Posted by Erica Rodgers on 8/11/06 8:55pm
Msg #138302

How to get started

Hello Notaries,

I am a new Signing Agent who has just entered into the business and I have done about four signings so far. I have over nine years of loan closing experience with Bank One ( now Chase). I am a Full time mom but tired of the "9-5" world and ready to kick high gear in the Notary business.

I was wondering the best way for me to get more signings. Since yesterday I have visited and dropped off my Fee Schedule and Background to several title companies.
So any addtional help from anyone to help me build more signings I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Erica

Reply by Ndwa on 8/11/06 9:25pm
Msg #138306

Welcome to the forum,

I would first off start with completing your profile. Then, if you haven't done so, click on the orange search button above and search for message #33325.

Reply by Erica Rodgers on 8/11/06 9:29pm
Msg #138310

Thank you for that I had just figured out that my profile was not updated. I have just done my profile.

Thanks so much.

Erica Rodgers/AZ

Reply by TitleGalCA on 8/11/06 10:03pm
Msg #138325

You have a good background for signings Erica

So - already you're head and shoulders above the rest for experience and professionalism.

Still, you DO need to read thread 33325, all of it, and sign up with Notary Rotary premier membership.

With your experience you can perhaps make a go of this. It's very difficult in these times. Title companies are very, very difficult to get into for exclusive signings. No - two dozen cookies won't get it. Neither will cookies and flowers. If a notary leaves munchable goodies, they will get eaten but there will be no calls to the notary - escrow already has a list of 20 employees for after hour signings and 4 or 5 favorite full time notaries.

Yet, it's very difficult and now is not the time.

Reply by Erica Rodgers on 8/11/06 10:25pm
Msg #138335

Re: You have a good background for signings Erica

Thank you for the feedback... I just read and printed the message from 33325 it seems very helpful. I have already a small shoe in with one title company through a mutual friend, however I am going to really start marketing myself not just with title companiues but with morgage companies as well. I am not going to give up since I feel very passionate about doing this full time now.

Thanks,

Erica Rodgers/AZ

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/11/06 10:03pm
Msg #138326

**I have been in a Branch Manager and Loan Officer for two Financial Institutions for over nine years**

I doubt you've been in someone else.

**I will ensure all loan closings in a prompt fashion...**

What? Check your grammar.

Ready to kick high gear in this business?? Start from the ground up & get some experience in being a notary and doing closings. Title companies will look at your profile & your inattention to detail and they will lose interest quickly. They don't tolerate mistakes very well.

Go to the signng central tab at the top & sign up for several hundred companies. It's great that you were in the mortgage field, but you don't start at the top.

Reply by Erica Rodgers on 8/11/06 10:29pm
Msg #138338

Thank you very much Melissa for being a school teacher, I will have you to know that the GOD I serve I will be conducting notaries so much that I will make your head spin. I am already doing signings with TWO title companies and further more I KNOW my business will grow that much more. I am a excellent and great people person too bad you can't say so yourself!!!

Erica/AZ

Reply by CaliNotary on 8/12/06 2:26am
Msg #138344

And here I thought we had a different kind of newbie

But I was obviously wrong.

Melissa gave you some good advice and you responded by being a b*tch. The fact is, your atrocious grammar WILL turn off a lot of companies because it makes you look like an ignoramous. But instead of being appreciative that it was brought to your attention so you could correct it, you went into full PMS mode and showed your true colors and insulted her.

So here's my helpful advice: Screw you, you ungrateful b*tch. You owe Melissa an apology, and you owe it to yourself to borrow one of your kids textbooks and learn how to properly speak and write the language.

Reply by Jason on 8/12/06 5:31am
Msg #138349

Re: And here I thought we had a different kind of newbie

Lighten up, Cali.

It's clear she doesn't speak English as her first language.

Give her a break.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 8/12/06 6:40am
Msg #138351

No, don't give her a break!

The attitudes displayed in her Posts and in her profile make it clear that she is NOT a professional. CaliNotary is right on; the response to MelissaCT was beyond belief.

Be aware, everyone, that title companies read this Forum, as do signing services.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/12/06 12:55pm
Msg #138406

Jason, Why do you say E is her SL?

BTW, these are the first full sentences you have typed on this forum. Interesting. I expected something more like

Cali be nicer. Eng = her 2SL = give break.

Scared the crap out of me to see you use verb/noun, pronoun/verb/noun, verb/noun sentences all in one post.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 8/12/06 8:24am
Msg #138355

Chill out Erica

Melissa was only pointing that your profile needed some editing. As it was, it did not come across as very professional with the grammatical errors in it. Even though you have improved it, you still need to do a little editing:

"I am Professional Notary " - you need to make that "I am a Professional Notary" for it to read right.

