Questions and Answers from NSA's - Article 24

Covers a wide variety of topics. Make sure you read them all to get all the information.

by  Victoria Ring---Bio

Dear Victoria:  My question concerns expanding my notary business. I have written a resume type letter introducing myself and listing my qualifications. I want to send it to title companies in my city. My question: Do title companies have a certain agent who assigns notaries? If so, do you know what their title is?  (Charlotte)

Dear Charlotte:  Every business, even title companies, are set up unique and different and there is no one certain title that is standard across the board. Remember, there are no cookie-cutter methods for marketing. You need to call the title company you wish to work for and ask them something like: 'I need to fax a copy of my notary information to the title agent who handles mortgage closings for your company.  Can you provide me with that person's name?' Once you obtain a specific name and title of a person that works at the title company, then you would personalize the cover letter and send directly to them. If you fax your letter without this information it will be thrown in the trash.  So make sure you get the name of a specific person and take a moment to be pleasant and introduce yourself to the receptionist.

However, you may run into a problem with the person who initially answers the phone. They may have no clue as to what you are talking about and will be more apt to tell you they don't have anyone at their company that handles this matter. When faced with this situation simply ask for the name of a title officer so you can fax them a letter of inquiry. Then, fax this particular title officer a letter of inquiry first in order to locate the right person to market to.

My next concern Charlotte is why are you sending a resume to title companies? It sounds like you are treating your marketing approach the same way an employee would approach a potential employer.  As a business owner, you should be approaching prospects as a business not an employee.  This means providing them with benefits of using your services, such as how you will save them money and increase their profits.  Of course this approach takes more time - but would you rather spend a lot of money and time and get nothing - or spend your time wisely and earn money?  People like you will benefit the most from the seminars I will be hosting this year.  I hope you can attend.

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Dear Victoria:  It amazes me how many people send you emails asking silly questions about how to get around your website when you have such great knowledge in marketing and making money.  So I am going to take the initiative, utilize your experience and ask you a marketing question: After spending $187 to mail out letters to every title company in my city, I have not received one response. Does that mean that no title companies in my city need notary signing agents?  (Jackie)

Dear Jackie:  Of course not! That is not an accurate marketing analysis.  You cannot come to the conclusion that your service is not needed in your area based upon one letter that you did not receive a response to.  Besides, there is another possibility as to why you did not receive any response to your letter.  Could it be that possibly your letter was not written to convey a powerful marketing message?  Could that be a possible answer also?

Jackie, before you give up trying one approach; try to train yourself to look at all sides of the issue.  Attorneys learn how to do this in law school.  That is why it is difficult for some attorneys to provide you with a straight forward answer.  Instead, they must ponder the issue, look at it from all sides and dissect it to the extreme.  Attorneys must do this because if they don't consider every possible angle to an issue – the opposing attorney will find the loop-hole and make the other attorney look like a fool in court. So if this skill can be taught to attorneys in law school, you can learn how to do the same thing and use that skill in marketing your business.

In order to sufficiently answer your question I would need to review the actual letter you used for marketing. I then would ask you what methods you used to qualify the companies you mailed your letter to.  Most beginners just send out a bunch of letters working from a mailing list. A mailing list only provides you with names and addresses. A mailing list tells you nothing about what the company needs.  To find out what the company needs, you have to do a little research.  Then you find ways to present to the company the services you have that will save them money or make them more money.  And yes - it takes more time to use this method - but it is the only method that works.

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Dear Victoria:  I will be out of pocket during the next two months recovering from a second complete hip replacement. I would like to report that since I placed my name in The Nationwide Notary Directory last May, I have had to decline assignments. In retirement, I have a full time business now and all has come about as a result of your opening your directory service. I love what I do and am so happy that I was one of the first to join your directory and would recommend it to anyone serious in starting a notary signing business. (Betty)

Dear Betty:  My prayers are with you on a speedy recovery after your surgery. My mother had hip replacement surgery done in the late 1980s and I know the tremendous recovery time needed to get through it. However, she was able to live 15 years pain free with no problems so I am sure everything will work out well for you since the medical field has come a long way since then.

I am glad to know the Nationwide Notary Directory has been such a benefit in helping you to get jobs with the title, mortgage and signing companies. And I thank you for sharing your testimonial with others.

Note:  To sign up to be listed in the Nationwide Notary Directory, visit https://www.50statenotary.com/order After you become a member, renewal fees are significantly lower so after the initial sign-up, you will never pay these prices again as long as you continue to renew. Some people will order a 6-month listing and then renew for 1 year, 2 years and a lifetime due to the tremendous money savings. So take advantage of this tip and join Betty in getting a lot of job referrals.

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Dear Victoria:  I don't know whether or not you have heard this from anyone else, but during the last two months I have had more loans fall apart at the signing table than ever before. Why?  I hear the same complaint from borrowers every time that the loan 'goes South': This isn't what
I was told by my loan officer.

The last one I did last Wednesday, turned out to be two loans instead of one, different amount borrowed, adjustable instead of fixed and interest rates that where nowhere near what the borrower was told (they showed me their very clear, concise notes and THREE so-called Good Faith Estimates, none of which were even near correct.

This of course, delays things, and the old reliable 'Just go ahead and sign - you have three business days to cancel, is not working with borrowers who are already upset with extreme changes to their loans. The loan officer, in every case, was at fault for either not correctly explaining what the terms of their loan were, or the loan officer just not calling them back to discuss their questions prior to signing the docs.   In almost every case it was impossible to reach the loan officer from the signing table, and often, there is no supervisor or back-up to explain the huge changes in their loans.

This is not just with one loan company, but seems to be some sort of epidemic.  The signing company cannot be held responsible - they do of course, pay the trip fee and the printing fee, but this is intensely irritating, is a time waster, and is a disservice to the borrowers. (Ralph)

Dear Ralph:  Yes, I would be frustrated too. Back when I was out on the road doing signings, I ran into this type of problem once in awhile, but not as often as you have. One thing I did was to call the signing company BEFORE I left for the appointment and obtain the telephone number of someone who would be available after hours to answer my questions. Most large companies have someone to refer you to - even if it is the actual mortgage company itself.  Perhaps other notary signing agents will have more suggestions for you.  If I receive them, I will publish them in future issues of The Notary News.  In the meantime, try out my tip and see if it helps you.