Texas Notaries - Shall we Network?

http://1netsuites.com/texasnotaries.htm

Just go there and fill out the survey.

Many thanks, BrendaTx

News, Questions, Issues - Feedback solicited

• Do you have a question?
• Do you want me to post a notice in my newsletter?
• Do you want to reach the notaries my newsletter reaches?
• Do you have a service you want to tell the notaries about?
• Would you like to write an article?
  
  If it fits within my editorial guidelines, I'll gladly publish it for you.
  Just use this form and we'll take a look at it.
• http://1netsuites.com/newsletter.htm

• ANONYMOUS requests will be ignored.

TexNotary Newsletter - 06-10-06

I could not post this newsletter for some reason - please use the link below to find it.

You can find my newsletters here when the "blogger" is acting up:

http://www.ymlp.com/pubarchive.php?texnotary

You can always find my
newsletter at
TexNotaryNewsletter.blogspot.com

Dear Readers:

This is an "appreciation" edition. It's only been a few days but I decided to go ahead and share my experiences this week with you. Lot's of new subscribers! As always,
I try not to send out unimportant information. I focus on making money and
saving money for the person who is, like me, the average notary seeking
opportunity to increase their income.

(Thank you to all the new folks who have joined
my mailing list. Just in the last few days over 40 have subscribed!)

This time:

• 
  

  
  Is there a Problem With
  Dmoz.org
  Editors?



• 
  

  
  Loan Document Downloads (Online/Free)

  
  

-Regular loans

-Reverse Mortgage Loan Documents

• 
  

  
  Trip Fees vs. Full Fees

  
  


• 
  

  
  Arizona
  Network Meeting - June 25, 2006



• 
  

  
  Car Sign Marketing Ideas

  
  


• 
  

  
  Off Topic Health & Home (Tried and True)

  
  

-Indigestion Cure

-Laundry Cures

-Tea Tree Oil Cures (Sinus, fleas, fungus, lots of things)

-Flea cures

• 
  

  
  "Revenue Hub" Ideas

-
Google.com
Ads

- Niche Sales and Marketing

- Affiliate Marketing

-------------------------------------------

Is there a Problem with
Dmoz.org
Notary Editors?

Notaries really need to consider this article if they get notary work
from their own website.

Dmoz.org
is the directory that
Google.com
pulls its indexing from. If
you are not in
Dmoz.org
you won't have much of a chance to get found on

Google.com
. However, that does not mean that you will not be found on the other
search engines which are independent of
Dmoz.org
and
Google.com
such as MSN.com
and Yahoo.com. These sites use different criteria to determine popularity.

Dmoz.org
is critical to marketing your site on the internet. Here's why
I think we may have a little problem going on.

The other day I was contacted by a very well-known notary-related
website owner who told me he had spent a ton of money on getting his site
recognized. However, his competitor was beating him out like crazy on

Google.com
.

To help him solve his problem, I ran a link popularity check on

Marketleap.com. It gave him very good placement. This did not make sense.
Finally it hit me. He's got popularity, I wonder where he is on
Dmoz.org
.
I went over to
Dmoz.org
and I checked his website on that site. It was not
there. If a site is not indexed into
Dmoz.org
, it's "sunk" so to speak on

Google.com
.

I wrote him with the results and guess what? He did a little checking
of his own and his major competitor is an editor of the section he chose to go
into in
Dmoz.org
.

A
Dmoz.org
"editor" is a volunteer position. If I have my facts right,
you take up the job and determine whether or not the sites you are putting into
your editorial section is worthy, or just another junk site. I am concerned
that in our notary world we may be getting slighted by
Dmoz.org
editors.

After running into this I felt concern that perhaps there is not a fair
rating method to get into the directory. I checked my own position and found I
had dropped off the face of the earth with

www.Texas-Signing-Agent.com.
My link is no longer in
Dmoz.org
. Both the person I mentioned and myself
have experienced a problem with
Dmoz.org
. I wonder if my problem is similar to
his. Is it possible the section editor has "lost" my link?

Today I wrote a letter in the directory's feedback. I would like to
know what you think about this theory of mine. If you would like to comment,
please send it to brendasblog@gmail.com .

Loan Document Downloads Online

Packet of Loan Documents

Are you new? Do you need to find documents so that you can get familiar
with loan packets?

Here is a link I found while searching what I call "invisible internet"
for information to broker. Download them here.

Reverse Mortgage Loan Documents for Practice

Awhile back I was sent a package of documents from another notary. I
have uploaded them here along with instructions on how to sign them. Enjoy

Trip Fees vs. Full Fees

(If the Borrowers Refuse to Sign)

This is a troublesome subject for me. Many times in the past I have
accepted the possiblity of trip fees. By trip fees, I mean there will not be a
full fee paid if the borrowers do not sign. You usually get a portion of the
fee.

You certainly cannot blame the hiring entity for wanting to put this in
their contract or confirmation, but can we be as pure as the driven snow if the
fee is not paid in full if the borrowers do not sign? I feel that I can, but my
problem is that the Texas Secretary of State has been very clear on what their
rules are on this. I keep a copy of the rules on my website just to know where
they are if I need them. You can see my page of rules right here - I took them
straight from the Texas SOS. Here's the language which I find restrictive.

"...The signature and seal of a Notary
Public do not prove these facts conclusively, but provide prima facie proof
of them, and allow persons in trade and commerce to rely upon the truth and
veracity of the Notary Public as a third party who has no personal interest
in the transaction.

A Notary Public is personally liable for
negligence or fraud in the performance of the duties of the office. The bond
is to insure that the person injured can recover at least $10,000.00, but
this does not protect the Notary Public from personal liability for the full
extent of damages caused by a breach of official duty. In addition to civil
liability, Notaries Public may be subject to criminal prosecution and the
revocation or suspension of their notary public commission by the Secretary
of State's office. ..."

Now, this does not mean if you have a good relationship with a title
company or other hiring company that you cannot go ahead and give them a break
on the backside of a signing gone defunct. However, I feel it's very clear if
you agree to a trip fee that it could be thought of as improper to take a
signing appointment in that case.

Yes, I know, it's been going on for years, but it's a worthwhile thing
to think about. It concerns me enough I am trying to figure out how to
carefully approach our Secretary of State about it so that I may get a ruling on
it.

Seeking
Feedback: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, PLEASE
WRITE ME AT BRENDASBLOG@GMAIL.COM.
I WILL ONLY PUBLISH YOUR COMMENTS WITH YOUR NAME IF YOU SAY IT IS OKAY.
THANKS!

Arizona Networking Meeting - June 25, 2006

If you are an Arizona notary and have not yet signed
up for the up coming networking meeting taking place on June 25th or would like
to know more, please email jjrundall@cox.net
for a copy of the invitation for details regarding the meeting.



The deadline to RSVP is June 10th and there are currently over 45 notaries
registered to come. Don't miss out!! We have speakers scheduled, door prize give
aways, and so much more!!



Have a great day!!



Jennifer J. Rundall

Your Arizona Mobile Notary

Note from BrendaTx - I have provided
Jennifer with two copies of my Reverse Mortgage Notebooks for door prizes!

Car Sign Marketing Ideas

TRIED AND TRUE - TexNotary
Recommends: In the 06-06-2006 edition of my newsletter, I said that you
could get a Magnetic Sign for your car. Just to keep it real, I wanted to let
you know that I have one of those of my own, it works and here is a picture of
mine. Here is what mine says:

Mobile Notary 979-739-2690

www.TexNotary.com

(Click
here to see it and to view a few ideas of how to use it. I just placed
another order for four from Paul's Notary Mini-Mart myself.)

Purchase it here:

http://www.pawnotary.com/Mini-Mart.htm

The Diversified Revenue Hub

To steal a phrase "profit centers" from Charles Peavey in California,
he has acknowledged that creating streams of income (or in Charles' words, "setting up several profit centers") will keep the change rolling in. However, I
cannot steal his "profit center" phrase completely, so I did a little bit of
thesaurus research and came up with an alternative - I will call profit centers
(Charles' phrase) by a name I like for my own purpose: "The Diversified
Revenue Hub."

As you know, your time is a very valuable thing. You can devote it all
to your signing business and make more money with your time through having your
eggs all in one basket (which might work well for you) or you can venture off
into a few tried and true things which I do to create other income. Small
revenue makers will create small bits of income. Bit by bit small streams of
income from the becomes quite a nice little flow.

We have talked about things in the past such as serving subpoenas,
non-loan work, taking real estate pictures (here's
some of my work) and inspections. For the ones who want to make the
internet spit a little change back at them, consider these things, but FIRST:

I heartily endorse every one of you to take a simple course in FrontPage, or
website creation as soon as you can.

Once you learn how to do simple web pages
you can (1) draw more business by having a page which will advertise your
services, (2) you can actually put Google ads on your site and make a few extra
pennies each day...or maybe even hundreds a month, (4) Consider a niche
marketing site of simple products (5) You can sell affiliate marketing products
from your site.

Google Ads

Google Ads will make you money? Yes, I love them. It took me
months to get a check from
Google.com
, but now, it's coming together rather
nicely. So many people think that I stay on notary boards because I am so in
love with seeing my name on those boards. I'll admit, it's nice to be noticed,
but the truth is I decided a long time ago to begin a step off into affiliate
marketing and publishing my content and other writings. This was something I
was interested in before my notary career took off.

Niche Marketing & Selling
Simple Products

Niche Marketing and selling very simple products will generate a side
income that becomes handy pocket change.

So, how does one get into a niche and market? Well, let me start by
warning you that this rambles a bit, but stay with me and you'll see what I
mean.

The Cornbread Niche - Very Simple Example

"Back in the day" people used to try all kinds of newspaper ads to get
people to send them a few bucks. Those, however, were really scams.

However, there is a type of ad that is run in places where older folks
or dedicated homemakers tend to read and it generates income for people. It's a
recipe ad. I marvel every time I see this diligent man named George tagging his
posts with his Grandmother's Cornbread Recipe. He writes and posts
on several groups and always signs off with his cornbread recipe. He gets
involved in forums where his signature with "Grandmothers" recipe ad brings in a
few bucks every time he posts. It's okay to click on this
one, I will not earn or win from it! It's one of his most recent
posts.

This is one type of "niche" marketing -- very simple. This guy has been
selling this recipe for seven years that I know of. All the dude does is posts
his little cornbread recipe around on the internet for sale. I have also seen
it in magazines for homemakers, the National Enquirer ads and in Opportunity
Magazine. People are buying it or ol' George would not still be
posting
it.

