Posted by Joan Bergstrom on 2/20/08 12:51am
Msg #236145

Yellow Pages: Good Or Bad?

My right shoulder is not good and I went to my favorite message expert in Riverside. Karen Brown on Jurupa.

I asked her how she got all her customers? Were they from referrals or yellow pages? She said they were mostly from the ATT&T Yellow pages and from customer referrals. She doesn't advertise on the Internet.

The yellow pages are the only way Karen advertises.

It got me thinking about the cost of advertising as a notary in Riverside CA.

Karen said it cost her $392 per month for a 8th of a page add in the yellow pages for Att&T.

Does anyone advertise in the yellow pages and does it work for a notary/loan signer?

Reply by Ernest__CT on 2/20/08 1:01am
Msg #236147

Non-loan work: Yes. Loans: No. n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/20/08 1:06am
Msg #236149

On the other hand, borrowers who are instructed

to "find a notary" to complete their signings, will be happy to see a small local ad that mentions "loan closings" or a similar clue to fill that need.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 2/20/08 1:15am
Msg #236152

Re: On the other hand, borrowers who are instructed

I agree completely that the work we get will be "public notary" work.

Should have put that in the post

Reply by Ndwa on 2/20/08 2:51am
Msg #236156

Re: On the other hand, borrowers who are instructed

I got quite a few calls last year to notarize docs from Eloan, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo borrowers. They either found me here or the yellow pages hard copy.

Reply by MichiganAl on 2/20/08 2:25am
Msg #236153

Never again

I advertised in the Yellow Pages my first year. For every call I received that actually turned into a piece of business, I had 10 that were a waste of my time. "What, $50 for you to travel 45 minutes at 10 p.m.? That's too much." I ended up breaking even, and was thrilled when my 12 months was up.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/20/08 3:25am
Msg #236160

Times change. So do opportunities.

And those who hear the knocking of opportunities, open doors.

Reply by Lee/AR on 2/20/08 7:07am
Msg #236163

Re: Never again

Joan, you've been around long enough to have fielded a number of 'general notary work' calls. Have they been good? I get a few calls for 'general' work & my experience has been much like MichiganAl's. Maybe even worse-- I'd never go for Yellow Page ads--too expensive for what I think I'd make after weeding out 90% of the 'idiot calls' & the 'slick trick' people--who start arguing about your fee AFTER you've made the trip. Yes, you get what you quoted them, or you don't do the notarization, but it's an unpleasant experience for all concerned. ymmv

Reply by sue_pa on 2/20/08 7:58am
Msg #236168

same here

I've got a business line so I get a free one line ad in the yellow pages. I receive average 10 calls a week. I don't answer most of them. EVERY call I answer has 'issues'. Many of them, especially on the weekend, want vehicle transfers and tags issued. Even though my message says I don't do that type work, they still let messages. I WISH I COULD GET PRIVATE NOTARY WORK. I've done VERY little throughout the years that didn't cause problems. I've found 2 things - either they don't want to pay me to come to them or there are id or other problems.


Two Thanksgivings ago my son was out of the country and was going to call Thanksgiving morning. He was going to call on my office phone. I was up early starting the turkey. Around 5:00 a.m. the phone rings with a local call. I don't answer. I listen to the message. It's a frantic lady who wants me to call her back. I don't. About every 1/2 hour I get another message, more frantic each and every time. Towards the end, she is DEMANDING I meet her at the jail to notarize some type child custody paperwork. Now mind, this is a holiday and it's not even 9:00 a.m. yet. My message says I am in the office 8-8 weekdays. Why she even thought someone would be checking messages at a business on a holiday was beyond me - especially when she received no response. I wondered how many other messages she was placing about town.

Not too long ago a man called and left a message. I looked him up in the phone book and he wasn't too far away from me so I called back. Wife answered and she wasn't 'totally together' but she was iffy. Man called back and had a sewer easement he needed notarized. He then proceeded to tell me he was proud his wife had been able to take a complete message. She was having a good day. By the way, they've got a POA that also needs to be notarized, can I do that. Oh my, her license expired 10 years ago.

another lady called just before Christmas. Needed 'real estate' papers signed at 7:30 a.m. I quoted $25 and that was the end of that phone call.