"I will come to your home or office; and available 7 days a week. Please allow a 2 hour window for eodcs to ensure on time arrival at clients home."

make that "and am available 7 days a week. "

And it is edocs, not eodcs.

These are just minor things, but if you want to come across as professional then you need to make sure your profile portrays professionalism.

As a signing service when I look at someone's profile, if it doesn't come across as professional, I don't call that signing agent. I do read profiles before calling someone for a signing.

Reply by Becca_FL on 8/12/06 3:37pm
Msg #138424

Re: Chill out Erica

I wrote this last night and posted it just as NotRot went down, again.

Eric, Maybe you can ask God for some constructive criticism. Melissa gave you some great advice, if you were smart you'd listen.

You asked for tips, you were given some great tips yet you complain? I just don't get it.

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 8/12/06 12:08pm
Msg #138399

Re:Erica you come to the board asking for advice and

assistance then when one offers and corrects a few errors you made, you get all huffy and begin discussing God....You are so not sincere......

Reply by LilyMD on 8/12/06 12:49pm
Msg #138405

Re: Re:Erica you come to the board asking for advice and

Having been in this business for quite a while, I knew about TCs, SSs, lenders, etc. reading the profiles and/or the posts. It wasn't until I switched to the other side of the business this month that I realized just how this works for many companies. Yes, they do read your profile. Yes, they do hire from profiles. They do look at how the profile is worded...it shows "attention to detail -- or not." Also, something I've recently learned was several people by pass profiles that are too wordy or too long. Only the best get chosen because they're in a time crunch to find and book notaries. No time for reading that a notary has joined every site known to man or has been certified by everyone to come down the pike. So Erica, the constructive criticism you received was, actually, very generous because it can place you in line as direct competition should you heed the good advice.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/12/06 3:32pm
Msg #138422

Re: Re:Erica you come to the board asking for advice and

I am still trying to figure out why God was referenced in that post.

Reply by CaliNotary on 8/12/06 4:04pm
Msg #138426

Re: Re:Erica you come to the board asking for advice and

I'm guessing it was because she figured she wouldn't look like as big of a b*tch if she threw in some gratuitious religious reference. Didn't work.

Reply by KBLedgard_CA on 8/12/06 12:34pm
Msg #138404

You owe all of these members that offered you assistance and that you have now offended a SINCERE apology. Secondly, you will not be conducting notaries, you will be notarizing documents.

Huked on fonics wurkd fer me!

Reply by Michelle/AL on 8/11/06 10:49pm
Msg #138341

Hi Erica,

I'm a newbie and figured it might be helpful for you to hear from me.

1) There's a lot of good information to be obtained from the seasoned professionals on this site so it's important that you read the postings, Search the archives, Read the postings, Search the Archives and Search the archives and listen to what's being said. Try not to be too sensitive when some make comments that offend you or hurt your feelings. Definitely don't take it personally. They are not singling you out. NotaryRotary is not for the tender-hearted. If you are tender-hearted then the best thing to do is use the Search button and read and learn from others but don't ask questions.

I think I can safely say that every day/night someone new types the same question you typed "How do I get started in this business?" The answer is always the same - the answers you received.

2) Don't buy any printers, business cards or other equipment; don't join any other notary associations; don't sign on with any website builders until you've searched this board for suggestions, otherwise you will waste your money. I promise you that you will. Last month I don't know what got into me. I went into a store to purchase a PCL6 printer because after researching NotRot (NotaryRotary) I knew it was what I needed. But lo and behold, when I got home and set the printer up I realized it had everything except PCL6! I'm still scratching my head trying to figure that one out. I must have been hoodwinked or bamboozled.

Finally, 3) I check my profile at least once a week and believe it or not I always find something to improve or a correction to fix. Your profile on this site really is your billboard or business card. Keep tweaking yours until it's perfect.

Good luck to you - your sister newbie.

Reply by Erica Rodgers on 8/12/06 1:52am
Msg #138343

Hey my Newbie Sister!!!

Thank you for that positive feedback regarding the earlier comment. You are so right about not taking things personal in this businesss. My husband told me not to let that comment bother me and move on.

You are right about not spending all your money on memberships, supplies, and other tools that are out there. I am going to purchase my printer, however I now know which one to buy.

Yes I would like to stay in touch and motivate each other for our upcoming success!!

Are you currently conducting signings now? I have done a few so far, but again looking to grow my business much more.

Let me know how things are coming along and I will be updating my profile quite often and keeping in touch with you.

Take care,

Erica/AZ

Reply by Brenda/CA on 8/12/06 3:51am
Msg #138347

Re: Erica

Erica,
You started this thread asking for advice on "How to get Started". Melissa gave you some pretty good advice on how to start, and pointed out errors in your grammar, to help you avoid sounding unprofessional. You called her advice a "comment" that you will not let bother you. You are the one making coments. What does the "God" you serve have to do with anything at all in this thread? The topic was not about religion it was about, once again. "How to get Started". If you ask for advice on a public forum then you will receive what you asked for the opinion of the responder. Some you may like, some you may not like, some you obviously don't understand. If you want people to continue to respond to you when you ask for help you might want to change your attitude!