More Complicated Niche Marketing Ideas

Now, for the more sophisticated niche marketer, you learn your hobby
and/or trade really well and write publications about them. "How-to's" are in
and of themselves a niche writing market, but so is any subject you choose to
become an "expert" in and begin to write on it.

Now, as we all know, Victoria Ring has her site which is not actually
the end all site for notaries according to some. (Let me stop and say,
however, all I needed was her book on how to start the business and I got the
concept. It was a great starting place.) However, Victoria Ring is an
excellent example of an entrepreneurial type who researches and writes
"How-to's" about any number of working from home opportunities. Whether
you approve of them or not, she's good at self-publishing and making money from
it.

You do not have to like what she does to realize if
you are a home economics major, you might have a niche to slip into...or if you
love dogs, or birds, or ice skating, comic books, whatever...you can become a
niche marketer of simple publications or even products. Products?
Even without writing? Yes, you can do something called affiliate marketing
and I touch on that below, but first let me get into information brokering.

Information Brokering

One type of niche marketing is a topic I call information brokering. I
am currently writing a book on that. I put it down about six months ago when I
began to move and have not picked it back up because I wanted to start brokering
information again before I began to tell how well you could do at it. It had
been awhile since I had a big hit (the 90's) so I had to wait awhile to "keep
it real and let you know how it would go.

Information Brokering is a good internet business you can work from
home. If you are interested in brokering information With a website, it's
a very simple concept. You can (1) develop information products that people in
your "niche" truly do need or are interested in (2) Sell them from your website
using PayPal.

For instance, I developed a list by researching the 'net which is over

5000 Lenders and Escrow addresses in California.
I sell it for $15.95. It took many hours to produce. However, I sell a few
each week to people who are looking to send out marketing pieces of their own.
Now that I have the list, all I have to do is receive the Paypal.com
payment and then return it by email.

To develop an information brokering bussines, just like when developing
any other business, you have to have a plan. You must set goals, plan, and
set up a simple website. If you want a work from home internet business, you
must have internet presence. If you buy into the idea that you can get rich
overnight you are dreaming.

I have been disclosing some of the kinds of things that I do in my
"spare" time. I will not tell you that I am making a mint at all these things
because I am not. However, I am turning my time into money through easy does
it--baby steps, one step at a time and all that jazz. If you have a
direction and a destination, and if you keep moving a little bit each day,
eventually get will get there.

As I know from experience, you cannot jump up and become an ace notary
signing agent at the top of your craft in Texas, and develop an affiliate
marketing site, plus set up an information brokerage that will rock the world
for you by the end of the month AND do so all at the same time.

However, you can do a little at a time. That's what I do. I blog and I
capture "content." The content I create drives people to my website.

Content

That is a fancy way to say articles, writing, or text, if you will.
Content is the thing that just tickles the fancy of the search engines.

Once I had a lady take a huge piece of content I had just written and
slice it up to Reader's Digest style. While I understood her purpose, it was
wrong for the 'net. The search engines crave to see words and information. The
internet information seeker, product purchaser actually craves to see as much as
they can about the subject. So, toss out concise writing when you consider
working in the internet world of searching and seeking information.
It's different than when you develop your professional website. However,
a word to the wise: If you want your professional notary website to be
noticed by search engines, put lots and lots of content in it. Four pages
will not cut it for great response on
Google.com
.

Affiliate Marketing

What is affiliate marketing? It's an arrangement between you and a
place like Linkshare.com where you (the website publisher) can slip links into
your website which will drive people from your site to a product.

For instance via affiliate marketing you can sell printers, computers,
any number of items. I have links which hook into Overstock.com, and my dear
notary friend, there's not much you cannot find at Overstock.com!

Lots of good stuff notaries need as well as the public at large. If you
want to purchase a great book on this subject, take a look at Jim Martel's
Affiliate Marketing Handbook. And, if you were to decide to purchase it, just be
aware, I will make a percentage from it. This is how affiliate marketing brings
money back to you. Every product you sell from your site will yield a bit of
revenue.

Affiliate marketing online is
a big, big deal and a real way to make money online. I
personally used Jim Martel's techniques for getting search engine recognition
and it's paid off for me. I cannot seem to get into affiliate marketing like I
should because I like to "talk" to the people that read my newsletters and blogs.
With affiliate marketing you need to be more of an article writer.

My main purpose in life is to be independent and to be happy and have
joy. Writing a "conversation" out for you makes me feel good.

Therefore, I am happier making money off of my
Google.com
ads and
writing as a niche marketer with publications I feel good about telling you to
purchase. I won't endorse something if I cannot figuratively look you in the
eye and say, "try it."

There is a world of information at your finger tips on
how to work from home or make money online. Hopefully, I have given you
some ideas on what's out there that I believe is worthwhile to look into.

Just remember, you did not become a great loan signing
notary in two days and the other things are similar. There is not a magic
bullet that will send you soaring over to party with Donald Trump by engraved
invitation.

Off Topic Health & Home

DISCLAIMER - DON'T TRY ANY OF THESE HEALTH AND
HOME REMEDIES ON MY OWN RECOMMENDATION - DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST! USE AT YOUR
OWN RISK.

TRIED AND TRUE TexNotary.com recommends:
Do you ever get really bad
indigestion? I was starting to and I began to take a product that I purchase at
Wal-Mart for $6-$7. The brand I take is Rexall, and it's called "Multi-Enzyme
Supplement." I am sold on this like you would not believe. Seriously, if you
get heartburn, pick up a bottle of those and take them according to
instructions. My mom has started taking them also. If you are like me, you'll
find that this will be a cure.

TRIED AND TRUE TexNotary.com
recommends: Fels Naptha Soap

Back when our parents were growing up there was a product put out by
dial called Fels Naptha Soap. The Queen of Clean has revived it. Pick up a bar
of it at Kroger's and try applying it to underarm persiration and ring around
the collar. Let it sit before you wash.

If you really like to save money (and have a touch of the "potion maker"
in you) let me send you to a website which has a recipe for making up a great
batch of problem solving soap for your laundry. It's cheap and it has four
ingredients (1) Fels Naptha Soap (2) Washing Soda (3) Borax (4) Water.

I keep this stuff made up and wash with it often. It will make your
whites whiter than they have been in awhile - especially if you add a little
bleach or non-chlorine bleach.

TRIED AND TRUE TexNotary.com recommends:
Borax for Men and Boys (Laundry)

I had boys. Sometimes that young "manly" smell does not get out of the
clothes like it should. It will make the house smell like a locker room.

Since I inspect apartments I can always peg the kid who is not getting
his clothes clean. It hits me like thick nostalgia -- I remember my sister
gagging on our vacation to Mexico with me and my boys. (She did not have
boys.) We were riding
around in Cancun with two thirteen year olds "reeking" (to her) even after they
just got out of the shower.

We had left our Borax at home. I made the boys rinse off with a
little borax in water on occasion. It's a natural freshener. Borax (and/or the recipe mentioned above) will eliminate that smell in your
sons' closets and bedrooms. Wash their clothes in it. Always.

Just for good measure sprinkle some borax around
and let it sit in there before you vacuum. You'll be able to enjoy the way the
house smells again when it's really clean. It's only a few bucks to pick this
stuff up. Just try it and you'll remember "fresh" smells so good.

TRIED AND TRUE TexNotary.com
recommends: Tea Tree Oil -

I started a new job at the Small Business
Development Center in Bryan-College Station, Texas. Had not been sick
for years, but first rattle out of the box, I had
fever and sinus infection. I was out of my stand-by remedy--my trusty peroxide
for gargling. I spied my Tea
Tree Oil bottle which I used once to kill germs around the windows in my house
where the dogs lay rather than using bleach.

I began to gargle with water laced with a few drops of Tea Tree Oil. I
also inhaled it over a steaming bowl of microwave boiled water. It nipped my
little ailment in the bud within a couple of days. Especially the aromatherapy
part. I would get instant relief from that.

Since then I have begun to use a few teaspoons in my dishwater and my
"fine washables" laundry, items, as well. It kills germs without having to
reach for the clothes staining bleach or running the dishwasher for a few
dishes.

Try a half teaspoon in a quart of water when you shower and rinse off
with it - it gets you
really clean! It kills germs and has been recommended as an alternative to
deodorant.

It also kills fungal infections such as athlete's foot and overactive
candida. Caution - some may be very sensitive to this product. By
the way, I buy mine at
Wal-Mart.

Flea repellant usage - some say that a few drops on the dog collar will repel fleas. Just be
careful how you use it on that notary dog. Make sure they cannot lick it. I personally prefer
Lavender Oil on
my dogs. Turns them into mobile deodorizers and keeps the fleas at bay.

REPORTED TRIED AND TRUE:
Borax for fleas - Haven't tried this for fleas but I hear from Di Ramey, a notary
in in North Texas, that it's a miracle cure for fleas in a house. Put a cup of
borax in a blender and mix it up until it is power. Grab a big old power shaker
or a large salt shaker and shake it well into the carpet. Leave it overnight.
Vacuum up. You'll kill fleas and deodorize your rugs.

GOT A HOME REMEDY THAT'S A TIME AND MONEY SAVER? LET ME KNOW...SEND IT
TO BRENDASBLOG@GMAIL.COM . I'll give you blog space and we'll all learn something
from you! I love trying these things. They work and they are cheaper
by a long shot.

You can always find my
newsletter at
TexNotaryNewsletter.blogspot.com

 

Dear Readers:

 

This is an "appreciation" edition.  It's only been a few days but I decided to go ahead and share my
experiences this week with you.  Lot's of new subscribers!  As always,
I try not to send out unimportant information.  I focus on making money and
saving money for the person who is, like me, the average notary seeking
opportunity to increase their income. 

 

(Thank you to all the new folks who have joined
my mailing list.  Just in the last few days over 40 have subscribed!) 

 

This time:

 

• 
  

  
  Is there a Problem With
  Dmoz.org
  Editors?



• 
  

  
  Loan Document Downloads (Online/Free)

  
  

-Regular loans

-Reverse Mortgage Loan Documents

• 
  

  
  Trip Fees vs. Full Fees

  
  


• 
  

  
  Arizona
  Network Meeting - June 25, 2006



• 
  

  
  Car Sign Marketing Ideas

  
  


• 
  

  
  Off Topic Health & Home (Tried and True)

  
  

-Indigestion Cure

-Laundry Cures

-Tea Tree Oil Cures (Sinus, fleas, fungus, lots of things)

-Flea cures

• 
  

  
  "Revenue Hub" Ideas

-
Google.com
Ads

- Niche Sales and Marketing

- Affiliate Marketing

-------------------------------------------

 

Is there a Problem with
Dmoz.org
Notary Editors?

Notaries really need to consider this article if they get notary work
from their own website. 

