Notary.net Blog

Montana State-Approved Notary Video Course

2010-06-09T14:26:00.001-07:00

Montana Notaries:
As of July 1, 2010 all new Montana notary applicants and any renewing notaries who have been notified by the Secretary of State's office of improper notarization are required to complete a mandatory education course. Notary.net is now approved to provide this course. We are the only company to provide notary training via streaming video for less than the cost of other companies' text-based courses. You can view our FREE PREVIEW here. Most of our business is from referrals from satisfied customers. If you know of anyone who needs notary training, please send them to us and you will be assured that we will give them the best possible service.

In addition to mandatory education, Montana has also lowered the minimum residency requirements from 1 year to 30 days.

We appreciate your business and look forward to continue to serve you.

-Your Friends at Notary.net

This blog has moved

2010-03-23T08:27:00.001-07:00

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Christmas Newsletter

2009-12-23T13:56:00.001-08:00

Check out our Christmas newsletter at: http://www.notary.net/christmas_2009.html

Cyber Monday

2009-11-30T09:53:00.000-08:00

Cyber Monday!

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. We are thankful for you and your continued loyalty to GSN/Notary.net. We also wanted to let you know that we are celebrating Cyber Monday by offering FREE shipping on orders of $25* or more. Go to www.Notary.net to order your notary supplies.

*Not applicable to package items.

November Newsletter

2009-11-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

We're Going Green

We have just unveiled our two economical and high quality "green" stamps. We now offer the Eco-Mark pre-inked (flash) stamp and the Trodat EcoPrinty self-inking (rubber) stamp. In addition to offering these new "green" stamps, we also manufacture our own stamps and embossers. We use the latest in laser technology to make the most precise stamps and embossers available. Not only does this increase our quality, but it also reduces turnaround time. Most stamps ordered prior to 12pm Pacific (3pm Eastern) will be sent out same day. We can also do overnight rush orders.

EcoMark

The EcoMark stamp can be best compared to the iStamp pre-inked stamp, however, it has the look and feel of a traditional self-inking stamp. It is manufactured using a low energy process that leaves little to no waste. It is delivered in a box made from recycled materials and printed with soy based ink. The EcoMark was designed so you never have to throw it away. When it is time to get a new stamp, you just replace the die box instead of replacing the entire unit. The EcoMark stamp is good for tens of thousands of impressions without reinking. If it does need to be reinked, it uses the iStamp waterproof oil-based ink. This is by far the highest quality stamp we make.

EcoPrinty

The EcoPrinty stamp is manufactured from 75% POST-CONSUMER material (excluding transparent parts, pad and die plate). The carton is made from 100% RECYCLED material. The EcoPrinty is comparable to the popular Ideal model stamps. It uses water-based ink for minimal bleed-through. Our supply packages include the EcoMark, but you can substitute an EcoPrinty simply by calling us at (888) 263-1977.

Order Now

State-Approved Pennsylvania Online Video Course

We are now approved to offer the Pennsylvania State-Approved 3 hour notary course to all new Pennsylvania notary applicants. We are the first company to offer streaming video notary courses to Pennsylvania notaries. The best part is we do not charge extra for this superior product. Don't take our word for it though. Watch our free preview

PayPal

We now offer a safer and more secure way to pay for our California customers. PayPal allows members to send money without sharing financial information, with the flexibility to pay using their account balances, bank accounts, credit cards or promotional financing. With many people tightening their financing and saying "goodbye" to their credit cards, this is a great way to order with Golden State Notary. We will soon have PayPal available nationwide.

Trivia Question

You are given a document from your close neighbor. It is in his father's name. He says, no problem, I have a Power of Attorney from my father saying that I can sign for him. You inspect the Power of Attorney and it is current and applies to the document he is having notarized. You ask him how his dad is doing. He tells you that his father passed away two days ago. What do you do?

a) Notarize the document and make a copy of the ORIGINAL Power of Attorney for your records.
b) Refuse to notarize since the principal is deceased.
c) Notarize the document as long as he writes his name as Attorney In Fact for his father.
d) Refuse to notarize since you must have a personal appearance by the person named in the document.

