I want GNW to become the major source of my revenue.
I’m fed up with the low ball fees from signing companies, waiting to get paid and stressing out over printing last minute doc packages that are 150-200 pages, and having my appointments and schedule thrown off. I’m burnt out on these Title, Lender, and Signing Companies that don’t respect MY Business!
I have been doing more GNW and love it! I get called for a notarization need by clients who find me on a Google search/my website and I schedule them, drive, they have the paperwork, I do my thing, leave my biz card, get paid cash and go home. No docs to print, scan back or drop off. Easy -peasy.
But, these don’t pay as well as a refi/ real estate transaction- like how much can I charge someone for just one notarization? It’s $5/per signature in PA and I don’t want my ‘travel/convenience’ fee to be so exorbitant that they go somewhere else. I charge $35-$50 for a one page doc, depending on the distance and take it from there for things more complicated.
The other factor is: How often do people need a notary? The repeat business in this industry from GNW is not the major percentage of income. One needs to constantly get new business.
Any ideas to share regarding ways to find sources of GNW so I can increase my revenue from this work? Or how to become more noticed?
Thanks in advance
Hello, I’m sorta in the same mindset as you when it comes to signing, title companies. As for me, I’ve been reaching out to the local nursing homes, living assistance facilities. Found out last week about car dealerships they always need a notary. I will update you in a few weeks and let you know what I have found out on that line of income. Have a great day.
Market to attorneys, home health agencies, hospitals and nursing homes…bring your business cards to local schools and leave a bunch in the office.
Set up a good FB page to expand your reach
I convinced a senior care corporation with 5 facilities in my county that offering an onsite Notary Public would be a valuable service for their residents. Each week, I made my rounds. Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8 to 10 I was at #1, from 11 to 1 I was at #2. Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8 to 10 I was at #3 and from 11 to 1 I was at #4. Fridays I was at #5 (the smallest facility) from 8 to noon. They promoted my service to their residents, who quickly passed the word around to friends and relatives. Within a couple of months, I was busy from the time I arrived to the time I left. Then COVID came along. I hope I’ll be able to work out something after the bug is conquered.
Hi Linda, I have a question regarding the FB page, what information would I put on FB, would I create a new page, or do I use the current page I already have? Thank in advance for your help.
I made a page for my business only - described my business, used to post hints and tips, included my business phone and hours of service. I took it down a couple, three years ago as I got involved in a couple other “job” ventures (along with a car accident) and couldn’t do mobile notary work anyway.
You’d set it up just like your personal page but include business info only - promote your business -
Linda,
Thanks for the tips. As far as a FB page, honestly- it’s too much work and I don’t see it as a great source of revenue. In our business, what is there to post about in terms of ‘keeping it fresh’? I think folks are exhausted by keeping up with social media these days. I know I am…
Well, SEO and social media are crucial - it will keep you in contact with your community - where you’ll want to do the GNW jobs - which is what this topic was about. The more your name is out there the more people know who to call for notary work - or someone saw something online on FB, wait let me find that post/page
It depends on how much you want to market;
I have developed that mindset too, to do GNW. A while back I let my friend who’s a realtor know that I’m a notary. So she remembered me when she needed me to do a TODD (transfer of death deed)(my first time doing it) for her mother and she called me. It was very easy and got my fee on the spot. I was gonna do it for free but she wouldn’t let me😂. She already had the documents all I had to do was ask “do she acknowledge what she was signing and did she know and she said yes”. The doc was notarized and I was out the door. I said hmm…I can DO this kind of stuff. So I’m gonna start marketing myself more. Blessings to all of you.
Linda
It’s not that I don’t want to put out the effort to market, but maintaining a FB page is tough for this business. It’s not like I have ‘sales, events, etc’ to advertise. Finding relevant material to put on the page is a big challenge and keeping it up -even harder.
Thanks for the information
Thank you for the information
I used to be on FB in the past to market my prior businesses and FB always want you to create a personal page which I hated. Well…needless to say it was useless for me and too much marketing and too much money I spent and lost trying to market so I shut it down.
Be blessed.
Screw FB, its a sewer. Put up a GoogleMyBusiness page and you’ll get business w/out having to put up with the social media cesspool on FB & Twitter. My GMB page gets 500+ visitors a month and I get numerous incoming calls from just that. It’s a numbers game but it’s a much better alternative than throwing up a page on FB imo. I deactivated my acct 6/mo ago and it’s been good for the soul. Good luck
Glenn, I do have a Google Business page that gets lots of ‘views’ but nowhere near that many people actually reach out to me. But it IS a worthwhile way for folks to find me. I agree with you, this business is a ‘numbers game’ b/c we are not regular ‘repeat’ business, unless we get a title company, law firm or some other type of business that requires a notary to partner up with. I’m still on FB but more so for the community FB pages so I have a presence. My personal page I don’t do much with.
I’m also on Nextdoor, which raises awareness of my business to many surrounding communities.
Hello. Here’s an idea for another way to market your business. I joined my local Chamber of Commerce a week ago and I’ve been receiving calls since. One call was from a local golf club putting together gift packages and offering small businesses the opportunity to have their logo and business info on an item inside the packages. I’m definitely signing on as such advertising is far-reaching and my business info will be out there for 12 months. You can also put business card-sized ads in local publications. Another idea is to have your business card made into large magnet signs for the sides of your vehicle. You get exposure everywhere you go and shop. People can take a picture of your sign and have your info in their phone. Take business cards with you everywhere you go, get creative and remember that you have to spend money to make money. It is worth it when customers start calling.
Also, I’m in Virginia where $5 is the most we can charge per certificate/notarization (not per signature), so I definitely understand your concern about the travel fee being more than what you can charge to notarize a document. If you’re afraid of your travel fee scaring off those seeking general notarizations, consider either not charging within a certain radius from your home or office, or charge actual mileage and base it on the IRS rate. Then charge the larger flat rate for travel outside of your established local radius.
Best of luck with your business.
If your area has a Nextdoor App, list it there. I just posted one earlier this week that I notarize POAs, and got a response and an appointment for later this week. I asked her for the going rate for a signature in CA- $15. Since she’s practically around the corner from me, it’d be silly to charge for a traveling fee.
Thanks, this sounds great! Tell us more.
Check out Laura Biewer’s At Your Service website. She is the expert on GNW. I’m with you on signing services etc. I do both. I market myself for free on Google my Business platform. The more you post, the more responses you get. Free advertising and close to home!
Good Morning, Newbie here. What is GNW? Thanks!