Reply by KBLedgard_CA on 8/12/06 8:19pm
Msg #138493

Hey Erica, you've been give some excellent advise by some of the most seasoned Notaries (ie ND_WA, Melissa_CT, Mistarella, etc). Now, IMO, you can take their advice and learn more about your new profession or listen to bestcal, something in CA that has half a brain will do.

Oh yeah, we're still waiting for that apology to Melissa.

Reply by Poppy on 8/12/06 9:42am
Msg #138363

Great post Michelle! N/M n/m

Reply by sgum/va on 8/12/06 11:22am
Msg #138388

Good advise Michelle. I am a newbie also so refrain from posting very often. There is ALOT of great information for us newbies. I spend many nights hitting the orange button looking stuff up and becoming more informed. In addition to trying to read what is posted each day. I am thankful for all the postings I've read or I might have made some UNWISE choices. Look forward to seeing how you do in the future. Best of luck!

Reply by Jennifer_AZ on 8/12/06 2:33pm
Msg #138412

Erica: I just sent you an email directly. I noticed you are located in Arizona & I have a great resource tool for you to use that is just for notaries here in Arizona. It includes networking meetings on a quarterly basis, chat forums just for arizona notaries and a quarterly newsletter and so many other great resources. I did outline a few of these things in the email I sent you.

Best of Luck to you in your new career as a notary signing agent and I hope to hear from you soon!

Regards,

Jennifer Rundall

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/12/06 3:31pm
Msg #138421

Jennifer, if you start promoting this kind of business in detail on NR, then there's no reason why every notary here who does mentoring for a fee should not do it also. I love ya, kiddo, but you should put this in your profile and make a reference to it...BUT this is just MY opinion.

BTW - I think Jennifer is a smart gal and a good one to learn from. Nothing against her in my post, just making note that services we charge for are supposed to go through NR / Harry before posting them. But, perhaps Jennifer did ask Harry first. DId you Jen?

Reply by Jennifer_AZ on 8/13/06 12:01am
Msg #138520

My apologies Harry; if telling notaries about sites or services that help other notaries is agains your policy-please feel free to remove my response. My posting was actually not in regard to mentoring services but a site that is there to help arizona notaries specifically and I was trying to help her out.

Thank you for your kind words Brenda. I appreciate the gentle reminder.

Reply by bestcal on 8/12/06 5:26pm
Msg #138441

Re: How to get started-Jennifer-THANKS

For sharing what you know even though this person could be your competion.Shows how much confidence you have in yourself and not being afraid of competition.I am currently reading a book written by Gary Keller called Millionaire Real Estate Agent and talking about the best you can be and nothing about making money.I find this book very amazing and it could be applied to any career that you pursue. No matter what info you share with your competition,you personally will be sucessful by trying to be the best at what you are doing. I am constantly amazed at how those who had been in the notary signing business for a while are constantly trying to discourage newcomers. There is money to be made if you know how and are willing to work hard. Newcomers keep working hard,keep marketing,keep your cell phones on and make money. Every one appreciates new and fresh blood and a wilingness to work hard!!!!

Reply by Jennifer_AZ on 8/13/06 12:02am
Msg #138521

Re: How to get started-Jennifer-THANKS

Thank you for your kind words bestcal. That is what I enjoy doing...helping others.

Reply by bestcal on 8/12/06 5:49pm
Msg #138449

Re: How to get started-Erica

I have personally found that those who had been in this business a long time to be frustrated because they are not making the kind of money that they thought they would be making,and that could be because of a number of reasons. There is a lot of money to be made in this business. First of all , learn to market yourself well, and treat it as you would with any other business.Remember there is always competition in every business. Learn to be the best at what you are doing and whalla! you will make it!Make sure you are always available when calls come in(keep you cell on) The good part about the signing business is that you do not have a business relationship with the signers,so you do not have to explain much to them,other than identifying them and let them sign in the appropriate places. Once you feel that you understand the paperwork enough ,you set a firm fee that you would like to earn for every signing that you do and you are on your way to making good money.This is just business that you are conducting.Something similar to being a doctor.Do not get emotionally involved. Go get those signings!!!!

