

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NEW: NOTARY WEBSITE LINK EXCHANGE

50 State Notary now offers a link exchange partnership with other notary web sites. If you have a web site and would like to participate, go to http://www.50statenotary.com/links and review the list of our current exchange partners. Simply click on the link to obtain the 50 State Notary logo, link the logo back to us and we fill out the form. We will add your link and 30 words about your company in the next update.

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Please rate this Ezine at the Cumuli Ezine Finder
http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/vote.html?pub_code=thenot

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BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK

1 Thessalonians, Chapter 3, Verses 12 and 13
“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
Read online at http://www.servantofjesuschrist.com/kjv1611/01_thessalonians/chapter_03.html
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OF INTEREST TO NOTARIES:

Get listed in the Nationwide Notary Directory
http://www.50statenotary.com/directory/order_getlisted.html

BOOK: “How to Start, Operate and Market a Freelance Notary Signing Agent Business” ISBN: 1-9761591-0-4
http://www.50statenotary.com/book/index.html

BOOK: “How to Start a Bankruptcy Forms Processing Service”
ISBN: 1-9761591-1-2
http://www.50statenotary.com/bankruptcybook/index.html

FREE: 50 State Notary Desktop Guard Dog
http://www.50statenotary.com/freegift/index.html

Join the National Notary Association
http://www.nationalnotary.org/supplies/index.cfm?referID=A23039

Protect Yourself from Fraudulent Signing Companies
http://www.notarybeware.com
http://www.mynotarybusiness.com

Locate a Notary: View the Nationwide Notary Directory
http://www.50statenotary.com/directory/index.html

View previous issues of this ezine: The Notary News
http://www.50statenotary.com/ezine/index.html

Jobs for Notary Signing Agents (updated weekly)
http://www.50statenotary.com/directory/company_listing.html

Free Introductory Signing Agent Training Course
http://www.50statenotary.com/training/index.html

My Notary Story – Tips from Experienced NSAs
http://www.50statenotary.com/mystory/index.html

Free Download of the King James Bible
http://www.servantofjesuschrist.com/kjv1611/download.html

Visit Victoria Ring’s other websites
http://www.victoriaringconsulting.com/
http://www.graphicopublishing.com/
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Victoria Ring
Certified Notary and Paralegal
http://www.50statenotary.com
Phone: 614-491-9831, Fax: 614-491-9832

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