{"id":2774,"date":"2020-11-14T19:45:50","date_gmt":"2020-11-14T23:45:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.afterhoursva.com\/?p=2774"},"modified":"2021-05-02T01:53:51","modified_gmt":"2021-05-02T05:53:51","slug":"q-what-notary-directories-do-you-belong-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.afterhoursva.com\/?p=2774","title":{"rendered":"Q. What notary directories do you belong to?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"\"Hey, there!\u00a0 I received a question the other day on LinkedIn from a fellow notary asking about listings and directories that I have a paid membership.\u00a0 As a new notary and even a veteran notary, your concern may be that there are so many organizations and notary directories out there, how to decide where to list and spend your dollars.\u00a0 My response back was a little vague and as I started to think about it more in depth, I decided to do follow up on this question for others who may be wondering.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nBut first, for those of you who may not know me, I am Takisha Smith Robinson, a traditional notary and electronic notary for the Commonwealth of Virginia.\u00a0 I am the owner of @AfterHoursVA, a business I started in 2012.\u00a0 I offer mobile notary services, remote online notarizations, real estate loan signings, help with Apostille and Authentication services and I also offer one-on-one notary
consultations for those aspiring to become a notary public, newly commissioned notaries and for existing notaries who\u2019d like to expand their notary business.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nI also co-founded and run a notary group on Facebook (Quick Find Notary\/Signing Agents<\/a><\/strong>) where notaries from all over are welcomed to join and connect with others in the industry.\u00a0 Join here: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/QuickFindNotary\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nLet us review a few of the many directories available to notaries and loan signing agents where you can list your credentials and individuals and companies can find and hire YOU!\u00a0 These are my top 5 sites (in no special order) that I suggest you join and list with today.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nNotary Caf\u00e9<\/strong> <\/a>offers a free and paid membership plan for $5 monthly or $36 annually (discounted if paid yearly.) With both plans you get access to their forum and other resources.\u00a0 Signing companies and others looking for a notary can find your profile on Notary Caf\u00e9.\u00a0 The huge difference in the free versus the paid membership is that with the free plan, only companies that are a part of the Notary Caf\u00e9 Network of Signing Services can view your profile.\u00a0 The paid plan allows for a public profile and gives you the ability to add linkbacks to your website and social media, which of course increases your visibility.\u00a0 I personally have the paid membership plan.\u00a0 Notary Cafe – Takisha Smith Robinson<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nNotary Rotary<\/a><\/strong> offers a free plan and the paid membership ranges from $79 – $139 because you can receive a discount when you renew. They have a \u201cfind a notary\u201d feature, education\/training for notaries, buy notary supplies, and a great discussion forum.\u00a0 You will also find other resources like discounts for notaries, the most current rescission calendar, and my newly found favorite, the PDF Page Sorter. \u00a0The page sorter allows you to upload a loan signing package and the software will separate the package into two separate files for letter and legal.\u00a0 This is especially important for notaries who do not have a dual tray printer and need to print a loan package on the correct size paper.\u00a0 With this software, you can load your printer with legal paper, print your legal file and then load your printer\u2019s tray with letter paper to print the other file.\u00a0 Also, the cool thing about the software is that is gives you a stacking printout so that you can put the loan package back in order after you print.\u00a0 Most companies will require the loan package to be in the same order as it was received when you send the package back, so the stacking order printout is beyond helpful.\u00a0 Most importantly, you do not have to have a paid membership to access the PDF Page Sorter.\u00a0 It is FREE.99!!<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Some of the benefits of having a paid membership is premium listing of your profile before the free members, the ability to rate companies you work with, notary supply discounts, and electronic faxing with your own efax phone number and unlimited incoming and outgoing faxes.\u00a0 Now if you are not familiar with an efax, the faxes are sent and received in PDF format electronically.\u00a0 Almost like sending an email.\u00a0 This can be useful for companies who still require scans or faxbacks and do not have a portal for you to upload those documents.\u00a0 I have a free membership with Notary Rotary and as you can see when searching in my zip code, 23231, specifically, I am listed here as a basic member.\u00a0 Notary Rotary – Takisha Smith Robinson<\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nSnapDocs<\/a><\/strong> is a software platform for signing agents and is completely free!\u00a0 Once you complete your profile with a professional photo, credentials, and experience, you can be found by lenders, title and escrow, and signing services.\u00a0 The more information available in your profile, the higher you will rank in SnapDocs\u2019 notary search results.\u00a0 Companies will select you based on a strong profile and may choose you over another notary based on information provided in your profile.\u00a0 SnapDocs also has a dashboard to manage your loan signings in one spot.\u00a0 Companies that utilize SnapDocs will automatically be added to your dashboard as you accept the signing, but you can also add outside companies, not on the platform, to your dashboard to track.\u00a0 The dashboard tracks name of company, borrower(s) info, appointment time, and fee.\u00a0 You can also access the loan signing packages from each company and submit \u201cfaxbacks\u201d within the same portal.\u00a0 The dashboard also stores copies of your commission, E&O insurance, bond if applicable, background check and your state driver\u2019s license.\u00a0 By uploading these documents, you can become SnapDocs Verified<\/strong>.\u00a0 When you’re Snapdocs Verified, companies can be confident that you’re a trusted notary with valid credentials and a verified ID.\u00a0 Your SnapDocs profile is also synced with your profile on National Notary Association to show that you are NNA Certified and Background Screened.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nIt is important to note that Snapdocs is NOT a signing service, title company, or lender. When you receive a signing through the Snapdocs platform, you won’t be receiving it from Snapdocs but