 

Dmoz.org
is the directory that
Google.com
pulls its indexing from.  If
you are not in
Dmoz.org
you won't have much of a chance to get found on

Google.com
.  However, that does not mean that you will not be found on the other
search engines which are independent of
Dmoz.org
and
Google.com
such as MSN.com
and Yahoo.com.  These sites use different criteria to determine popularity.

 

Dmoz.org
is critical to marketing your site on the internet.  Here's why
I think we may have a little problem going on. 

 

The other day I was contacted by a very well-known notary-related
website owner who told me he had spent a ton of money on getting his site
recognized.  However, his competitor was beating him out like crazy on

Google.com
. 

 

To help him solve his problem, I ran a link popularity check on

Marketleap.com.  It gave him very good placement.  This did not make sense. 
Finally it hit me.  He's got popularity, I wonder where he is on
Dmoz.org
. 
I went over to
Dmoz.org
and I checked his website on that site.  It was not
there.  If a site is not indexed into
Dmoz.org
, it's "sunk" so to speak on

Google.com
. 

 

I wrote him with the results and guess what?  He did a little checking
of his own and his major competitor is an editor of the section he chose to go
into in
Dmoz.org
. 

 

A
Dmoz.org
"editor" is a volunteer position.  If I have my facts right,
you take up the job and determine whether or not the sites you are putting into
your editorial section is worthy, or just another junk site.  I am concerned
that in our notary world we may be getting slighted by
Dmoz.org
editors. 

 

After running into this I felt concern that perhaps there is not a fair
rating method to get into the directory.  I checked my own position and found I
had dropped off the face of the earth with

www.Texas-Signing-Agent.com. 
My link is no longer in
Dmoz.org
.   Both the person I mentioned and myself
have experienced a problem with
Dmoz.org
. I wonder if my problem is similar to
his.  Is it possible the section editor has "lost" my link?

 

Today I wrote a letter in the directory's feedback.  I would like to
know what you think about this theory of mine.  If you would like to comment,
please send it to brendasblog@gmail.com .

 

 

 

Loan Document Downloads Online

Packet of Loan Documents

Are you new?  Do you need to find documents so that you can get familiar
with loan packets?

Here is a link I found while searching what I call "invisible internet"
for information to broker.  Download them here.

 

Reverse Mortgage Loan Documents for Practice

Awhile back I was sent a package of documents from another notary.  I
have uploaded them here along with instructions on how to sign them.  Enjoy

 

Trip Fees vs. Full Fees

(If the Borrowers Refuse to Sign)

This is a troublesome subject for me.  Many times in the past I have
accepted the possiblity of trip fees.  By trip fees, I mean there will not be a
full fee paid if the borrowers do not sign.  You usually get a portion of the
fee.

 

You certainly cannot blame the hiring entity for wanting to put this in
their contract or confirmation, but can we be as pure as the driven snow if the
fee is not paid in full if the borrowers do not sign?  I feel that I can, but my
problem is that the Texas Secretary of State has been very clear on what their
rules are on this. I keep a copy of the rules on my website just to know where
they are if I need them.  You can see my page of rules right here - I took them
straight from the Texas SOS.  Here's the language which I find restrictive.  

 

"...The signature and seal of a Notary
Public do not prove these facts conclusively, but provide prima facie proof
of them, and allow persons in trade and commerce to rely upon the truth and
veracity of the Notary Public as a third party who has no personal interest
in the transaction.

 

A Notary Public is personally liable for
negligence or fraud in the performance of the duties of the office. The bond
is to insure that the person injured can recover at least $10,000.00, but
this does not protect the Notary Public from personal liability for the full
extent of damages caused by a breach of official duty. In addition to civil
liability, Notaries Public may be subject to criminal prosecution and the
revocation or suspension of their notary public commission by the Secretary
of State's office. ..."

 

Now, this does not mean if you have a good relationship with a title
company or other hiring company that you cannot go ahead and give them a break
on the backside of a signing gone defunct.  However, I feel it's very clear if
you agree to a trip fee that it could be thought of as improper to take a
signing appointment in that case. 

 

Yes, I know, it's been going on for years, but it's a worthwhile thing
to think about.  It concerns me enough I am trying to figure out how to
carefully approach our Secretary of State about it so that I may get a ruling on
it. 

 

Seeking
Feedback:  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, PLEASE
WRITE ME AT BRENDASBLOG@GMAIL.COM. 
I WILL ONLY PUBLISH YOUR COMMENTS WITH YOUR NAME IF YOU SAY IT IS OKAY. 
THANKS!

 

 

Arizona Networking Meeting - June 25, 2006

If you are an Arizona notary and have not yet signed
up for the up coming networking meeting taking place on June 25th or would like
to know more, please email jjrundall@cox.net 
for a copy of the invitation for details regarding the meeting.



The deadline to RSVP is June 10th and there are currently over 45 notaries
registered to come. Don't miss out!! We have speakers scheduled, door prize give
aways, and so much more!!



Have a great day!!



Jennifer J. Rundall

Your Arizona Mobile Notary

 

Note from BrendaTx - I have provided
Jennifer with two copies of my Reverse Mortgage Notebooks for door prizes!

  

Car Sign Marketing Ideas

TRIED AND TRUE - TexNotary
Recommends: In the 06-06-2006 edition of my newsletter, I said that you
could get a Magnetic Sign for your car.  Just to keep it real, I wanted to let
you know that I have one of those of my own, it works and here is a picture of
mine.  Here is what mine says: 

 

Mobile Notary 979-739-2690

www.TexNotary.com

 

(Click
here to see it and to view a few ideas of how to use it.  I just placed
another order for four from Paul's Notary Mini-Mart myself.)

 

Purchase it here:

http://www.pawnotary.com/Mini-Mart.htm

 

 

The Diversified Revenue Hub

To steal a phrase "profit centers" from Charles Peavey in California,
he has acknowledged that creating streams of income (or in Charles' words, "setting up several profit centers") will keep the change rolling in.  However, I
cannot steal his "profit center" phrase completely, so I did a little bit of
thesaurus research and came up with an alternative - I will call profit centers
(Charles' phrase) by a name I like for my own purpose:  "The Diversified
Revenue Hub."

 

As you know, your time is a very valuable thing.  You can devote it all
to your signing business and make more money with your time through having your
eggs all in one basket (which might work well for you) or you can venture off
into a few tried and true things which I do to create other income.  Small
revenue makers will create small bits of income.  Bit by bit small streams of
income from the  becomes quite a nice little flow.

 

We have talked about things in the past such as serving subpoenas,
non-loan work, taking real estate pictures (here's
some of my work) and inspections.  For the ones who want to make the
internet spit a little change back at them, consider these things, but FIRST:

 

I heartily endorse every one of you to take a simple course in FrontPage, or
website creation as soon as you can.

Once you learn how to do simple web pages
you can (1) draw more business by having a page which will advertise your
services, (2) you can actually put Google ads on your site and make a few extra
pennies each day...or maybe even hundreds a month, (4) Consider a niche
marketing site of simple products (5) You can sell affiliate marketing products
from your site. 

 

Google Ads

Google Ads will make you money?  Yes, I love them. It took me
months to get a check from
Google.com
, but now, it's coming together rather
nicely.  So many people think that I stay on notary boards because I am so in
love with seeing my name on those boards.  I'll admit, it's nice to be noticed,
but the truth is I decided a long time ago to begin a step off into affiliate
marketing and publishing my content and other writings.  This was something I
was interested in before my notary career took off. 

 

Niche Marketing & Selling
Simple Products

Niche Marketing and selling very simple products will generate a side
income that becomes handy pocket change. 

 

So, how does one get into a niche and market?  Well, let me start by
warning you that this rambles a bit, but stay with me and you'll see what I
mean. 

 

The Cornbread Niche - Very Simple Example

"Back in the day" people used to try all kinds of newspaper ads to get
people to send them a few bucks. Those, however, were really scams. 

 

However, there is a type of ad that is run in places where older folks
or dedicated homemakers tend to read and it generates income for people.  It's a
recipe ad.  I marvel every time I see this diligent man named George tagging his
posts with his Grandmother's Cornbread Recipe.  He  writes and posts
on several groups and always signs off with his cornbread recipe.  He gets
involved in forums where his signature with "Grandmothers" recipe ad brings in a
few bucks every time he posts.  It's okay to click on this 
one, I will not earn or win from it!  It's one of his most recent
posts.

 

This is one type of "niche" marketing -- very simple.  This guy has been
selling this recipe for seven years that I know of.  All the dude does is posts
his little cornbread recipe around on the internet for sale.  I have also seen
it in magazines for homemakers, the National Enquirer ads and in Opportunity
Magazine.  People are buying it or ol' George would not still be
posting
it.

 

More Complicated Niche Marketing Ideas

Now, for the more sophisticated niche marketer, you learn your hobby
and/or trade really well and write publications about them. "How-to's" are in
and of themselves a niche writing market, but so is any subject you choose to
become an "expert" in and begin to write on it. 

 

Now, as we all know, Victoria Ring has her site which is not actually
the end all site for notaries according to some.  (Let me stop and say,
however, all I needed was her book on how to start the business and I got the
concept.  It was a great starting place.)  However, Victoria Ring is an
excellent example of an entrepreneurial type who researches and writes
"How-to's" about any number of working from home opportunities.  Whether
you approve of them or not, she's good at self-publishing and making money from
it. 

 

You do not have to like what she does to realize if
you are a home economics major, you might have a niche to slip into...or if you
love dogs, or birds, or ice skating, comic books, whatever...you can become a
niche marketer of simple publications or even products.  Products? 
Even without writing?  Yes, you can do something called affiliate marketing
and I touch on that below, but first let me get into information brokering.

 

Information Brokering

One type of niche marketing is a topic I call information brokering.  I
am currently writing a book on that.  I put it down about six months ago when I
began to move and have not picked it back up because I wanted to start brokering
information again before I began to tell how well you could do at it.  It had
been awhile since I had a big hit (the 90's) so I had to wait awhile to "keep
it real and let you know how it would go.

 

Information Brokering is a good internet business you can work from
home.  If you are interested in brokering information With a website, it's
a very simple concept.  You can (1) develop information products that people in
your "niche" truly do need or are interested in (2) Sell them from your website
using PayPal. 

 

For instance, I developed a list by researching the 'net which is over

5000 Lenders and Escrow addresses in California. 
I sell it for $15.95.  It took many hours to produce.  However, I sell a few
each week to people who are looking to send out marketing pieces of their own. 
Now that I have the list, all I have to do is receive the Paypal.com 
payment and then return it by email.

