Posted by Bee_CA on 10/20/11 3:52pm
Msg #401133

Le tip

Has anyone joined a "marketing" group such as Le-tip to market your notary business? If so, I am interested in your results. I attended a meeting today for my local group and I am debating the benefits of joining. Thank you!

Reply by topflyt on 10/20/11 4:39pm
Msg #401136

Someone else here said that they joined LeTip and thought it was very good.

Reply by Treasure Valley Notary - Tina on 10/20/11 5:23pm
Msg #401144

Hi Bee. LeTip has a great reputation. There is also BNI. These are leads groups. Normally they will ask that you don't attend any other group. The purpose is that you are dedicated to your group of people and help each other build your businesses. You will be required to bring each other leads. So you need to ask yourself . . . what kind of business are you hoping to build? Loan signing, notary, etc.

I am a partner in Idaho Business Women's Network and we are a networking group. A networking group is different than a leads group. We don't have restrictions of what other groups you can belong to. We also encourage working within the network, but you have your choice to choose from. We have hundreds of members vs only a few (most groups like LeTip max out at 30 members). Networking groups don't restrict the amount of people in a single industry.

I personally don't market my "notary" business through this method. But I don't usually do just a standard notarization. And since our market is very narrow, and most groups don't cater to our industry needs, I feel that it is not a good match for me. Others feel different about that. It is a personal choice, not a right or wrong.

You need to decide just how much it is going to cost you for a year or two at the very least. Networking is all about building relationships. People normally do business with people that they know, like and trust. Trust is a key with networking. People will not give you referrals until that happens. It can be very time consuming, unless you are already really known. Just attending a few times, hit or miss, will lead to very poor results.

Most importantly, no matter which type of group you join or visit, you need to follow up. People attend these kinds of events and then wonder why it hasn't helped their business. I normally find that it is because they just assumed that by being a "member" they will have this wonderful following. Build those relationships by attending the meetings, but also by doing a one-on-one. Really get to know them.

Hope all this helps. if you have any specific questions, I will be happy to help. Best of luck to you.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/20/11 7:52pm
Msg #401163

I was a member for a number of years when I was first getting started. It paid off for me because there was a prolific mortgage broker in that chapter who was loyal to the group - until the market went south.

These days, I don't think it's worth it for me any more. It requires a significant commitment of time and you're always looking for ways to tip others in the group. To me, that became like another job, which I don't need! It's also rather expensive and I felt I could find better ways to invest in my notary business.

I made lots of friends there and it was good for me from a personal growth perspective (e.g. getting comfortable meetin' and greetin' in large groups of people I don't know - something I was NOT comfortable doing prior), so I'm not sorry I joined when I did. But I probably wouldn't do it again.

Reply by NJDiva on 10/20/11 10:42pm
Msg #401176

I'm a member of LeTip and in fact was who had mentioned

it last week. Wow, Tina HIT it on the head. She explained it better than I would have that's for sure.

There's only one industry in every chapter so you have that advantage. They don't have a category for CNSA or NSA so I am under the Mobile Notary category, which is fine, because that's a part of my business as well.

There happens to be a mortgage broker and a title company in my chapter and I've learned quite a bit. They are current on what's going on in the market, so I'm kept very much up to date on whats going on from week to week. Not only do you get TIPS, you get LEADS. As was mentioned, in order to be a member, you must give each other leads. It can be challenging, but if you keep your ears and mind open, they're out there.

Additionally, we all work to help our group grow (ours happens to be very new so we're trying to build our Chapter.) I've yet to do it, though I've put it out there.

I've definitely acquired business from joining. We have a branch manager for a large bank chain in my Chapter and she's gotten me in as her regions "safety deposit box notaries".

Have I made my money back and is it worth it? I'm not sure that I've made my money back as of this date, but I have no doubt that I've put myself in a position to continue to build my business. I think it's worth it. My membership is up this month and the only reason I'm even minutely reconsidering is because we meet at 7am.....UUUUUUGH! I used to be such a morning person. Does that change as you get older or something? tee hee

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.

Reply by Jessica Ward on 10/20/11 11:20pm
Msg #401181

Not LeTip, but BNI

I attended a couple of BNI meetings. Holy moses, their fees were atrocious. There was not a mortgage broker or loan officer in the group, there was a prepaid legal person, and a couple of investment people. There's NO WAY I would have ever made my dues back, but I did make some valuable connections to my business just through my visits--I visited by way of a contractor friend, and connected with a investment broker, who was able to roll-over my 401k from an old job when I really needed to. He's actually turned out to be a good resources.

I won't rule out trying networking groups in the future, but I think I'll stick to service-oriented groups like Rotary.

JW

Reply by Treasure Valley Notary - Tina on 10/21/11 9:29am
Msg #401210

Re: Not LeTip, but BNI

Don't discount other types of networking also. Rotary, Lions, etc are great. But then there are normally smaller networking groups. Can't give names, because they are not national. If there aren't any of this type, start one up. That is how Idaho Business Women's Network began. We are on the heels of taking it national. We also found that leads groups don't fit manys needs and this does. Plus it is very inexpensive with a whole lot of bang. It has blessed so many lives.

So look for the chamber of commerces and then expand from there. If you are in a big city, I would suggest going out to the smaller areas. Normally the big cities are focused around their big businesses not the small businesses and the same with the chambers. We actually belong to all of the small chambers here in our valley. But not the Boise Metro Chamber because of the lack of care for small businesses (can't blame them, they are chasing $$$, which is their primary focus).

It is work building relationships. Track your #'s, set your goals and watch your business grow (IF you do the work)!

If anyone would like to know more about starting up a networking group please ask.

Reply by Jessica Ward on 10/21/11 12:30pm
Msg #401233

And never discount good old volunteerisim

It's a great way to be remembered and network with many other people. I'm really involved in adoption groups (we have two adopted children) and almost all of my general notary work comes through these channels. Tons of adoption documents have to be notarized. I just worked with a family this week on 14 separate documents for their foreign adoption.

I'm also called upon by families from the church as well.
Jess