Anyone who has ever entered the rabbit hole that is the internet has quickly been met with the endless resources it provides. This can be a blessing and a curse when trying to figure out the best online notary resources to grow your mobile notary business. It’s impossible to narrow down all the options. This article gives you several helpful online resources to begin or revisit your notary business journey.
Get started
Notary Resources & the National Notary Association (NNA)
The NNA should be your first stop. Whether you’re just getting started as a notary or are already well on your way, the NNA is full of helpful notary resources. Their site contains all the information you need to get started, and what makes it even better is that it’s broken down state by state, so you know exactly what is required.
The NNA also serves as the industry standard for obtaining your Notary Signing Agent (NSA) certification. The NNA provides notary resources for getting bonded and insured, purchasing notary supplies (journal and stamp), and depending on the training courses you purchase, they even offer a free listing in their SigningAgent.com directory.
Regardless of the path you choose, it is advised to become a NNA member. One of the biggest perks of this annual paid membership is access to the help hotline for all those burning notary questions! Plus, you also receive a subscription to the National Notary Magazine, a member badge for networking purposes, and lots of online how-to guides.
Join a notary directory
Notary Jane
Well, since you’re here, you’ve heard of Notary Jane! As a national notary directory, we offer an annual membership, and you can further invest in add-ons for even more exposure. Your membership will provide an endless audience of potential clients and signing opportunities.
Notary Jane is a newcomer to the notary directory space and we are quickly becoming a frequently visited site. Our focus is not only to drive traffic to our site so those searching for a notary in your area will find you. We also focus on helping our members grow their individual notary businesses by providing relevant information and training tips on how to be a savvy business owner in today’s competitive market.
Other notary directories
There are many notary directories out there. 123Notary, Notary Rotary, and Notary Cafe are a few that come to mind. It’s important to visit many and see how they “feel” for your notary business.
- Do they give the impression that you want to give to potential customers?
- How is their customer service when you need help?
- Are they affordable?
- Do their appearance and technology seem current and credible?
Snapdocs
There are some newer notary resources that serve as a directory and a signing platform. Snapdocs is one of these. You can register as a notary and receive signings right through their system. Many signing companies are turning to platforms such as this so they can manage everything in one system.
Market yourself
Social Media
As a mobile notary and notary signing agent, you should take full advantage of social media. It is best to have separate accounts for your personal life and business for many reasons. Social media is free (for the most part) and you can create and control the image you want for your business. Your services might not be found through social media, but you can be sure that a client who is considering your services will take a look at your social media. Make sure you are presenting yourself in a professional way that will encourage new clients to contact you. Learn more about using social media to promote your notary business.
Google My Business
As the most used search engine worldwide, Google is the leader in business tools. It’s important to register your notary business with Google My Business so that you appear for searches in your local area. It’s free to sign up, and you can add links to your other online notary resources (website, social media channels, etc.). Customers and clients can give you reviews and ratings to boost your business as well!
Website
As the notary market becomes more advanced and competitive, it’s important to have a website for your notary business. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, but you do need one if you’d like to be the busiest notary in your area. There are 2 very important reasons to have a website.
- It gives potential clients a place to view your business and the services you offer.
- With a little help, you can set your website up with SEO (search engine optimization) so that when someone searches for a notary in your area, your website will appear in the search results and you’ll generate visits to your site.
There are many free or low-cost do-it-yourself website companies. Some of the most popular ones are: Wix, Weebly, Squarespace, Website.com, GoDaddy, and WordPress. What’s important is that you visit a few to determine which one might work best for your needs. In addition to a website, look for excellent customer service and additional bells and whistles like domain name, hosting, business email, etc.)
There are also countless website designers who can put together a quality website for a reasonable price. A highly rated place to find web designers is on Fiverr. This site allows multiple designers to bid on your project.
Final note on websites: While having one is important, having a bad one is worse than not having one at all. Make sure your website looks current, is mobile friendly (it works on people’s phones), and all the buttons and other features work. Think of your website as your office. You would want your office clean, up-to-date, and fully functional. Your website should be no different.
Networking groups
Maximize Facebook
Facebook isn’t just for taking pictures of your lattes and making your friend jealous with your recent vacation. Facebook is the leader in notary networking because of the groups that exist for notaries to join and share their experiences.
- “Notary & Signing Agent Network” is the largest group.
- For newbies, “Safe Haven for New Notaries” is a fabulous group of notaries who will answer questions without judgment, no matter how much of a novice you might be.
- Specific training programs have their own groups, such as Notary2Pro’s N2P ELITES Facebook group, exclusively for program graduates.
- There are even several groups for notaries broken down by state.
With a few searches, you can join a number of notary communities and be on your way. In order to grow your business and keep a good pulse on the market, it’s important to engage with fellow notaries. And it’s extremely valuable to learn from those experienced notaries who are willing to share their expertise.
Online notary tools
Notary Assist and Notary Gadgets
Some of the most common questions asked by new notaries include:
- How do I keep track of my bookings?
- When do I bill for my work?
- What’s the best way to invoice a signing service?
While there are many different approaches to managing your accounting, Notary Assist and Notary Gadget are the leading choices for most notaries. The work of a notary signing agent includes managing new and existing clients, scheduling appointments, tracking invoices, coordinating payments/non-payments, and maintaining travel/mileage logs. Both of these websites are user-friendly and can shoulder much of the work for getting and staying organized.
How to decide between the two? The best way is to sign up for a free trial for both of them. Notary Assist is the cheaper option, but only by a few dollars per month. Notary Gadget has a more user-friendly mobile version according to some NSAs. Ultimately, both programs are similar, so you should choose your preferred option after testing both. Don’t hesitate when making this small monthly investment. You won’t regret the opportunity to effortlessly organize your business!
Learn and grow
These notary resources will help you get started or continue to grow your existing Notary Signing Agent business. That said, the internet is vast and resources are abundant, so make sure to do your research and pick the programs and websites that work best for you. Everyone is different, and technology has advanced enough to fit the needs of everyone.
If it seems overwhelming, read on. This article is part of a tech series: Advantages of Technology for Your Notary Business. Hopefully, it can give you a solid overview of notary resources.
Thanks for reading! If you haven’t already, be sure to join the Notary Jane directory so those looking for a notary in their area can find you!
Do you have other excellent notary resources that you’ve discovered along your journey? We’d love to hear! Leave a comment and let us know.
By Jennifer Craven