The correct answer is B. You cannot allow the attorney in fact to use a power of attorney for a deceased principal. When the principal "expires" so does the power of attorney. How do you know? You ask the attorney in fact how the principal is doing. If they say they passed away, then you cannot notarize. What if they lie? You cannot eliminate all fraud but you can at least avoid honest mistakes. It is always best to trust your gut. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Refer them to a "more competent" notary.

Bail Me Out Please

2009-08-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to tell you that I'm being locked up...that's right, I'm going behind bars to help Jerry's Kids© and MDA. To be released on good behavior I have to raise bail and I need your help!

All you have to do is click here to make a secure, online donation before 08/26/09. Your donation will help families living in our community and help guarantee me an early release. I can't wait to add you to my list of contributors.

Thanks in advance for your help. Don't hesitate to call or email me with any questions.

Together we'll make a difference,

Andy

P.S. I'm counting on you, click here to donate.

If the link above does not work, please cut and paste the address below into the address bar of your Internet browser.

https://www.joinmda.org/franklinstars2009/andy/

2009-07-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

Amidst the cookouts, watermelon, family, friends and fireworks, take the time to remember where we came from and where we are going as a country. America is still the greatest country on Earth. Despite the recession, politics, unstable world events, we still are blessed to be here. We are blessed to live here and blessed to be able to serve our members.

New Laws Share Common Theme

Illinois, Colorado and Montana each have passed laws regarding notary records effective June, July and October respectively. For many years we have taught you that the notary journal is your best friend if you are ever called to court. It is 100% proof positive that the constituent appeared before you for notary service. As was the case in a recent Illinois court case, the notary could have saved $30,000 had he properly maintained the journal and followed sound notary practices.

Our journals have been flying off the shelves. In fact, we are nearly completely out. Our next shipment is scheduled to be here on July 7. We are offering our high quality journals for 1/2 price through July 7. Stock up now and save yourself from a potential lawsuit later.

Order Notary Journals

Join us on Facebook

We now have a Facebook page! Become a fan and get access to exclusive content and deals you will not be able to find anywhere else. Facebook is a great way to connect with friends and colleagues around the world and will also allow you to stay up to date with notary law changes and special offers.

Trivia Question

Which of the following is true?

A. Every notary in the country is required to keep accurate notary records
B. If a notary does not keep written records and signs and seals a document, the notary could be called to court and be required to testify about the details of a disputed transaction.
C. If the notary does not keep records if required by the state the notary could be held liable for damages in a civil court.
D. Both B and C are correct.

The correct answer is D. The states that do not require a journal still recommend that notaries maintain a record of all notarial events.

Join us on Facebook

2009-06-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

Social networking sites such as Facebook are a great way to connect with friends, family and colleagues. We have recently launched a new "fan page" for all notaries public across the nation. Our Facebook "fans" will have access to exclusive deals and notary updates not available anywhere else. Not a member of Facebook? Click on the Facebook logo and sign up today.

We take pride in keeping up with technology to better serve our students. If you have any suggestions or comments, you can click on the "Discussions" tab on our Facebook fan page.

Lawsuit Helps Shape Illinois Law

2009-06-03T12:03:00.000-07:00

Effective June 1, 2009, new notary laws have taken effect in Illinois. These new laws affect identification requirements and real estate logging requirements for Cook County. We have incorporated the new laws with the old laws in our updated Illinois Online Video Course. The new course includes the new Cook County notary record form.

The lawsuit that was the catalyst for this new legislation involved a FedEx/Kinkos location where the employee notary notarized a document without all signers present. The EMPLOYER was held liable for the damages due to "negligent training and supervision." Had the FedEx/Kinkos employee taken our Illinois Notary Course, he would have fully understood his and his employer's liabilities and how to avoid such a costly lawsuit.