 

To develop an information brokering bussines, just like when developing
any other business, you have to have a plan.  You must set goals, plan, and
set up a simple website.  If you want a work from home internet business, you
must have internet presence.  If you buy into the idea that you can get rich
overnight you are dreaming. 

 

I have been disclosing some of the kinds of things that I do in my
"spare" time. I will not tell you that I am making a mint at all these things
because I am not.  However, I am turning my time into money through easy does
it--baby steps, one step at a time and all that jazz.  If you have a
direction and a destination, and if you keep moving a little bit each day,
eventually get will get there. 

 

As I know from experience, you cannot jump up and become an ace notary
signing agent at the top of your craft in Texas, and develop an affiliate
marketing site, plus set up an information brokerage that will rock the world
for you by the end of the month AND do so all at the same time. 

 

However, you can do a little at a time.  That's what I do.  I blog and I
capture "content." The content I create drives people to my website. 

 

Content

That is a fancy way to say articles, writing, or text, if you will.
Content is the thing that just tickles the fancy of the search engines. 

 

Once I had a lady take a huge piece of content I had just written and
slice it up to Reader's Digest style.  While I understood her purpose, it was
wrong for the 'net.  The search engines crave to see words and information.  The
internet information seeker, product purchaser actually craves to see as much as
they can about the subject.  So, toss out concise writing when you consider
working in the internet world of searching and seeking information.  
It's different than when you develop your professional website.   However,
a word to the wise:  If you want your professional notary website to be
noticed by search engines, put lots and lots of content in it.  Four pages
will not cut it for great response on
Google.com
.

 

Affiliate Marketing

What is affiliate marketing?  It's an arrangement between you and a
place like Linkshare.com where you (the website publisher) can slip links into
your website which will drive people from your site to a product. 

 

For instance via affiliate marketing you can sell printers, computers,
any number of items.  I have links which hook into Overstock.com, and my dear
notary friend, there's not much you cannot find at Overstock.com!

 

Lots of good stuff notaries need as well as the public at large.  If you
want to purchase a great book on this subject, take a look at Jim Martel's
Affiliate Marketing Handbook. And, if you were to decide to purchase it, just be
aware, I will make a percentage from it.  This is how affiliate marketing brings
money back to you.  Every product you sell from your site will yield a bit of
revenue.

 

Affiliate marketing online is
a big, big deal and a real way to make money online.  I
personally used Jim Martel's techniques for getting search engine recognition
and it's paid off for me. I cannot seem to get into affiliate marketing like I
should because I like to "talk" to the people that read my newsletters and blogs. 
With affiliate marketing you need to be more of an article writer. 

 

My main purpose in life is to be independent and to be happy and have
joy.  Writing a "conversation" out for you makes me feel good. 

 

Therefore, I am happier making money off of my
Google.com
ads and
writing as a niche marketer with publications I feel good about telling you to
purchase.  I won't endorse something if I cannot figuratively look you in the
eye and say, "try it."

 

There is a world of information at your finger tips on
how to work from home or make money online.  Hopefully, I have given you
some ideas on what's out there that I believe is worthwhile to look into.

 

Just remember, you did not become a great loan signing
notary in two days and the other things are similar.  There is not a magic
bullet that will send you soaring over to party with Donald Trump by engraved
invitation. 

 

Off Topic Health & Home 

DISCLAIMER - DON'T TRY ANY OF THESE HEALTH AND
HOME REMEDIES ON MY OWN RECOMMENDATION - DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST!  USE AT YOUR
OWN RISK.

 

TRIED AND TRUE TexNotary.com recommends:
Do you ever get really bad
indigestion?  I was starting to and I began to take a product that I purchase at
Wal-Mart for $6-$7.  The brand I take is Rexall, and it's called "Multi-Enzyme
Supplement."  I am sold on this like you would not believe.  Seriously, if you
get heartburn, pick up a bottle of those and take them according to
instructions.  My mom has started taking them also.  If you are like me, you'll
find that this will be a cure. 

 

TRIED AND TRUE TexNotary.com
recommends: Fels Naptha Soap

Back when our parents were growing up there was a product put out by
dial called Fels Naptha Soap.  The Queen of Clean has revived it.  Pick up a bar
of it at Kroger's and try applying it to underarm persiration and ring around
the collar.  Let it sit before you wash. 

 

If you really like to save money (and have a touch of the "potion maker"
in you) let me send you to a website which has a recipe for making up a great
batch of problem solving soap for your laundry.  It's cheap and it has four
ingredients (1) Fels Naptha Soap (2) Washing Soda (3) Borax (4) Water. 

 

I keep this stuff made up and wash with it often.  It will make your
whites whiter than they have been in awhile - especially if you add a little
bleach or non-chlorine bleach.

 

TRIED AND TRUE TexNotary.com recommends:
Borax for Men and Boys (Laundry)

I had boys. Sometimes that young "manly" smell does not get out of the
clothes like it should.  It will make the house smell like a locker room. 

 

Since I inspect apartments I can always peg the kid who is not getting
his clothes clean.  It hits me like thick nostalgia -- I remember my sister
gagging on our vacation to Mexico with me and my boys.  (She did not have
boys.)  We were riding
around in Cancun with two thirteen year olds "reeking" (to her) even after they
just got out of the shower.

 

We had left our Borax at home.  I made the boys rinse off with a
little borax in water on occasion.  It's a natural freshener.  Borax (and/or the recipe mentioned above) will eliminate that smell in your
sons' closets and bedrooms.  Wash their clothes in it.  Always. 

 

Just for good measure sprinkle some borax around
and let it sit in there before you vacuum.  You'll be able to enjoy the way the
house smells again when it's really clean.  It's only a few bucks to pick this
stuff up.  Just try it and you'll remember "fresh" smells so good.

 

TRIED AND TRUE TexNotary.com
recommends:  Tea Tree Oil -

 

I started a new job at the Small Business
Development Center in Bryan-College Station, Texas.  Had not been sick
for years, but first rattle out of the box,  I had
fever and sinus infection.  I was out of my stand-by remedy--my trusty peroxide
for gargling.  I spied my Tea
Tree Oil bottle which I used once to kill germs around the windows in my house
where the dogs lay rather than using bleach. 

 

I began to gargle with water laced with a few drops of Tea Tree Oil.  I
also inhaled it over a steaming bowl of microwave boiled water.  It nipped my
little ailment in the bud within a couple of days.  Especially the aromatherapy
part. I would get instant relief from that.

 

Since then I have begun to use a few teaspoons in my dishwater and my
"fine washables" laundry, items, as well.  It kills germs without having to
reach for the clothes staining bleach or running the dishwasher for a few
dishes.   

 

Try a half teaspoon in a quart of water when you shower and rinse off
with it - it gets you
really clean!  It kills germs and has been recommended as an alternative to
deodorant. 

 

It also kills fungal infections such as athlete's foot and overactive
candida.  Caution - some may be very sensitive to this product.  By
the way, I buy mine at
Wal-Mart. 

 

Flea repellant usage - some say that a few drops on the dog collar will repel fleas.  Just be
careful how you use it on that notary dog.  Make sure they cannot lick it.  I personally prefer
Lavender Oil on
my dogs. Turns them into mobile deodorizers and keeps the fleas at bay. 

 

REPORTED TRIED AND TRUE: 
Borax for fleas - Haven't tried this for fleas but I hear from Di Ramey, a notary
in in North Texas, that it's a miracle cure for fleas in a house.  Put a cup of
borax in a blender and mix it up until it is power.  Grab a big old power shaker
or a large salt shaker and shake it well into the carpet.  Leave it overnight. 
Vacuum up.  You'll kill fleas and deodorize your rugs. 

 

GOT A HOME REMEDY THAT'S A TIME AND MONEY SAVER?  LET ME KNOW...SEND IT
TO BRENDASBLOG@GMAIL.COM . I'll give you blog space and we'll all learn something
from you!  I love trying these things.  They work and they are cheaper
by a long shot. 

The 666 Edition of TexNotary Newsletter

Welcome to the "666" (06/06/2006)

edition of my TexNotary Newsletter!
Special note: Do not miss the article near the bottom about the rev
mort notary group.

EDITOR'S COMMENT: Putting out a newsletter is not a thing that's
easy to do if you are not getting paid for it, or unless you are
passionate about writing it. I am only passionate about delivering
this publication when there is "real" information to put into it.
Otherwise, it only becomes a form of self-admiration and that's not
exactly what I would like to be known for.

Realizing it's been a long time since the TexNotary Newsletter went
out, I looked deep into my current interests to find something
worthwhile for you guys to read, as well as something that I feel is
worthwhile to write about related to our notary signing agent work,
or to the type of readership I have.

Since the signing business has slowed for many, I decided to share
what I have learned over the past month about how to get more
business.

(Also, please note that the "GREAT VALUE MARKETING ITEMS" which I
recommend in this letter can also be found at the bottom of this
letter.)

Brainstorming for More Business

If you are a signing agent in a state which allows notaries to
collect signatures and act as a
signing agent in the home, there is not going to be a wealth of
refinance loans coming to you
because of the rising interest rate. Perhaps we got a little "fat and
lazy" but now is a good time to double and re-double your marketing.
Without a stream of refinance loan work, right off the top of my
head, I'd say that leaves us with

-purchase/sell transactions

-home improvement loans

-new construction loans

-home equity and lines of credit

-reverse mortgages

-delinquent tax loans

-non-loan work
===============
DISCLAIMER - PLEASE READ:

I am certainly no authority, no legal eagle, or much more than just
a gal from Texas who
likes to write about what she thinks she knows.

I am not a lawyer, nor paralegal and I have not even
graduated from college. Okay that being said, let's go on to the
first topic.
===============
For the seasoned notary signing agent, it will not be difficult to
figure out how to get more
of this business. You, like me are already at it.

For the "marketing-impaired" I will briefly
touch on how to get out there and find more business in the
above-noted arenas. Here are some ideas as well as tips on fees, who
to market to, what to watch for and differences.

-purchase/sell transactions
I get these from Bancserv, mostly. I also hear that TitleStream is
also doing a few of these.
I have not gotten one. A purchase/sell without a loan is a tiny
package. Charge what you
would for a 50 document signing. These usually contain about three or
four notarizations. I
Charge $75 for local non-loan purchase/sells. There are barely more
documents than a HUD, a
transferring deed, and sometimes it is done with a power of attorney.


However, friends, if you have a loan attached to these there are a
few noteworthy topics.

(1) There will not be a Notice of Right to Cancel on a purchase/sell
loan.

(2) If there is a construction loan attached to it, you are actually
going to have two packages, a small one (seller) and a large one
which is actually usually a pretty big package for the buyer. There
will be two HUDs in many instances. Get really good with the HUD or
you'll feel very insecure
with a purchase/sell.