from a title company or signing service that is utilizing Snapdocs’ technology and platform. This also means that you are contracted by the signing service or title company that sent you the loan signing offer.\u00a0 So, if you hear other notaries say things like \u201cSnapDocs is low ball\u201d or \u201cI can\u2019t get any work from SnapDocs\u201d, it\u2019s an untrue statement.\u00a0 There are tons of companies using the platform to find us, qualified notary signing agents.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nNow I like to describe SnapDocs as the \u201cuber\u201d of loan signings because of the notification system they have in place.\u00a0 You can choose to receive notifications via text or email.\u00a0 The text messaging system works like this, Title Company ABC is looking for a notary in the 23231 area for a loan refinance with Chase Bank at 7pm that day or some day in the future<\/em><\/strong>, a text message goes out to several notaries and the first one to respond will get the assignment, basically.\u00a0 But SnapDocs does say that the companies will send out a notification to one notary at a time, working down a list and it is ultimately up to the company to select the signing agent they would like to work with.\u00a0 Therefore, a complete profile is beneficial.\u00a0 In my experience, it is best to respond quickly to the alerts if you\u2019d like to accept the terms of the signing.\u00a0 You are also able to decline and\/or re-negotiate the original terms but it is still up to the company to accept the new terms. SnapDocs – Takisha Smith Robinson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nNNA SigningAgent.com<\/a><\/strong> established in 1957 then becoming an organization in 1964, the National Notary Association fosters education, training, guidance, resources, tools and advocacy within the notary industry.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nA profile is offered to notary signing agents that have completed background screening through the NNA.\u00a0 Priority status is given to notaries who are NNA trained, certified AND background screened. NNA\u2019s certification exam and background screening is industry recognized and quite frankly kind of a big deal.\u00a0 You will find that most title companies and signing services will REQUIRE<\/strong>
the NNA credentials to receive work from them.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nYou can also join the NNA as a member of the association and get access to support, networking, and discounts as an NNA member.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nNNA SigningAgent.com – Takisha Smith Robinson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nGoogle Business Listing<\/a> <\/strong>is free to create and I highly suggest it for general notary work.\u00a0 People oftentimes do not know they need a notary until they need a notary!\u00a0 And, most likely, will turn to Google to find a notary.\u00a0 Most popular searches are \u201cnotary near me\u201d or \u201cnotary public Virginia\u201d.\u00a0 GOOGLE ME @AfterHoursVA<\/a><\/strong> and get a FREE listing here: https:\/\/www.google.com\/business\/business-profile\/<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nI do want to mention, because this question is asked a lot as well, but Notary Caf\u00e9 and Notary Rotary both have a list of signing services and title companies (with ratings) that you can
research and sign up with.\u00a0 Soooo if you are unsure of where to start and who to sign up with, these lists are helpful and other notaries have rated them or given their experience with contracting
for some of the companies that are listed.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nWhat free listings or directories should you sign up with and\/or pay for?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Don\u2019t sign up and pay for directories just for the sake of signing up!\u00a0 You will find many out there.\u00a0 For starters, signup with the ones I just reviewed. And if you are already listed on a few
directories, it\u2019s important to ask how and where someone found you.\u00a0 Whether it is the general public, signing company, title company or even a lender, you want to collect that data to determine
where the referral came from and if it\u2019s worth maintaining and continuing that membership in the future.\u00a0 For example, if someone calls you to notarize a trust document, be sure to ask how
they found you and make a note of it.\u00a0 You will find out over time if more folks found you on Google versus \u201cFindMeNow\u201d (totally making that up!) or some other directory.\u00a0 And Google led them to your contact information and website.<\/em>\u00a0 Doing this type of market research will help make that decision going forward and should be a way to gage if your investment in a particular site or organization directory is profitable and your listing is gaining traction.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nOther Directories to Advertise Notary Services<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\nHere are a few other directories listed below that I personally have a free or paid membership with, or I have connected with in 2020:<\/p>\r\n

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