The case involves improper training, improper identification, no personal appearance, not securing the notary stamp, not securing the notary journal and improper supervision of an employee notary. The lawsuit states that the notary “had a number of problems that he didn’t realize [he had].” We cannot emphasize enough that every notary should go through our training program. Ignorance of the law is not a good enough defense. In this case, the notary settled for $30,000. The FedEx/Kinkos store was ruled liable for over $123,000 in damages plus legal fees. That is much more expensive than one of our online video courses.

Notaries and Employer's of notaries: Do not let this happen to you and/or your employees. Do your due diligence and have your notaries take our course. Whether you are in Illinois or any other state that does not require education, it is imperitive that you and/or your employee notaries know what they are doing and to stay out of trouble. See our notary training options.

For the full text of the Illinios Law Suit: http://www.state.il.us/court/OPINIONS/AppellateCourt/2008/1stDistrict/December/1062750.pdf

New Laws in Illinois

2009-05-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

As is often the case, legislation follows a problem. A recent lawsuit in Illinois has helped to spearhead some changes in notary law. We have made it easy for you and/or your employees to learn the new Illinois Notary Laws and to help protect your (and/or your company's) assets. Check out the free preview before you order the course.

California 3 Hour Renewing Course Now Online

2009-04-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that mandatory education has been in California for 4 years already. The laws have changed a bit from 2005. Now, the only significant difference between new and renewing notaries is 3 hours. Renewing notaries who have a commission expiration date of June 30, 2009 or later, are eligible for the 3 hour course in lieu of the 6 hour course. The only catch is you must take and PASS the notary exam before your commission expires to still be considered a renewing notary. If you wait to the last minute and fail your exam, you have to take the 6 hour course again! We try to teach people to RENEW EARLY, RENEW EARLY, RENEW EARLY. There is no penalty for early renewal, but waiting can be big penalties, such as a lapse in your commission.

Wisconsin Notary Section Has A Sense of Humor!

2009-02-27T08:02:00.000-08:00

I came across Wisconsin's top 10 reasons an application is rejected and was surprised to find out they have a sense of humor. See for yourself: http://www.sos.state.wi.us/pdf/notary_top_ten_list.pdf

One of my favorites was the one about the check disintegrating going through the postal system. Do you think that excuse will work for the IRS?

Notaries, Do You Know What You Can Charge???

2009-02-05T13:39:00.000-08:00

We had a lady concerned that she was over charged for a document with three signatures. Here is the transcript from that live chat session:

Customer Service: How may I help you today?

Christine: Is the notary charge per notary signature or per witness signature?

Christine: We just got charged $30 to notarize one document. That has never happened to me before.

Customer Service: The notary charges per signature notarized, per document. That is correct if it is 3 different signers.

Christine: So, if each person signed the same document, but only one notary signature appears and one notary seal. Under California law it is $30 to notarize that document?

Customer Service: That is the maximum the notary can charge, correct. There should have also been 3 separate journal entries as well.

Christine: That is very strange. I have had documents notarized before and we only were charged $10 for the notary seal/signature, even though two people signed the document.

Customer Service: Most notaries do not know what they are doing, unfortunately, or they were just giving you a discount.

Christine: Fed Ex Kinko's seems not to have an overall policy on what the notaries there are charging. Every store is doing it differently, acc'g to their corp H=Q

Customer Service: We have the same problem with UPS Store as well.

Christine: It does not seem right that they can charge so much to notarize a document. It's only a very short procedure, takes no more than 5 minutes.

Customer Service: However, the notary has UNLIMITED liability if they make a mistake. California has the highest paid notaries in the country.

Christine: Are you sure that this is the way it works in California? When I was practicing law in NY and was a notary, we did not do it this way.