(3) Buyer and Seller may want two different times / places - CHARGE
ACCORDINGLY.

(4) Question the hiring entity closely. Do not let them hit you with
two packages and two different appointments. Start with doubling your
base fee, double your edoc fee and add $25 for good measure. That will
be a reasonable fee for your appointment.

-home improvement loans
When I think of home improvement loans, I think of Tony Negrete's
signing service, Negrete's
Notaries. Tony is a good guy, in my opinion, by the way.

Thanks to him, I have done many, many decent paying loans in my area
for swimming
pools. Thanks to those loan packages I have become familiar with home
improvement loans and
builder/contractor paperwork. If you have never done any home
improvement loans, you should
sign up with Tony Negrete at http://www.negretesnotaries.com . If you
are already signed up at
www.notarycafe.com you will not have a problem getting work from
Tony because he uses that
database.

In Texas, a notary cannot do many types of home improvement loans
inside the borrower's home,
however. You should be aware that Texas notaries are limited to such
as new pool loans and new
construction loans unless they have ties with a title company or a
law office, or a branch of
the lender. You cannot close loans for such as new aluminum siding.
The theory behind this is
to keep the predatory lender from accomplishing the feat of attaching
a loan to a unwary
borrower's home and then foreclosing on it.

Find out for yourself what you can and cannot do in your own state
legally before you jump out
there and spend a ton trying to find new business.

For a home improvement loan you should charge a decent base fee, plus
consider there are a few
extra documents. Always charge additional for eDocs.

-new construction loans
I have done new home construction loans for Bancserv and Lenders
First Choice. However, I would
recommend soliciting a few small local builders who are aggressive in
your community. What you
need to know about this is outside of refinance work is to learn your
HUD very well.

-home equity and lines of credit
If you are in Texas, you cannot do these without having the benefit
of using a title company
closing room, or a lawyer's office or a lender's branch. I cannot say
this enough. Texans, do
not listen to a signing service person telling you, "It's okay.
Notaries do it all the time."
Other states will find this to be their mainstay in the next year.

Because of the Texas predicament I have found a lawyer who does these
also. I work as an
extension of his office, so to speak. I quote what he charges and use
his office. I pay him
one-half of my fee on the spot. This is not price-fixing. It is me
recognizing his resource
in the office he has, and him recognizing that I bring business into
his office at a reasonable
rate that way.

-reverse mortgages
I have recently written a book on how I view the closing of a reverse
mortgage. If you would
like to purchase it, please go to my website at
http://www.TexNotary.com ( http://www.TexNotary.com ) and look for
the link.
It is currently $9.95 and is available in "preview form." You can get
more information at the
link on my site. This book will help a "newbie" only after they have
closed a few other loans.

In order to find more reverse mortgages to do, you need to start
using search engines and
entering your city (or surrounding cities) in your area to find the
loan officers to hit up
individiually. I use this marketing piece from time to time, or
create a similar one:
http://www.texas-signing-agent.com/marketing/campaign110905.htm (
http://www.texas-signing-agent.com/marketing/campaign110905.htm ) .

To send out my marketing pieces, I use http://www.ymlp.com (
http://www.ymlp.com ) which is a mailing list manager.

-DELINQUENT TAX LOANS
If you are interested - find companies you might be able to work for
like this: Try searching this out on the search engines "making
property tax loans to businesses and homeowners." I have also heard
these are small packages and take little time to do. Try searching
for companies that offer these. I was called last fall for two and
did not accept because they only pay less than my base. I did not
want to get into a big mess for little money. However, I have since
heard that these may offer several in a day and that the times/days
on them are flexible. I am soliciting companies which do them.
These loans are limited so I am not exposing my targets, but wanted
to put a bug in your ear so you could find some of your own clients.

-non-loan work

TEXNOTARY TRIED AND TRUE MARKETING TECHNIQUES- MAGNETIC CAR SIGNS -
$12.00
If you do not have a mobile notary magnetic car sign you are missing
a ton of business. This
is the best deal going for this type of work if you move your car
around town frequently.
http://pawnotary.com/CarSign.htm - it's around $12.00 and not only is
it useful, it's cute,
too! Be sure to tell them you heard about it from me!

TEXNOTARY TRIED AND TRUE MARKETING TECHNIQUES - BOOK / LAURA VESTANEN
- $10.00
Ms. Laura Vestanen has written a wonderful little book on the
subject. You MUST her book on
non-loan signings. Go to http://www.profesionalnotary.com or email
Laura at
professionalnotary@yahoo.com. Be sure to tell her you heard about it
here.
TEXNOTARY'S FREE TIP - MY BEST PERSONAL TIP ON NON-LOAN WORK is to go
to the places who will
need your services. Tell them you will come for free and do the work
IF they will give you the
name of the company who is sending them the paperwork to be
notarized. Nine times out of ten
you will find yourself being able to quote $25 to $45 for a quick
job. HMMM...THAT'S ABOUT AS CLEAR AS MUD. LET ME TRY THIS AGAIN.

It's a multi-step process. (1) Solicit employment agencies, doctors,
pharmacies, and medical related
industries. You need to prepare a folder with your card and a
fax-the-notary sheet. You can
find "fax-the-notary" sheet to use here - Go here:
http://texnotary.com/notary-rx/index.htm where you will see the
forms I use to make up my folders for soliciting business. (2) Now,
drop those off in a medical building by going door to door. (3) You
get a call or a fax from one of these people. Now, what you do is
find out who wants the job done, pick up the phone, call them, and
ask them if they will pay your fee. 100% OF THE TIME I GET A "YES."
(4) Go do the job, send a bill and get paid.
OTHER INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR OPPORTUNITY
SUBPOENA SERVICES:I have been serving "professional office"
subpoenas. It's easy work. Seek legal sites to spread your service
information to. I charge the going rate of $45. Usually, I get two in
the same medical office. 20 minutes, $90 - simple.

Real Estate Photographer: I am sending pictures on properties to
realtors as I see their signs out front. I propose to them that I
will go take those pictures for them for a price. It's
good work and I have one steady client. It saves him from having to
go take the pictures
himself.

Inspections: Join Fitalk (Field Inspector Talk at Googlegroups.com)
Once you are a member, you can download a very good set of my notes
on how to get started which will include a zip file of inspection
links, forms you need to get familiar with, training tips and more.
Go to: http://groups.google.com/group/Fitalk - You will need to be
granted access before you can peruse the group's archives. Look for a
post which says "The H Files"
=========================================
:: Great Value Marketing Tools ::

These are very good value marketing tools

5000+ lenders and escrow mailing list
go to http://1netsuites.com ( http://1netsuites.com ) - purchase for
$15.95
From TexNotary/BrendaTx
It will be emailed to you.

MOBILE NOTARY MAGNETIC CAR SIGN
go to http://pawnotary.com/CarSign.htm (
http://pawnotary.com/CarSign.htm ) around $12.00
From PaulFl (aka PAW)

MARKETING NON-LOAN NOTARY SERVICES - purchase for $9.88
go to http://professionalnotary.com ( http://professionalnotary.com )
From LauraV of Washington State

Once you learn this information, you can feel confident to do Reverse
Mortgages. Market yourself!!
MY OWN NOTES IN A REVERSE MORTGAGE NOTEBOOK
go to http://texnotary.com ( http://texnotary.com ) - find the link
- purchase for $9.95
From TexNotary/BrendaTx
It will be emailed to you.
REVERSE MORTGAGE NOTARIES -

Do you do, or are you interested in reverse mortgages? I have a
group set up to start putting together notaries who do rev morts. If
you will join it and help me spread the word, I will send you a
package of docs to help you get more familiar with the docs in a rev
mort package.

Okay - that's a come on. I have a secret mission for the purpose of
this group and it is not to start another notary database. Quite
frankly, I believe rev morts are the next wave. It may be a year, or
five before we are there, nonetheless, I am selfish in this maneuver.
It's to benefit ME by knowing notaries all over the US who do reverse
mortgages and do the RIGHT.

I have had great success with my network efforts at
Texas-Signing-Agent.com. A network of nationwide reverse mortgage
notaries who refers business to the group which will be located at
http://www.reverse-mortgage-notary.com (
http://www.reverse-mortgage-notary.com ) is my next exciting
adventure. The link will not work today. I have just ordered the
site.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING A SIGNING SERVICE. I JUST KNOW THAT
NETWORKING WORKS. IT MAY TAKE AWHILE, BUT WE'LL GET THERE. THE
GOOGLEGROUP I AM ASKING YOU TO JOIN IS JUST A PLACE TO GET STARTED
COLLECTING INFORMATION AND PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED, WILLING TO
LEARN OR ALREADY KNOW THE WAY.

JOIN ME ATHTTP://GROUPS.GOOGLE.COM/GROUP/REVMORTNOTARY (
http://groups.google.com/group/revmortnotary )

You can remove yourself from the mailing list by going to the link at
the bottom of this newsletter.
========================================
Until next time...I remain, your humble notary publisher!

Brenda Tx

January 29, 2006 - Newsletter for Notaries

Readers, thank you all for indulging me and letting me sneak into your email inbox.

For those outside of Texas, please forgive that I have two Texas issues to discuss this time.

This time:

Do you need to advertise to notaries?
Notary to Notary Selling and Buying

Texas Law and Identity
(Not NNA Handbook and Identity Rules)

Texas HELOC Locations
Follow up to Q&A on 50statenotary.com
regarding Question on HELOC location.

Notary Ezines, Blogs. Newsletters...
You might not know about them all.

How to Get Help Getting Started
Approaching experienced Notaries with
questions

Marketing YOU
Thinking successful thoughts

The Mind is...
(My positive and uppity words this week.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do You Need to Advertise to Notaries?
If you have a product that you think would benefit the notary community, I'd be more than happy to run an ad for you in my newsletter. Put it in the form of a news release and send it. Here's a little tip: Over the past few years, I have noticed that Victoria Ring has been very gracious about running beneficial ads for notaries at no charge. Her newsletter list is probably 30 times as big as mine.

What about Notary to Notary Selling and Buying?

If you want to advertise to notaries and sell your wares, here is a place...The more traffic I can get to my websites, the better. To keep the record straight - - - I am not an exceedingly nice person who does all this stuff for free, you know. I have my motives. I enjoy my blogs and I do this thing with websites because it gives me a place to write where my articles don't have to meet any criteria except for the search engines and me. I sound off and I get things off my chest.

So, I thought I would give links and a little space to people who want to sell their stuff. Maybe like an ebay for notaries. I actually have the structure I need to do classified ads and auctions.

