Let’s talk about the elephant in the inbox.

Yes...I send a lot of emails.

Not to be annoying.

Not to flood your inbox with fluff.

But because I’m passionate about helping notary entrepreneurs build thriving businesses, and sometimes that means sharing tips, tools, stories, or opportunities you might not hear anywhere else.

But I get it, your inbox is sacred territory, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when things pile up.

Here’s the good news: you’re in control of your inbox. And today, I want to show you a few simple ways to organize, filter, and even de-stress your email experience while still keeping access to the good stuff.

Step 1: Create a Folder (or Label) for My Emails

This is the digital equivalent of saying, “I’ll read this later when I have coffee and quiet time.”

How to do it:

• In Gmail: Click “Labels” and create a new one (e.g. “Notary Tips”).

• In Outlook: Right-click in your inbox, select “New Folder,” and name it something like “Bill Soroka Emails” or “N

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Ever wonder how clients really find you online? Spoiler alert—it’s not just through your website or Google Business Profile. Google loves LinkedIn, and if your profile isn’t optimized, you’re leaving money on the table.

Your LinkedIn profile could be the first thing clients see when they search for notaries in their area. In fact, some notaries skip the website altogether and build their LinkedIn presence first because it ranks higher in search results.

In my book, written with LinkedIn Top Voice, Sandra Long , Supercharge Your Notary Business With LinkedIn, I walk you through how to transform your LinkedIn profile into a lead-generating powerhouse. We’re talking keyword optimization, brand reputation management, and strategies that make you the notary that pops up first.

If you’re ready to dominate search and attract more clients effortlessly, this is the book you need.

Why LinkedIn is Your Secret Weapon

🔹 LinkedIn outranks most websites on Google.

🔹 A properly optimized Linked...

How to Become the Go-To Resource in Your Network

Have you ever been in a conversation or a notary appointment where someone asks, “Do you know a good estate planning attorney?” or “Who do you recommend for a living trust?” (If you haven't yet, you will)

At that moment, you have two choices:

1. Shrug and say you’re not sure. (A missed opportunity.)

2. Confidently provide a solid referral. (A trust-building moment.)

One of these keeps you forgettable. The other makes you memorable as a go-to resource in your network, one that people remember, trust, and refer over and over again.

The difference is a well-built referral system. Make it easy for both you AND the people you refer. 

Why Being a Connector Builds Your Business Faster Than Cold Prospecting Ever Will

Notary work is, at its core, a relationship-based business. You’re not just signing, dating, and  stamping papers, you’re guiding people through some of the most important moments of their lives. That means trust is ev...

Loan signings get all the glory, but let’s not forget the bread and butter of the notary world—Specialty Notary Work (SNW). If you’ve ever wished for a steady stream of appointments without relying on lenders, SNW is your ticket.

Special Notary Work is far from “basic.”

In Beyond Loan Signings: The Ultimate Guide to Monetizing Your Notary Commission with Specialty Work, Laura Biewer and I dedicate an entire book to showing how SNW can become one of the most lucrative and consistent services you offer.

Why Focus on Specialty Notary Work?

Think of all the documents that need notarization outside of real estate—powers of attorney, affidavits, wills, and more. These services are always in demand, and they often come with fewer hoops to jump through.

SNW Breakdown in Beyond Loan Signings

Here's what you'll learn:

• How to market your SNW services locally (hint: it’s simpler than you think)

• Finding underserved populations that need notary services regularly

• Pricing strateg...

Credit where credit is due, Darren Shaw (founder of leading SEO firm, Whitespark)  recently shared some eye-opening insights about how AI-driven search (like ChatGPT) is changing the game for local businesses. And listen up notaries, we’re not immune to this shift.

We all know the basics of local SEO: Optimizing your Google Business Profile, getting reviews, and making sure your website doesn’t look like it was built in 1999. But AI search engines like ChatGPT are playing by slightly different rules.

A study by Semrush found that only 30% of searches on ChatGPT mirror traditional Google searches. The other 70% are using AI in brand-new ways.

For example, if someone needs a mobile notary, their Google search might look like this:

“notary near me”

But if they ask ChatGPT, they’re more likely to say:

• “Can you recommend a reliable mobile notary in my area?”

•  “Who’s the best traveling notary in [city]?”

•  “I need a notary who specializes in estate documents. Any recommend...

Your Next Big Apostille Client Could Be Right in Your Community.

If you’re in the apostille business, you already know the value of steady, reliable work.

One of the fastest ways to achieve this is by forging strong partnerships with local agencies that frequently require document authentication services. Law firms, adoption agencies, travel companies, and even educational institutions are often in need of someone who can navigate the complexities of international documentation.

By becoming their trusted partner, you position yourself at the center of a network that can fuel your business growth with repeat clients and consistent referrals.

Why Local Agencies Matter

Local agencies are the lifeblood of many apostille businesses because they regularly handle sensitive or complex international affairs. Documents like adoption records, legal contracts, diplomas, and travel documentation often require authentication before they can be used abroad.

If you can establish yourself as the ...

Ever feel like a human vending machine? 

A prospect calls, asks for a price, and before you can say "oath or affirmation," they’re off the phone, probably shopping for the cheapest notary in town.

Frustrating, right?

But it happens. Yes, it’s true that some prospects really are price conscious and they don’t care about anything else but getting the cheapest, rock bottom price. But I’m willing to bet MY bottom dollar those people are not YOUR ideal customers. 

Your ideal customers probably care about the quality of the work and service they’re about to receive. Your ideal customers care that you’ll be notarizing the document correctly so it doesn’t get rejected or challenged in the future. Your ideal customers will appreciate the steps you take to go the extra mile for their convenience and support. 

Yes, they’ll appreciate these things, but they don’t necessarily know how to ask for it yet. 

As notaries, we take it for granted that the public knows mobile or online services are a...

If the thought of tax season makes you sweat, you’re not alone. Many notaries find themselves scrambling to pull together receipts, invoices, and mileage logs come April.

But what if I told you that a simple bookkeeping system could make your tax season feel like a breeze (or at least not like a full-blown hurricane)?

Welcome to Challenge #3 from my book, The Notary Business Building Challenge, where we tackle the beast that is bookkeeping head-on.

Why Bookkeeping Matters (More Than You Think)

Bookkeeping is one of the foundational pieces of running a thriving, profitable notary business. Why?

Because knowing your numbers = knowing your business.

Tracking income and expenses properly:

• Saves time during tax season

• Keeps you compliant with state and federal laws

• Uncovers profit leaks you didn’t even know existed

• Gives you peace of mind, which is priceless!

The Dread of Doing It Alone

Most notaries fall into the trap of thinking they’ll keep up with bookkee...

The most successful notaries have one thing in common: They follow the formula.

And, somewhat obviously, I suppose, those who struggle the most, don’t. 

This struck me as I was reading Mel Robbins’ new book, “The Let Them Theory,” during a hot bath, as I tried to shake the January blues (I’m writing this in the last week of February and I STILL haven’t shaken them-but it is better. Anyone else relate?)

Here’s what Mel said on page 82, in regards to being afraid of people thinking poorly of you:

“Every business has a formula. Follow it. I say that because one of the things I see people get hung up on all the time is this belief that, ‘I need to be different.’ That is a fancy way to say that you're afraid other people will think that you copied them. This is an example of how your fear of what other people think holds you back from following the most obvious, easiest, and most proven path to success. Let them think you copied them. Because you did. And they copied the formula from so...