Customer Service: New York has the same law as California. You were also under charging if you did it that way.

Christine: She could have charged us $10 for her one signature on the document. "Per signature" is vague to me. My understanding is that you're paying for the notary's signature and seal on your document. If you're notarizing five documents with three witnesses each, you're paying for five signatures, not fifteen.

Customer Service: That is incorrect. The notary is charging per notarized signature, no matter how many times the notary signs or seals the document. 5 documents, three signers each = $150, not $50.

Customer Service: This is not interpretation, this is state law.

Christine: What is the authority? Can you cite to the law?

Customer Service: One moment.

Customer Service: CA GC 8211 defines the fees that a notary can charge.

Customer Service: Section A states that: For taking an acknowledgment or proof of a deed, or other instrument, to include the seal and the writing of the certificate, the sum of ten dollars ($10) for EACH SIGNATURE TAKEN.

Christine: 8211. California Notary Public Maximum FeesFees charged by a notary public for the following servicesshall not exceed the fees prescribed by this section. (a) For taking an acknowledgment or proof of a deed, or otherinstrument, to include the seal and the writing of the certificate,the sum of ten dollars ($10) for each signature taken.

Christine: Yes, I see that. She did not write any certificate. All she did was stamp and sign a document we gave her, and put our signatures in her book. It also says maximum fees charged.

Customer Service: Writing of the certificate means that she wrote the names of the signers and the date the notarization took place, etc on the notary certificate.

Customer Service: Maximum fees, means that she could charge less if she wanted to.

Christine: It still to me could be understood as for her signature. It is hard to know exactly what this means.

Customer Service: I would suggest you speak to a lawyer then.

Christine: No that's fine. This is enough info for now. Thank you.

Customer Service: Thank you. Have a great day.

Custom Magnetic Car Signs Now Available

2009-01-29T14:03:00.000-08:00

You asked and we responded. We now create and ship magnetic car signs to help you promote your notary business. These signs are 100% custom and are only limited by your imagination. These signs can complement your current business cards design. You can also include your photo or company logo. The possibilities are endless. Go to our notary supplies page to order your Custom Magnetic Car Sign today!

We Want Your Feedback

2009-01-27T12:01:00.000-08:00

If this blog is a car, your comments are the gas. By clicking on the comments link below the post, you can let me know what you want from this blog. Plus it is great way for me to see who is actually out there reading it. Without feedback, I don't know which direction YOU would like me to go. I can come up with content, but I would like to come up with content that YOU want to read. I look forward to hearing from YOU.

2009 California Notary Public Handbook Now Available

2009-01-09T07:16:00.000-08:00

"The new phone book is here, the new phone book is here!" - The Jerk, 1979

You don't have to be a "jerk" to be excited about the new 2009 California Notary Handbook. It is wonderful to have this available in January. Last year we didn't get our grubby little hands on it until April. The Secretary of State's office did an amazing job getting this delivered early in a big election year, no less. If you are a notary in California, you must have a copy of this handbook nearby at all times. You can download it in PDF form here: http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/forms/handbook.pdf or order it from us here: http://gsn.notary.net/supplies/?productid=118

Signing Services Could Make You More Money

2009-01-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

It has long been thought that title companies are the holy grail for the loan signing agent. They pay the most money, so naturally you are going to want to concentrate your time and effort on these contacts. Lacey Horton, posted an interesting blog on her ActiveRain site: http://activerain.com/blogsview/232810/When-you-can-Work. She lays out the actual costs of a title company job versus a signing service job. What she discovered in this scenario, that the signing service was a higher hourly wage than the title company. Granted, this was based on several variables that likely will change from job to job, but here analysis brings up a good point. Many times notaries do not look at the bottom line profitability of an assignment. Instead they look at the income only. It is a good idea to create cost estimation of each of your services, such as cost per page printed and cost per mile driven. Once you know how much these items cost you, you will know what to charge and whether to accept an assignment or not.

