Posted by BrendaTx on 2/28/07 10:14pm
Msg #177627

Network Refresher Course

I was asked to report this in a thread of its own:

A network is your basic "leads" group. In leads groups there will be an insurance agent, a RE agent, maybe a lawyer, a mortgage broker, a massage therapist, a florist, a financial planner, a caterer and so forth. Only ONE of these per profession. The leads group goes out and brings leads back to the group monthly or weekly. One lead or more for one of the members.

With our networking model, each area goes out and finds leads for the group.

The purpose of our networks is to avoid the middle man.

A network can offer a list--not a lone business card--but a list, to a title company or lender.

1) Business cards are going in the trash.
2) Nice lists of organized information about many quality notaries will have a better chance of staying.

Just like leads groups can exist in multiples in one city, there does not just have to be one and only one state network. Any notary/notaries willing to put forth the work (and there is a lot of uncompensated work) can and should build a network.

The reason that exclusive territories should be assigned is because the success of the network depends on the willingness of the members to market individually to promote all the notaries on the list. Territories with multiple notaries will fail because of competitive concerns.

A network established which parallels another network's members in areas is only another list of quallity notaries which ultimately enhances the chance of all networking notaries to earn better fees.

How so? Well, because when title companies and lenders realize why this effort has been put in place by multiple hard-working and willing network leaders they realize how there is more than one method of finding a good notary for less money (probably) than they are paying the theoretical signing service owner who may not have any concern for scheduling other than their bottom line.

Those who work for putting together a network will find there are rewards. One network cannot fill all orders. Hey, if list A cannot fill the order, they can go to list B. If there is not a list B they WILL call a signing service. The signing service will hit them hard to get them back into the client list. They will lowball their fees to undercut the notary network...lower fees again. It will take awhile for the hiring entity to get their fill of the low-quality work.

If those reading this have been excluded from a current network because a territory is filled, start one, develop the membership, have your own list and continue to create more choices for lenders and title companies. Show them they have a choice NOT to use signing services.

This kind of competition is friendly competition between networks and will help to continue to avoid signing services getting a cut of your pie.

All signing services are not bad. They serve a good purpose. But so do networks. Networks have qualified notaries....not just a warm body.

However, why work for $75 if you can work for $150? If you are willing to do the work you can create your own exclusive group, market it and provide one more choice.

The leaders of a network will do a lot of work to get it off the ground. They cannot afford to over-populate one area or the network will fail due to lack of willingness to market.

Before the original groups start throwing tomatoes at me, please consider how much work you had to do to get started networking. Do not fear a stampede of competition...it takes special people who really want to improve their business and build relationships. It takes long term dedication.

It's like pulling teeth, herding cats, and finding needles in haystacks. It takes a leader who is not going to give up, who will be tough and who will say no when you have to in order for the endeavor to work. PEOPLE LIKE THAT ARE NOT A DIME A DOZEN.

Many will come, but few want to put in the thankless work required to get a network off the ground. You are special and you are not going to see many of you who are willing to open up, take chances, do the work and put together what you have created.

More networks will perpetuate the concept of using networks and moving experienced notaries back into earning fees which are not paultry $60-75 do much/earn little signings.

Title companies are very willing! You just need to give them something to work with. Here is the email I was copied on when I recently referred a state's list:

XXXXX,

One of my most awesome notaries in Texas has sent this list of notaries for xxStatexx.
I know how we love referrals and want only the best. Please see Brenda's notes below.

==========

Be motivated to create a list of experienced notaries who offer something special.

Reply by Becca_FL on 2/28/07 10:35pm
Msg #177635

No, not easy.
Yes, lots of work
AND many hours at the computer, introducing the concept to most.

Thank goodness we (FL NSA Network) have members willing to put forth the effort. I hit three more today. It's all about the numbers & the quality of the work.

Thanks Brenda ;;

Reply by hcampersFL on 2/28/07 10:38pm
Msg #177639

I got 2 calls today based on Network referrals.

I need to thank Misty, they both mentioned her by name.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 2/28/07 10:47pm
Msg #177643

I got a real double today

from one of my network members who is on vacation (yes, you even take your cell phone along and turned on on vacation). I got two pieces of property, one stop, a very fair price and made the title company happy that they didn't have to go hunting to find someone who could do a 3:00 p.m. signing same day signing (that's why all our members are full time - flexible schedule)

Reply by Becca_FL on 2/28/07 11:16pm
Msg #177653

So true Dorothy, n/m

Reply by Becca_FL on 2/28/07 11:20pm
Msg #177655

Re: So true Dorothy...

But, I can always reach the FL NSA Members on the Shell Phone....even when on Vacation.

An invaluable device. I must get you one.

Reply by Becca_FL on 2/28/07 11:11pm
Msg #177651

Right on, Misty!

Y'all know she's in the keys and "in comunicado" now.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 2/28/07 10:56pm
Msg #177646

Notary Networks: the only way to fly, yeah! n/m

Reply by MikeC/NY on 2/28/07 11:02pm
Msg #177648

Brenda, I'm not following this...

"A network is your basic "leads" group. In leads groups there will be an insurance agent, a RE agent, maybe a lawyer, a mortgage broker, a massage therapist, a florist, a financial planner, a caterer and so forth. Only ONE of these per profession. The leads group goes out and brings leads back to the group monthly or weekly. One lead or more for one of the members."

Is the network the same as the "leads group", or is the "leads group" a part of the network? I've seen references to NSA networks, but if you can only have one person per profession in the group, how do you have a network of NSAs? Or do all of the NSAs in the network have their own "leads group"?

I'm confused...

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/28/07 11:07pm
Msg #177650

Re: Brenda, I'm not following this...

Mike, the network is made up of notaries in exclusive territories. One per a few counties/coverage area.

The leads group was an example and nothing more.

Do a search here on "networking" by BrendaTx and you'll read what's been posted in the past to explain it.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 3/1/07 5:26pm
Msg #177780

OK - got it. Thanks! n/m

Reply by Charles_Ca on 2/28/07 11:25pm
Msg #177656

Mike, the networks bring synergy into play....

The network becomes a marketing machine with each notary in the network marketing to a group all of whom use notary services. The network multiplies its abilities by being able to refer to othe notaries in the group increasing their coverage. The notaries refer work back and forth without taking a referral fee and then market the whole group. The networking system multiplies the ability to bring in business and therefore generate leads for the whole network. Remember the notaries have a minimum verified experience and also gurantee their work which is a major benefit to Title Companies.

Reply by Becca_FL on 2/28/07 11:50pm
Msg #177660

Right on, Chuck! n/m

Reply by Ndwa on 3/1/07 4:10am
Msg #177673

While on the subject

Though it was short lived for me with the development of WA network, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Rhonda for her trust and referrals.

"Life is like a piano, you'll only get what you put into it", author unknown.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 3/1/07 5:38pm
Msg #177784

Re: Mike, the networks bring synergy into play....

"Remember the notaries have a minimum verified experience and also gurantee their work which is a major benefit to Title Companies."

The guarantee is already part of what I offer; who determines what "minimum verified experience" means, and how is the experience verified?

Forgive me if the questions seem basic - I'm just trying to understand the concept and figure out whether it's something I can use. As far as I know, there's no network here in NY - sounds like a good option to explore.

Reply by DellaCa on 3/1/07 8:52pm
Msg #177818

Re: By George I think Charles has it lol Thanks for your

words of wisdom Charles!

Reply by Melissa Peeke on 3/1/07 12:21pm
Msg #177720

Sounds like a Rotary Club

in that only one person from insurance, banking, real estate, etc is allowed membership. At least that's my understanding of how the rotary club works.