Reply by MistarellaFL on 8/12/06 7:43pm
Msg #138481

At least you sound sober so far tonight, Erin aka Bestcal

Erica, what she is saying is far from the truth.
We were all newbies at one time.
We do want you to succeed.
The more competant NSA's out here, the better we all look and the more we all make.
There are associations out there who have advertised that NSA's make 100K per year
in the real world.
But in the real world, however, you must work diligently and have a good amount of experience and knowledge to achieve this goal.
You must act, look and sound like a professional.
Please feel free to come to us for advice.
We only ask that you look for the answer first yourself, via the search feature.
If you cannot locate the answer, ask away.
Look for responders from your own state, as many issues may be state-specific.
Learn your state' notarial laws.
And develop thick skin: this can be a cut-throat business.
And listen to respected posters with experience: there are many posters out there
who are unclear of what is expected of them, and often give bad or illegal advice.
Since you have experince with the docs, my best advice would be to know your
notarial laws and state/county's recording requirements.
You'll do just fine.

Reply by bestcal on 8/12/06 8:46pm
Msg #138501

Re: At least you sound sober so far tonight, Erin-Misterrela

For those not too familiar with this forum,Erin Hall runs a signing service who was accused by Suan Axelrod from Arrowhead California for relaying stories to signing services about postings on this forum.Susan could not produce concrete evidence about this and Erin got extremely upset which I am positive anyone would understand.Turns out Susan was as usual blabbing off her head.Wish I could find those message numbers I could not care anyway. But for those who are wondering who Mistterella is refering too, Erin is the person who was falsely accused of something which arrowhead could never produce. And because misterella is one of the small minded people on this forum,every time someone posts the truth or start encouraging a newcomer claims of a drunken Erin is being made.Newcomers,you have no competition out there,just empty babble mouths like misterella.Go ahead newbies,be the best you can be.!!!

Reply by KBLedgard_CA on 8/12/06 9:27pm
Msg #138505

Re: At least you sound sober so far tonight, Erin-Misterrela

Actually, Erin, I mean bestcal, the only time someone is accused of being Erin is when she is assuming new identities like she has in the past. As they say, if the shoe fits....

Reply by MichiganAl on 8/12/06 9:28pm
Msg #138506

Referring to yourself in the third person again, Erin?

No Erica, experienced signing agents aren't jealous, or worried, or threatened. That's just what people like Erin, oh I mean Bestcal, want you to think. We wouldn't be here trying to help if that were the case. We worked hard to be successful, and we care deeply about the integrity of this industry. We didn't jump into this career blindly. We had a plan, reviewed the market, learned our trade. When you've got thousands of people competing for precious few business opportunities, who do you think is going to succeed? The person who plans and studies before getting into this, or the person who says "Here I am! What do I do now?" The person who comes onto a forum, shows some preparation, asks intelligent questions, and shows gratitude for the answers they receive or the person who acts like a little spoiled brat when she doesn't get the answer she wants? The answer is obvious. We see it every day here, and we can spot a failure in the making from a mile away. We get people begging for handouts on a daily basis. I'll only help those that show they've earned it. Those with pissy little attitudes, those who think we owe them something, those who got into an industry without any understanding of how to get started or what the market is like in their area, they're doomed. No use wasting our time, no amount of assistance can help.

I've been very fortunate in this industry, and I've tried to pass on what I've learned with other qualified people. But you can bet many of us won't help those that display the kind of crappy attitude that you've displayed here.

But I'm sure Bestcal will be happy to help. Her e-mail for this particular personality is [e-mail address].

Reply by MistarellaFL on 8/12/06 9:28pm
Msg #138507

Oh, Erin, you do not run a signing service

And you well know the real story.
Stop drinking! The more you drink, the sillier you sound, both in print and on the phone.
You do this nonsense almost every Saturday night for goodness sake.
People new to this field should hear accurate information instead of
unclear information from uneducated, inexperienced NSA's.
This is my last post on the subject, so continue digging your own grave if you wish.

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 8/13/06 11:00am
Msg #138557

Re: Bestcal/Erin that's Lake Arrowhead.....it's extremely

important to be precise in this business when your trash talking.......

Reply by bestcal on 8/12/06 7:57pm
Msg #138490

Re: How to get started-Erica-Misterella

See Erica,they will do what ever it takes to discourge your from succeeding.Simply because none of them have succeeding so far.They are just trying to survive themselves. Go ahead and read some the book of Gary Keller as I mentioned earlier and you will be on your way.

Reply by Brenda/CA on 8/12/06 8:25pm
Msg #138495

Re: bestcal

"See Erica,they will do what ever it takes to discourge your from succeeding.Simply because none of them have succeeding so far.They are just trying to survive themselves. Go ahead and read some the book of Gary Keller as I mentioned earlier and you will be on your way."

You are obviously blind and deaf so perhaps you meant to reference a book by Helen Keller. Mistrella gave Erica some very good advice, you on the other hand just seem to want to start trouble.

Reply by KBLedgard_CA on 8/13/06 12:33am
Msg #138524

Re: bestcal

Excellent response, Brenda. Have you been taking lessons from Cali or Al? ROFLMAO