We will just see what interest is generated.
(Disclaimer: Newsletter editor, Brenda Stone, reserves the right to refuse to run ads for any reason.)

Texas Law and Identity - Not NNA Handbook and Identity Rules
(This could apply in similar fashion to other states.)

The question in Texas is: Is the Signer GENUINE?

The question in Texas is not: Does the identification
perfectly match the signer's name in the document?

I fear our Texas notary rules have fallen under the truth-eating Notary Myth and Innuendo Tree. I believe we have rolled out of the light of day and into the dense forest of what SEEMS correct because that's what is in the NNA book.

Well, to me it seems like this is more of the National Notary Association's push to make us all worry that the sky is falling and everyone is out to commit fraud. It stands to reason, if we worry, we spend more on notary products...classes...fraud finding tools...insurance, etc. Think about that while you read this.

What does our Texas Notary Educational Materials say about Identity of the signer?


#1 - It says we cannot use a a credit card to identify the signer. We must use government issued identification. We can use a passport. To wit, "SHOULD A NOTARY PUBLIC RELY ONLY ON A CREDIT CARD IN DETERMINING THE IDENTIFICATION OF A SIGNER?No. If the signer is not personally known by the Notary Public or identified by a credible witness, the Notary Public must use an identification card issued by a governmental agency or a passport issued by the United States to identify the signer. "

#2 - Also our materials say the notary is declaring the notary has seen that the signer is genuine as well as the signature of the person and that we are declaring the reason for signing is genuine. Quoting: "The primary duty of a Notary Public is to show that a disinterested party (the Notary Public) has duly notified the signer of an instrument as to the importance of such document, and the signer of such document has declared that the signer's identity, signature, and reasons for signing such instrument are genuine."

That is it. That's what the law says.

Do you see anything here that says if Julia Ann Perkins is stated on her driver's license to be Julia Smith Perkins that you do not let them sign the document as Julia Ann Perkins.

Only once have a refused based on peculiar identification presented. The woman's name was Tonya Lee Brown on her driver's license. In the documents it was was Tanya Braun Howard. Pretty darn big deviation. In her criminal record it was 27 different other things. No...I did not sign that one.

The law is what we go by. It is printed right out there in third grader's language in our educational materials. We can see it does not say anything about matching the names perfectly...It says we determine if our signer is genuine.

We do not go by what is in the handbook of notary organizations. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. And, because of the handbooks sold by the NNA and other organizations (I suppose) this is being carried a little too far in my very, very humble opinion. I am not practicing law and I am not a lawyer! However, I can read and I do not try to become guided by rules that are not ours.

You need to do what you think is right...however, let me vehemently state, that we are not guided by the NNA. We are not guided by Califorinia or Florida Law. Be careful that you do not overstep your boundaries demanding identification that is necessary in California or Florida.

If the person before you is the person who is stated in the document, I see nothing that says that the middle name or initial has to be stated perfectly so. Is the signer GENUINE? That's our question, by what I see in our rules.

Also, I see that we can use ONE (1) credible witness. It does not take two in Texas.

In my experience working for attorneys I have relied upon them to interpret this for me and they agreed. If the person is the person, then do not hold up a document for perfectly matched identification that will never be produced.

The only thing that says I am Brenda Cher Stone is my birth certificate. Would that do the job to identify me? No. Because it says I am Brenda Cher Smith--it does not say Stone. If I present a Texas Driver's License with Brenda Stone, then that's going to have to be good enough. (Cher's not really my middle name, but I do think I look an awful lot like her, don't you? Okay...it was supposed to be funny, but I digress.)

In closing - rethink where you are getting your information. Is it California rules? Is it Florida Rules? Is it a notary organization that is NOT telling you what the TEXAS law says? I think there is an epidemic of notaries who have not realized that the Texas law is the Texas notary's guide, and furthermore that the NNA's suggested way is either shaped by California law or they have shaped the laws in California. NNA answers do not have ANYTHING to do with the Texas Notary's Questions.

Forget calling the NNA until you have looked at your own TEXAS RULES and materials.

If you still do not know, call the Secretary of State.
Notary Public (512) 463-5705
Write them at this email: notary@sos.state.tx.us
You can Fax them at: (512) 475-2815

For certain, if you work within the laws at the SOS site you cannot go wrong.

The lawmakers in Texas say they make the laws. Friends, they are very serious about it.

I have seen them peer at the NNA with very narrow eyes. I was there when the NNA went before them to ask our lawmakers to rewrite the rules. They did not. Case closed.

It was about education...
The NNA desired to see Texas become a new ground for them to teach and offer classes. I want our notaries to be required to take classes and a test, but I do not want the NNA to teach them.

If only Texas lawmakers would have allowed the notary bill to pass...all of us would be paying $200 each one to four years to get re-commissioned. The NNA hoped to become teachers of TEXAS Notary Law and procedures. The bill that would have caused this to happen FAILED.

I endorsed a suggestion that the State Bar of Texas write a course and Test and administer it for free. Okay...down off the soapbox.

Let's make sure you we follow the TEXAS law about the identity process, NOT the suggested methods by other sources.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notary Ezines, Blogs, Newsletters, Words, Verbiage, Bloviating, Pontificating

AMRNOTARY.COM http://www.monicaroberts.com/
NOTARYCLASSES.com http://www.notaryclasses.com/notaryNews2006.pdf
50StateNotary.com http://www.50statenotary.com/ezine/
TexNotary's Newsletter is here http://texnotarynewlsetter.blogspot.com

SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter (OR UNSUBSCRIBE) HERE:
http://www.1netsuites.com/newsletter-notaries-subscribe.htm

Please advise if there are others online that I have missed.
_______________________________________
_________

Comment on the Following Q & A From Ezine (The Notary News) at www.50statenotary.com From their website I have quoted their copyright information. I have a great deal of respect for both Victoria Ring and Victoria Riviera, however, I disagree with the following answer to a question.

Copyright Notice: You may freely publish any articles that appear in The Notary News issues as long as you include our company name (50 State Notary) and provide a link (at the top or bottom of article) to our website at (http://www.50statenotary.com). Also, the article you choose to republish cannot be altered in any way and must appear in its entirety.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUOTING FROM The Notary News - Issue 110 located here:
http://www.50statenotary.com/ezine/issue110.html#questions

Dear Victoria: I have handled several closings recently that required the use of a lawyer or title company's office. I don't understand why they have a requirement to handle the closing at their office because they don't participate in any way. Do you know the purpose behind some loan companies handling closings like this and others, with the same type loan, sending the signing agent to the client's home? It seems to defeat the purpose of having the closing come to them since they are now coming to us. (Patricia in Texas)

I am slipping my answer in (in pink) between the question and the answer given by Victoria Riviera. I did drop Ms. Riviera a line twice but perhaps she did not receive my emails. I am not a nitpicker who wants to split hairs, but this is kind of important.

Texas Notaries can do refinance loans in the home unlike the answer below states. That really disturbed me.

This is not about the type of transaction which was discussed in the answer given.

This is about a HELOC. In Texas, you cannot do a Line of Credit in a home. You must do it in a title company office, law office of a lender's branch.

Rather than belabor the point, I will leave it at this and assure you that HELOCs are why Patricia went to the title company office. They did not participate (as she queried) because they are allowing the notary to have the room as a courtesy.

If this is not done properly, the loan is not perfected. There are penalities for the lender.

If you have questions about this , please contact me at agent@texnotary.com .

To learn the law for yourself on these loans, please go to:

Consumer Credit Commission
http://www.occc.state.tx.us/pages/Legal/Laws/home_eq/interp_set.html

Thomas Law
ttp://www.thomas-law.com/equityloans.html

The following is the answer from Ms. Riviera:
Dear Patricia: Below is the explanation provided from the Texas Finance Code Chapter 39. If an individual is pulling equity out of the house (they always will because they pay their closing costs from the proceeds of the refinance) then it must be done at an attorney's office or title company:
Home solicitation transaction If the buyer of realty is not represented by an attorney, there is no Realtor involved, and the negotiations (sending contract to buyer's home and calling buyer) and contract was made at a place other than a seller's place of business (i.e. at an attorney's office or title company), a cancellation notice will probably be required. Chapter 39, Finance Code, HB 10, 9/1/97. This will save you wear and tear on your vehicle and the cost of fuel so there is a silver lining in the law for you.

END OF Q&A QUOTE FROM WWW.50STATENOTARY.COM ]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
GETTING NON-LOAN WORK
Never forget there is a booklet on this website that is about getting work that is NON-Loan notary work. Laura Vestanen's book - go to www.professionalnotary.com .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Get Help Getting Started -
What you need to know on how to approach experienced notaries to get information. This article is so long, I hung it on my other blog. Click the link above to get there.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marketing YOU, too.

Your business is limited by those who are your consumers. You are only limited by how much you will put into finding businesses to start, starting them and growing them.

If you want to give your own potential for starting a business a boost, get a pen and start writing out every problem you encounter during the day. If you have the problem, maybe others do as well. When you find a problem, if you can develop a solution, you might have an invention or a solution on your hands.

Watch your surroundings
I probably should not tell this before I check into it myself, but suppose you are looking at houses. You find one you like and you are thrilled because there is a stand with a flyer on it. The flyer box is empty. Someone needs to keep those full! The condo two doors down is like that. I think in a real estate hot place, you could start a business printing and delivering those little flyers.

Think about every opportunity. Be POSITIVE.
Come up with ideas...make long lists of them.
Keep a list of what you need to get done every day.
Fill your days up and stay busy. The busier you are, the more you will have ideas.

Do not use tired, mundane marketing strategies.
If you do, you are going to sink. Think yourself around the problems of oversaturation and refinance slowdown. Do not, for Pete's sake, do not start going into the red immediately by cutting your price way down. That will not do anything but put you out of business in the red.

If you do not charge enough, you are sunk. If you set a fair price, you may get less business but you will have more free time to find other jobs.

Are you the type who likes to toy around with ideas for businesses?
I am working on some ideas to share that I think will work for work at home type business. If you are interested, please fill out this form. I am considering developing a network of brainstormers. No stinking thinkers allowed!!

You can do whatever you want to do!
It all depends on how much you are willing to do to create a business.

Writing is one talent you should sharpen up a bit....
Writing something I believe will be a sought after skill from now on. Web content (articles) are necessary. If you can write at all, start polishing your skills. Start a blog, practice writing a journal. If you cannot write, consider trying to learn.

Learn to do a little bit of web page building . If you want to work from home and with your computer, you better learn to do some web page building. Don't let those young ones get a tiny bit ahead of you!


===============================================================
Getting more business from a product or service comes in one of four ways.