Had a lady call me one time to come to the house - they were borrowing money from her husband's retirement and needed a statement notarized. She was homebound and she wanted me just before her therapist - silly me visualized a poor lady in a body cast or with her leg hanging in a sling. I get there, husband takes me to dining room. I can see the wife in the kitchen and I say I need her id also. He walks out and gets it for me. I say she's got to come in -now mind, this is ONE signature. She comes in, sits down beside me, looks and me and starts SCREAMING that she can't do this, she can't sign anything with me there, get me out of the house. This lady was perfectly capable when I spoke with her on the phone.

Went to an advertising agency to notarize something for the controller. when I got there he said someone else also had something. He buzzed the other lady and she said she'd be right in. I asked several times where she was - he buzzed each time and she said she'd be right in. Finally she waltzed in with what looked like a small book she had just printed - she needed it notarized but of course there was absolutely no notarial language anywhere. So, I had to explain the different acts and then she had to go type up an affidavit.

Went to local factory for the vp to notarize an affidavit regarding a law suit. Secretary 'forgot' to tell him when I was coming and they were both out to lunch when I got there at the appointed time. Subsequent phone call from her said ... he usually stays in.

Had an auctioneer call me (again vehicle work which I won't do) to sit at an auction all afternoon. I forget the pay but it was whatever notary fees I would charge, plus I believe $50.

Had a call 2 weeks ago to sit in a hotel room on a Sunday afternoon waiting for people to come in with election petitions.

I sure wish I could get the notary work others here post about. But, I also understand the signers point of view. Why in the world would they pay me $25-$50 when they can go somewhere and pay $5?

Reply by MistarellaFL on 2/20/08 10:27am
Msg #236195

I have had relatively good success with my yellow pages ad

I am in 2 books, $80/mo total, and have made at least that amount monthly.
JME

Reply by Laura Vestanen on 2/20/08 11:20am
Msg #236208

It depends......

As Ernest said, Yellow pages is "not for loan work."


For non-loan work, the answer depends......

First you have to find an under-served notary niche service in your area.
This could be notarizing for the homebound. Or it could be work related to medical reports, wills, or anything else.

Once you find that niche, the next step is to figure out how the customers look for a notary when they need one.
Do they go to the internet? Real estate offices? Yellow pages?

Once you know how your target clients look for a notary, you will know which marketing tools you need to spend money and time on.


by the way
Just because your target client goes to UPS or FedEx to find a notary that doesn't mean you can't get work from those clients.

Both UPS and FedEx notaries in my town refer Will work to me. They don't have time and don't want to tie up staff to be witnesses. They are also scared of liability. UPS and FedEx also refer tricky work to me: the types of notary work they don't know how to handle. I refer work to them when I am overbooked.

LauraV

Reply by sue_pa on 2/20/08 12:12pm
Msg #236216

Re: It depends......

maybe it's just my area but no one wants to pay. I also can't figure out why anyone would pay -I sure wouldn't. Like I said, generally speaking a notarization is $5. Why in the world do they want me to come to them for $25-$50?

Reply by Roger_OH on 2/20/08 12:52pm
Msg #236223

Works well for me...

I have a display ad in two Yellow Pages editions for about $100/month, which also includes their internet postings. I also have a CraigsList ad that's free. Get a ton of calls - occasionally for loan work, but mostly car titles, insurance claim docs, medical, financial, adoption, immigration, etc. I also go to folks who are homebound and have social security, medicare or other docs, and living wills/health care POAs for people in health facilities. I always screen calls initially to ensure they have current ID, type of doc, don't sign anything until I get there, etc.

