Shared experiences, like networking events, live training, workshops, conferences, travel, and the like, create deeper bonds and forge the beginnings of tomorrow’s great collaborations and innovations. 

Plus, they can be fun and educational. 

If you commit to attending five peer events every year, your business, life, and network will experience limitless expansion. 

I’ve found that live, in-person events create stronger bonds faster. But if that’s not in your budget (or desire), you can still attend AND participate in online events. 

For my own schedule, I’ve committed to five in-person notary peer events for 2024, and several online events. I'll share the growing list at the end of this article.

I happen to be in Philadelphia as I write this, touring the host hotel for Judi Lawrence’s Philly Notary Social (registration now open) in October, so I’ll share about this first. 

The Notary Hotel

It...

You may be hoping I'm going to share the super-shiny doo-hickey thinga-ma-bobber that will make it rain clients and appointments for your notary business.

I am not going to do that and it doesn't exist. At least not yet, anyway (but we're working on it!).

I'm talking about your referral list. 

This is your list of people, brands, and services, that you enjoy working with enough to refer them to other people in your network. 

I liken it to Oprah's list of her "Favorite Things."

Having a list and referring to your network makes you a resource. 

Being a resource to your network will help you stand out more than anything else.  

You're an active citizen living in your city/state/country/world and you've garnered some experience, wisdom, and favorite things through life. 

Who Can Be Added to Your Referral List

Here are some examples of who can go on your list of favorite things/Referral List:

• Real Estate Agents
• Loan Officers
• Estate planning firms
• Attorneys...

If you are the bearer of a notary commission, you hold a key to income and purpose. 

Not only do notaries serve an important role in fraud and identity theft prevention, but they can also make a living doing so. 

The secret to success is moving away from being a generalist to a specialist. 

As they say, the riches are in the niches. 

The Difference Between General Notary Work and Specialty Notary Work

My friend and notary expert, Laura Biewer coined the phrase, “Specialty Notary Work” (SNW) to identify those repeatable opportunities we have under the notary umbrella. There are certain situations, facilities, document types, and even client types, that call for a little extra learning, certification, and understanding. Those notaries that take that on, can stand out and tap into growth and more revenue. 

Laura and I wrote a book about how to monetize your notary commission through specialty work called, “Beyond Loan Signings...

It’s weird being an introvert that loves people. 

Especially as a business owner. 

I’ve struggled my whole adult life with the idea of networking. I knew it was important, so I’d sign up for all kinds of networking events, fully intending to attend, but then…

IF I even left my house at all, I’d circle the block or sit in the parking lot obsessing about what to say, where to stand, or whether I’d fit in. I had to give myself a pep talk to actually walk in the door. 

Sometimes I’d actually go in. 

But mostly I didn’t. I wasn’t very good at pep talks back then. 

I would get physically sick to my stomach. I even threw up in the parking lot a few times. 

Then I’d wipe my mouth, pat myself on the back, turn around and go home. 

“At least I tried,” I’d say. 

But I needed to move through that networking anguish. I knew I liked people. This anxiety wasn’t about them,...

There are lots of online notary directories out there right now. Many of the most relevant directories will have a free (or cheap) profile level to get started with. I’ll share a few that seem to pay off, should you decide to pay for a premium listing too. 

But, if you’re going to invest the time and money into having online profiles, do it in a way that makes you more appealing than the same old boring profiles that 70% of notaries throw up on these directories. 

Make it pop. 

Stand out. 

Get hired. 

There’s No Such Thing as “Too Many” Directory Profiles

You already know that your customers are going to come to you from two places, and two places only:

• Your online visibility;
• And your network of relationships.

Online directories help with both, IF you optimize your profiles correctly. 

When done well, there is no such thing as having too many online profiles on professional directories. 

When...

Tired of spending money on business “essentials”?

I get it. For such a small, simple business, you can feel nickel and dimed as you’re in start-up mode as a mobile notary.  Luckily, one of the most lucrative marketing campaigns you can implement right now can be done for $7 or less. 

And it’s easy too!

The hardest part is just getting out of your own way and hitting the send button…again and again. 

The 7-Step Marketing Plan for Mobile Notaries

You can start this today, and your total expense, outside of time and energy, is $7 (or less). 

Step One: Get a Domain Name

Invest $1 for the first year of a domain name that matches your brand name, or is similar. Don’t worry, this isn’t for building a website. This is for sending emails only. If you already have a domain name, you can skip to Step Two.

How I Do It: I use GoDaddy for all of my domains. Sometimes they cost more than $1, but there is always a promo or coupon...

Clients Devastated, Ignored by Unwitting Notaries

Imagine with me for a moment, would you? 

You’ve just closed on your dream home, and the experience was smooth, efficient, and even enjoyable, thanks in large part to your amazing real estate agent, referred by a colleague of yours. 

You loved working with her, and really “hit it off.” You might even be friends after this. 

You get the keys, decorate, make it yours. 

And then you run into your real estate agent at the grocery store. There she is in canned goods, in front of the stewed tomatoes. Can you see her? 

You run down the aisle to catch up with her because you just have to tell her what a difference she made. 

You share your thoughts, just loud enough that a few passersby can overhear. They might want to work with her too. She was just that good. 

And then, as you complete your word-shower love-fest on your new favorite real estate agent, she simply turns and walks away,...

This is an ad for advanced notary training.

It’s called Notary Business Builder (NBB) and it costs $58 per month. 

If that turns you off, you can stop reading and go about your day. 

If you appreciate value, a supportive community, and honing your craft, then please read on. 

What is Notary Business Builder?

NBB is the world’s largest collaboration of experts from a variety of fields committed to helping notary entrepreneurs succeed. We’ve brought together teachers of digital marketing, content creation, personal branding, notary skill sets, networking, marketing, sales, apostilles, and even government affairs to create a one-stop-shop for your business building needs. 

Say goodbye to “subscription-fatigue.” 

Everything you need is here, included at no additional charge:

• Loan signing training with Bill Soroka’s Sign & Thrive Notary Training Course and Community;
• Specialty & General Notary work training with...

One of my favorite things to do is to refer prospects to people I know, like, and trust. 

I consider myself a loyal person (sometimes to a fault). 

Loyalty is a quality I appreciate in others as well. 

What I’ve learned through the years as a super connector is that loyalty has to be about more than just personalities. 

Quality over Quantity When It Comes to Referrals

You can’t just refer prospects to people you like, even if they’re freakin’ amazing at what they do. 

Not everyone is a good referral match. 

So instead, be loyal to bringing value to your relationships, not just to one certain person. 

It does no one any good if you refer a mismatched prospect to your favorite attorney, just because you like him. It just wastes time and it costs you credibility in two relationships (or more). 

You Can Never Have Too Many Referral Partners

That’s why you can never have too many partners on your referral list. 

...

Last night, on our weekly NBB Accountability call, I shared an accidental strategy that ended up working quite well for me in my business relationships. 

I’ve never been great at mailing cards and letters on time. 

Birthday cards would sit on my counter, or in my glove box for months until they were so late I may as well have used them for the recipient’s next birthday. 

I was especially bad with holiday cards for my clients. 

Always Late With Holiday Cards

At first, I’d be so embarrassed at how late the cards were that I wouldn’t send them at all, even after signing and addressing them. 

And then one January, after missing another season, I said, “screw-it, I’m sending them anyway.” I decided I would pop-in to my clients and drop off cards and good spirits six weeks after everyone else, and something interesting happened. 

As they were taking down the swarms of holiday cards they had received...