You increase the number of those who use your type of business.
You increase the rate of purchase.
You retain existing customers.
You acquire new customers.

Use these four statements to brainstorm different ways to develop more business.

MY POSITIVELY AND UPPITY WORDS FOR THIS WEEK :

The Mind is...

Bulletin - Bookmark this Link - 1NetSuites.com

[This is posted on my newsletter link http://texnotarynewsletter.blogspot.com]

==============================================================
Greetings All!


1NetSuites.com - bookmark it!!

I have recently set up a website with a domain I used for a project a couple of years ago in college. For now, 1NetSuites.com will be the site housing my "Suites for Internet Sources by Brenda Tx." (Have to work that name in there somehow!)

I have not been able to think of a domain name for two new businesses I am working on so I decided to recycle this one for the time being. If I update it, you will be forwarded by this site to the new ones.

You want to bookmark it because this is where you will be able to find information products which I will be offering such as this one:

List of California Escrow Mortgage and Title Businesses
PRICE: $15.95 - 5000+ Records All have company name, address, city state and zip. Many have telephone numbers. Suitably delimited for ease in mail merge. Price is $15.95 and subject to change to $19.95 after introductory period. Compare to other sites which sell similar business leads list for 20 times that amount. If you would like to see a sample of the finished product, you may download a short list here. Once I have received your payment for this product, I will email the list to you.
If you purchase this list, you agree and understand: This list was compiled using internet sources and has not been tested for accuracy or completeness. My lists may or may not be seeded to keep folks "honest." That means there may be a few records which are bogus and will help me track if the list is being resold or given away by those who purchase it. Please do not abuse this resource. The price is set very low so that it is affordable to the those in our industry.

Provided by default in MS-Excel format (*.xls). If you need this in a comma-separated *.csv, or text *.txt format, note it with your payment or send an email to agent@texnotary.com .
Good luck in your notary signing agent business!

To order - go to http://1netsuites.com and look for the big blue box with the list information in it.

================

Mainly, I set this site up so you could find the new information products I develop. The other reason is so I can get all my projects organized! If you visit the new site, you can see that I am a busy beaver and I have several things in the works. My projects and commitments were getting out of control because I needed a place to put them all together rather than having them hanging out everywhere in cyberspace...one on my TexNotary.com site...another wedged into a site I sell webhosting from (1Netcom.net) and I had some of my project work in my affidavit-notary.com site and THE HOST computer went down. I have to bring all of that back together again.

Take care, and let me know what you think of the new site.

Brenda Stone :: TexNotary.com
www.texnotary.com
www.1netsuites.com

Merry Christmas - Marketing Lists - Calling Texans

HAPPY HOLIDAYS - MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!

In this newsletter:

COLLECTING PAST DUE AMOUNTS

-SAMPLING of MARKETING LISTS
--MERRY CHRISTMAS CALIFORNIANS - A free email list for Reverse Mortgage Lenders
--Reverse Mortgage Lender List - California $15 / 140 records
--Tennessee Title Company List - Tennessee $15 / 800+ records
--California Escrow and Mortgage List - California $15 / 5000 + records

FORUM WISDOM
-NSA Info for Getting Started and More.
-Sick Computer?
-Great Marketing Tip!

TEXANS TAKE NOTE!
-THE TEXAS NSA NETWORK IS NOT A SIGNING SERVICE
-TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR TEXAS NSA NETWORK
-FOR TEXAS NOTARIES WHO HAVE REVERSE MORTGAGE EXPERIENCE

MARKETING TIP - Send a "Lumpy" Package!

PLUS - TWO OF MY OWN MARKETING TIPS...MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS!

==================================================

COLLECTING PAST DUE AMOUNTS

If business slows up in January, use the time to collect any past due accounts.

In two years I have collected every amount due to me. Once they go past 60 days I take off the kid gloves. Bear in mind I am not an attorney and do not profess to know laws on these things. I use common sense to hit them where it hurts when calling, or emailing and faxing in invoices do not work.

Make sure they have a copy of your W9 by sending a copy of it every time you send them a past due invoice. (This is a tip gained from Austin, Texas, NSA, HisHughness, Hugh Nations [http://www.hishughness.com])

If it is a signing service, warn them at 60 days you are going to go to the title company with your complaint and give them a couple of days to respond with an overnighted check. Then, if no response, go to the title company with your complaint.

If it is a title company, warn them at 60 days you are going to go to the lender with your complaint and give them a couple of days to respond with an overnighted check. Then, if no response, go to the lender with your complaint.

If moving up the ladder does not help, try the vertical route. Look up all the land title associations which your problem company may have ties to. Contact these associations. Send a copy of the letter to the signing service or title company you are not being paid from.

If it is a lender, go to the banking and mortgage banker associations at the state, local and national levels. In Texas, I threaten to send a letter to the Finance Commission of Texas. I have never had to do so at this point.

Once they pay you, consider letting those you complained to know that you got your check.

You may need to consider filing a petition in your local small claims court. This is a very specific route and one you will have to get information on from your local authorities.

These methods should work well for you, but if they do not, at least you have put the word out that the company is a deadbeat.

SAMPLING OF MARKETING LISTS FOR SALE $15.00 EACH

MERRY CHRISTMAS CALIFORNIANS!
MARKETING LIST - 20 CALIFORNIA REVERSE MORTGAGE LENDERS' emails

Are you in California? Do you do reverse mortgages? The list is one have generated from resources on the web. I will only leave this up for a few days so that these people do not get inundated with email from being harvested off of my website. I am using this list as a way to market my new business of list and data brokering.

Developing these lists take time but it is one of those things I do in my spare time
when business is slow. There are about 20 emails below. (only in email version. join the newsletter list and then request it. Go to http://www.ymlp.com/subscribe.php?texnotary to subscribe/unsubscribe.

My entire list for California Reverse Mortgage Lenders is 140 entries long. Out of those there are only 80 with emails. This list sells for $15.00 and comes with the address, name of lender, phone number, and some have faxes and emails. The format you would receive is an excel spreadsheet or a CSV or TXT format. This list is not meant to be ALL inclusive. I have done the research and then put them into a mail merge-useful list.

SEATTLE MORTGAGE COMPANY~aevans@rmoa.com
CAMPBELL FINANCIAL SERVICES~art@campbellfinancial.com
JAYNA INC~atlasvegas@lvcm.com
BARRONS MORTGAGE CORPORATION~barronsmtg@earthlink.net
BENN REALTY SERVICES INC~bennrealtysvcs@aol.com
CALIFORNIA REVERSE MORTGAGE CO~bonnie@careverse.com
ELITE LENDING GROUP INC~bonnie@elite lending group.com
WSB MORTGAGE SERVICES INC~CCIZACH@MGCI.COM
SIERRA COAST MORTGAGE~chartman@pyramid.net
FINANCIAL FREEDOM SENIOR FUNDING CORP~cholt@dancris.com
COMUNITY LENDING INC~chuck.alkire@comunitylending.com
METROPOLITAN HOME MTG INC~cnelson@mthm.com
AMERIFUND FINANCIAL INC~crzmtg@hotmail.com
METROCITIES MORTGAGE LLC~cwight@metrociti.com
DIRECTORS RESIDENTIAL LENDING INC~donique@directorsresidential.com
FINANCIAL FREEDOM SENIOR FUNDING CORP~dwjohnson@financialfreedom.com
REVERSE MORTGAGES OF CA IN~ed@rmofca.com
CARTERET MORTGAGE CORPORATION~ejames@loanproz.net
MOUNTAIN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CO~faselna@usa.net
PACIFIC REVERSE MORTGAGE INC~fh@financial heritage.net
FULLERTON MORTGAGE AND ESCROW~fmec@mortgagetown.com
MERIT FINANCIAL INC~fsamaniego@all-starlending.com
DEL MAR HOME LOANS INC~gary@DelMarHomeLoans.com

This list has not been tested for accuracy, nor has it been qualified as use for receiving unsolicited mail or email. In other words, use this carefully and professionally. Do not burden these people with repetitive emails they do not want. I have found a nice polite email is well received in my email marketing campaigns.

If you want the entire spreadsheet of 140 lenders in California which do Reverse Mortgages, please send $15 to Paypal.com Account bsstone@ureach.com. State the product as California Rev Mort Lenders 140. I will email this back to you asap - hopefully within a few hours.

More lists I have ready to send out / Mail Merge friendly -

700+/- Tennessee Title Companies (Plus 100 +/- more nationwide)
Company -Address - City, State and Zip
No contact name, fax, phone or emails available at this time.
Excel or Text. Price: $15.00 (1.8 cents each)

This list has not been tested for accuracy, nor has it been qualified as use for receiving unsolicited mail or email. In other words, use this carefully and professionally.

ALSO for sale:
5000+ Escrow and Mortage Companies in California
Company
Address
City, State and Zip
Phone (around 25 do not have the phone numbers.) No contact name, fax, phone or emails available at this time.
Price: $15.00 (less than 1/3 of a cent each)


This list has not been tested for accuracy, nor has it been qualified as use for receiving unsolicited mail or email. In other words, use this carefully and professionally.

REGARDING PRICING...Right now I am in the price testing mode. Prices may fluctuate in the future. $15 is my rock bottom price.


FORUM WISDOM

There is a wealth of notary and signing agent information available on public forums. The best public (free) forums are:

NotaryRotary.com http://www.notaryrotary.com
GoMobileNotary.com http://www.gomobilenotary.com
NotaryDepot.com http://www.notarydepot.com

[SigningRegistry.com http://www.signingregistry.info is not a public forum but if you want to network with others in a closed and private environment, this is it. You will also find mentor information and professional NSAs at this site. The BEST of the BEST in NSA handbooks can be purchased here. If you want an all purpose book for learning about being an NSA - this is the place.]

LEARN ABOUT GETTING STARTED - TIPS FROM ESTABLISHED AGENTS
- On NotaryRotary.com http://www.notaryrotary.com there is a thread that will help new agents getting started. It might be beneficial for established agents as well. Go to this site and look for message #33325-read the entire thread. You will find lots of interesting ideas and how to's compiled there. This thread is updated when there are new tips or fresh information posted on NotaryRotary.com.

The following timely topics were also ripped from the messages of these forums:

LEARN ABOUT FIXING SICK COMPUTERS (In light of the Sober.AH Worm attack on computers, these items seem helpful.)

From GoMobileNotary.com http://www.gomobilenotary.com

Charles/Al writes"...I recommend going to www.dslreports.com/security
[ http://www.dslreports.com/security ] and follow the FAQ for "I think my computer may
be infected" It is very thorough and the people there will go out of their way to
help=IF you follow their FAQ....Good Luck!"