I often find that while people know they need a notary to complete a document, they don't know just what a notary is, or what a notarization process entails; e.g., appearing and signing before the notary, having ID, understanding content, etc. They also don't know that they could likely go to their bank and save my costs, and if I can't do it, I'll suggest that to them. Then again, a lot of folks just like the convenience of my coming to them, especially on evenings/weekends, and are more than willing to pay for it.

Bottom line is, I do very well with general notary work. I'm also a member of my suburban Chamber of Commerce, so I'm in their business directory, and have the opporunity to network with other businesses at lunches, and other social events. Well worth the tax-deductible membership dues. Also a good source for small business health insurance as the Chamber has the buying power of its membership.

Reply by ALL SONOMA MOBILE NOTARY - Judith Neeley on 2/20/08 3:49pm
Msg #236272

Re: Works well for me... and ME TOO

I get 80% of my biz from the yellow pages. I only have a listing, not a display ad, so my monthly is less than $20 a month.

I state my fees including travel fees up front from the start, as well as my policies. If I have to wait or there are other unique circumstances, I tell them I also bill for my time at $X per 15 minutes to wait or do whatever. They agree up front to the fees. If they don't like them, they can call someone else. I make sure they have current valid ID, etc while on the phone with them. By having this done up front, it helps significantly to prevent many of the problems Sue in PA has experienced. If people don't want to pay for my time for above and beyond my basic notary services, why would I want to take on the work anyway? When I quote travel fees, when asking their location I speak to them about the amount of time it takes to travel there - and I always say my minimum travel fee is $x because I have to figure round trip for my time plus my auto expenses. I haven't found but a very few who don't understand my time has value, too.

The only real crazy expectation re low travel fee was from a lender calling me to do a signing 1.5 hours drive away for only $60. They don't pay if the signer is a no-show or the loan doesn't go through! I laughed and suggested they keep looking for a notary. I wasn't going to fill out a bunch of papers/disclosures about myself to get into their network to only get paid $40 to $60 for a loan package signing - and they expected to edoc and I print too for that fee! I said their fee wouldn't even cover the signing, not to mention travel. I wasn't about to take a day to travel back and forth and wait for a signer and risk not getting paid for my time. I had better things to do.

When you value yourself and stick to that, people will respect you. You have to be willing to say no thanks and stick to your prices and policies of what you think you are worth. There is something that seems to happen whereby you then start to attract the types of clients you want and that appreciate you. Sometimes that means turning down work rather than chasing after $10.

For people on a tight budget, I maintain a tiny office (one room) in the center of town where they can meet me and not pay a travel fee. I approach this business as a community service, and as a result I have gained the trust and appreciation of a number of people. It has even resulted in past clients calling me back to help them with their accounting/admin needs, so I've taken on more business as a result. There is also a local coffee house only 3 miles away from my home (I live in the country) were I will meet people for no travel fee. I don't do loan signings there, however, just the usual notary stuff. My tiny office space in town only costs me $75 a month anyway - and it's convenient. I won't let anyone come to my house to do a signing of any kind. When people ask for a discount, I don't discount my signing fee, and I explain that by having met me at the coffee place or my office I've saved them a travel fee, and that is how I contribute to my community for those in financial hardship situations. If they want me to come to them, then I charge my full travel rate - their choice. My travel fee works out to about $40 an hour (round trip) I get both clients - those that are fine with paying the travel fee, and those that have the option of meeting me at my space in town or at the coffee place that's in the other direction. If I'm going to be in town all day, they can meet me there.

I've found that being a tad bit community minded plus the ad in the yellow pages has earned me repeat customers, referrals, and a lot more business with accounting/admin projects. People remember me and trust me and know I have their best interests in mind. I don't bother with a display ad in the yellow pages. Most folks are looking for someone close by, so they look for the nearest notary and let their fingers do the walking.

I realize most folks here focus on loan signings, but since I can't do edocs for lack of high speed internet (or cell reception) I can't earn a living as a notary, and while I don't consider it 'pin money', it's not to me, and I have other work I do for serious $$. So, I don't spend a bunch of yellow pages, but I would never NOT be in them, either.