From NotaryRotary.com http://www.notaryrotary.com

Mitch/MD writes "Microsoft has made public the Beta site of OneCare, which is intended to be a one step web-browser stop for protection, clean up and tune-up of your Windows-based omputer systems:

http://safety.live.com/

All are free; I've tested and checked them on my own machines this morning and they work fine, though OneCare only works with Internet Explorer."

LEARN A MARKETING TIP -This is an excellent Marketing Tip and one I plan to look into myself.

From NotaryDepot http://www.notarydepot.com

barbaralca writes "...Joined local COC last year - it gives me local exposure, but
I'm not active in it. The best for me is BNI (Business Network Int'l) a worldwide
networking group. You can check it out at http://www.bni.com for your area."

TEXANS TAKE NOTE!

THE TEXAS NSA NETWORK IS NOT A SIGNING SERVICE

Title companies have finally found my network website located at
http://texas-signing-agent.com. They have realized if they hire notaries directly for their jobs they may save money and have more control over the quality of the notaries they hire.

While I do not feel negative toward signing services--I work for the great ones all the time-- I do feel it is only right that I can compete with them for my fees by seeking the same clients they do. I believe the Texas NSA will not survive post-refi boom if they do not engage a little "thinking out of the box" and realizing that $50-$75 is not going to support us in the downturn of the market. Folks, there are ways to get to the better paying clients (lenders and title companies) without splitting our fees with schedulers and signing services.

Some perceive the network as a signing service - NO. IT IS NOT. I provide a resource of qualified notary names. I AM NOT starting a signing service with the notary information I collect for the network. Our network is a personal referal and a friendly marketing endeavor that began with the idea that if I collected a list of great notaries with experience, I
could compete with signing services by having the resources for a title company and
lender to utilize. I began with the website name and by compiling the names of
notaries on my personal website at http://texnotary.com .

TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR TEXAS NSA NETWORK
Texas notaries are invited to send in their information. Even if in the past I told you the region you were interested in was not available, I am working on a way to establish additional spots for NSAs. Especially in larger city MSAs.

YOUR County
Name
Company name if any
your email
your website
City state Zip
xxx-xxx-xxxx Bus
xxx-xxx-xxxx Bus
xxx-xxx-xxxx Fax
Experience: Year ___ / ____+ Signings
Write a sentence or two on your reverse mortgage experience.

FOR TEXAS NOTARIES WHO HAVE REVERSE MORTGAGE EXPERIENCE

If you are a Texas Notary and you have reverse mortgage experience, please contact me to add your name to a list of reverse mortage notaries in Texas which I am preparing.

One place this list will go is to the Texas reverse mortgage banking association's chairman. However, currently, the list is being generated for a client who has recently contacted me about the website of the Texas NSA Network.
(http://www.texas-signing-agent.com ).

Texas is a big place and the new client the Texas NSA Network has recently acquired
has come up short on finding notaries with reverse mortgage experience. They have
been gratified that I have pulled together such an array of notaries with a
background of at least 100 signings or at least one year in the business. As a
result, they would like to hear from all of the qualified notaries in Texas with
reverse mortgage experience. Since my network associates have proven themselves,
they came to me and asked for more.

There is no money involved in putting you name on our group's website, however, When you join this network, first I will qualify you. You will be committing to a couple of things...treating the group's members honorably (no backstabbing!), putting a link on your website back to the network's website. You'll be willing to send the network brochure out as appropriate and you will be marketing each week to five to ten new companies.

If this is something you can commit to and you want to go on the list, I need to know the following about you:

YOUR County
Name
Company name if any
your email
your website
City state Zip
xxx-xxx-xxxx Bus
xxx-xxx-xxxx Bus
xxx-xxx-xxxx Fax
Experience: Year ___ / ____+ Signings
Write a sentence or two on your reverse mortgage experience.

Please email this information to agent@texnotary.com if you are interested in
becoming part of the network.



MARKETING TIPS

Send a "Lumpy" Package!

This really works - I can vouch for it...
From DUCT TAPE MARKETING - http://www.ducttapemarketing.com

ARTICLE - Lumpy Mail Always Gets Opened
http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/newsletters/lumpy-direct-mail.htm
Turn your sales letter into a package and watch your response soar.

BrendaTX Marketing Tips...

Leading Clients to Your Website Websites are not visited unless they have something to offer. Get your clients to come back and visit you often.

Include some worthy information and/or fun stuff on your website that make your clients look at your site and remember it. Figure out things that will generate traffic.

Like what for instance?

Well, last year, I created a full NFL schedule and made it into a *.PDF. Then, I emailed my good schedulers and said: "Hey, just for you, I have added this link to my site!"

At this page I posted my fees for every zip code, city and county I service. At the very top, I listed my services, a link to my contact information, a link to the NFL SCHEDULE. From there, the NFL *.PDF could be downloaded.

I got thank you notes for this little gimmick!



Keep in touch with clients by sending information they want to read, and...

Do these things...

* At every opportunity, MAKE NEWS! * Learn to write a press release-style email

* Create newsworthy EMAILS about you! * Share newsworthy articles


So, how do you go about creating newsy emails they WANT to read?

Here are two examples of ways to keep in touch with email they will pause before deleting

Announce something about your business, PLUS

Give an appreciation discount

If you have been in business for six months - or - if you have completed your 50th signing (100th, 250th, etc.)...

...tell them you are celebrating having done XXX signings over the past XXX months with absolutely ZERO errors. (Of course, if this is not true, do not use this marketing techniques! Wait until you get a flawless record to crow about.) Also, tell them you'll do the next eDoc package for 1/2 price because they kept your business thriving and growing.

SAMPLE OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND DISCOUNT EMAIL

SUBJECT: Success Recognition Award - Value $15.00

This is to announce that TexNotary.com (Brenda Stone) has successfully completed her 200th error-free loan signing thanks to your continuing business.

As a result, the next scheduled assignment from Sally Scheduler, This Company, will be $15.00 off as a courtesy to show appreciation.

As you know, you have been considerate enough to contact me regularly for loan signings. I have been so successful in building my business that I want to show my appreciation in a material way.

The next time you call, I will discount the assignment by $15.00 to show you how valuable YOUR business has been to me.

Just a quick reminder that my main coverage area is:

Brazos County, Bryan & College Station, Texas.
Plus the outlying counties of:

Austin
Grimes
Madison
Milam
Burleson
Leon
Walker
Robertson
Fayette

High Quality, Accurate and Professional Service
eDocs, HP Printer, Fast Cable Download, Full-Time
With much appreciation!

Brenda Stone - TexNotary.com - 877-829-8395


If you have decided to be available on 4th of July, Easter or Christmas, let your clients (or potential clients) know. Write them an email or a fax, and let them see you are a serious business person who will be the one they can count on for vacationing borrowers.

Again, this little trick gets grateful thank you emails from stressed schedulers, and

It has also won me a client who had no idea I existed, and

It has gotten me work I would not have had during the dead holidays, and

I have been able to actually do a job on the 4th
for vacationing Arizona folks!


UNTIL I HAVE SOMETHING NEWSWORTHY TO REPORT AGAIN...

God bless you all and may you have a wonderful holiday.

Sincerely,
Brenda Stone
www.TexNotary.com
www.Texas-Signing-Agent.com

BULLETIN: Texas Title Expo 10-20-05

========
TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE TO THE TEXNOTARY NEWSLETTER
http://www.texnotary.com/SUBSCRIBE_OR_UNSUBSCRIBE_HERE.htm
========

2nd Annual Texas Title Expo
Profit from the Changing Title Industry!
Thursday, October 20th, 2005
Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel


GET MORE DETAILS HERE:
http://groups.google.com/group/texasnotary
Join the group, read, and leave a message if you want to meet others.

---SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS---

---PRESENTING SPONSOR---
Southern Title Insurance Corporation http://www.southerntitle.com

---GOLD SPONSORS---
Richard P. Bianchi, PC http://www.bianchilaw.com
Guardian Fidelity Title Company http://www.gftitle.com/
Southern American Title http://www.satitle.com

---BRONZE SPONSORS---
Central Tejas Research & Title http://www.centraltejasresearch.com
Comerica Bank http://www.comerica.com

EXHIBITORS

TITLE COMPANIES
Guardian Fidelity Title Company http://www.gftitle.com/
Integrity Title Company http://www.integritytc.com/
Southern American Title Company http://www.satitle.com
Exodus Title Company http://www.exodustitle.com
Reliable Title Company http://www.reliabletitleco.com
First Colony Commonwealth Title http://www.fcctitleco.com
Montgomery County Title http://www.mctitle.com/
New Frontier Title Company http://www.newfrontiertitle.com

ABSTRACTERS & RETRIEVERS
Court Record Research http://www.courtrecords.com
Central Tejas Research & Title Service http://www.centraltejasresearch.com
Residential Services, Inc. http://www.rsidocs.com/
Fox Hunt Research Services http://www.foxhuntland.com/
Courthouse Specialists http://www.courthousespecialists.com
Henderson Abstract Company jthenderson@prodigy.net
Top Results Title Service tiffany_bledsoe96@yahoo.com

ABA (Affiliated Business) PARTNERS
Guardian Fidelity Title Company http://www.gftitle.com/
Southern American Title http://www.satitle.com
Affiliated Title Group http://www.integritytitlerecords.com
Title Management Services jwilliamson@countrytitle.net

DOCUMENT PREPARATION ATTORNEYS
Richard P. Bianchi, P.C. http://www.bianchilaw.com
Brian Carr, P.C. brian@neartowntitle.com

SOFTWARE VENDORS
Land Data Systems http://www.landatasystems.com
SoftPro http://www.softprocorp.com/
Virtual Desktop http://www.virtualdesktopinc.com/
Hall Settlement Systems http://www.hallsystems.com

SIGNING SERVICES
IntegritySigners.com http://www.integritysigners.com

BANKS
Comerica Bank http://www.comerica.com

OTHER SERVICES
White Garrison & Hill, P. C., C.P.A. edhillgalveston@aol.com
JurisTrust.com http://www.JurisTrust.com
CourthouseDirect.com http://www.CourthouseDirect.com
Integrity Title Records http://www.IntegrityTitleRecords.com
Administaff http://www.administaff.com

TEXAS NOTARIES -


IF YOU WANT TO MEET WITH OTHERS WHO MAY ATTEND THIS EVENT, PLEASE GO TO
http://groups.google.com/group/texasnotary, JOIN the group, and post a
message.


THIS IS A BRAND NEW GROUP WHICH I SET UP TO GET INFORMATION POSTED FOR
TEXAS. DON'T BE SURPRISED THAT THERE ARE FEW MEMBERS AT THIS POINT.


Brenda Stone


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