UPS Notary Training Video Update

2009-01-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

This video was made private by the content creator, Dennis Stein, so it is no longer available for viewing. I know he thinks I am picking on him, but I am here to make sure that people follow notary law and keep themselves out of trouble. I have offered Dennis a free online notary course and am waiting to hear back from him. I used to send people to the UPS Store for notary service, but this video has given me reason to reconsider that.

How Not To Perform Notary Service in California

2009-01-05T10:05:00.001-08:00

This video shows that even with mandatory education, notaries still do not follow the law. The beginning of this video the notary pulls his journal and stamp from an unlocked drawer. California law says your journal and stamp must be in your exclusive control, in a safe and locked location.

The next mistake is that the notary chooses the type of service "Let's just do a jurat then." That is unlicensed practice of law. The notary cannot choose which service to perform.

He then says that it is best to fill out the document prior to signing it. IT IS REQUIRED that the document be filled out. You cannot notarize a document with blanks left unfilled.

The other problem is during the journal entry, he does not hide the previous entries. The journal is limited public record and you cannot give away the information on previous journal entries without written request of the Name of the person, Month of Notary Service and Document Name.

He also fails to put the person under oath. You must swear or affirm to the contents of the document.

Please, no matter whether you are in California or Alaska or any other states, take one of our classes so you know what you are doing.

King Of Queens - Notary Public Episode

2009-01-02T13:30:00.001-08:00

Arthur decides to take a notary public class at the community college. The bit isn't until the end, but it is still funny. Previous versions of this video were removed due to copyright issues so, this is (hopefully) the permanent location.

Another YouTube Video of Note

2008-12-30T12:49:00.001-08:00

I thought this one was another creative way to advertise notary services. I'm not sure if it is the image you would want, but it is still worth taking a look at.

It's a New World

2008-12-30T12:23:00.001-08:00

Sunil Jaswal, a California notary public gets it. He has used YouTube to promote his notary business. This simple video, shows his potential clients how professional he is and that he is a leader in technology. It bestows trust without even meeting him. What a contrast this video is compared to a traditional view of a notary public.

Oregon State-Approved Course Now Online!

2008-12-15T13:58:00.001-08:00

Notary.net now offers its popular online video course in Oregon. You can view a free preview at: http://or.notary.net

Notary.net is only the second private company to be approved for the mandatory education course in Oregon. We are still the only company to offer online video courses in any state.

Notary Training After You Get In Trouble?!?

2008-12-15T07:43:00.000-08:00

I received a nice phone call from the Secretary of State's office in Maryland. They wanted to preview our Maryland Online Notary Course prior to referring notaries to take it. For lesser notary offenses, the Maryland Secretary gives notaries the option to take a training class, similar to defensive driving school if you get a ticket. While Maryland has attempted to pass a mandatory education law, it seems a little backwards to be trained after you do something wrong. Keep yourself out of trouble by getting your training first, then become a notary. The cost of our course is MUCH less than possible fines and attorney fees.

Make $100,000 a Year as a Loan Signer!

2008-12-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

This claim made the loan signing industry boom a few years back. People were eager to jump on this "get-rich-quick" program by setting your own hours and only working a few hours a day. People quickly realized how difficult it is to gross $100k as a loan signer, let alone net that amount.

Assuming you work 5 days a week and take a 2 week vacation and make an average of $100.00 per loan signing, you would need to have 2.667 loan signing assignments PER DAY to GROSS $100k per year. If you factor in printing costs, gas, wear and tear on your car, your NET gets down closer to $50,000. It is still a respectable amount of money, but most notaries are lucky to get 3 assignments per week, let alone one day.

This is not meant to discourage you, only to show you how it is neither easy nor automatic. Real Estate agents can make $1,000,000 a year, but they probably do not do so in the first year! Any business takes time. Have patience, build your business steadily and you will be able to have steady work. Eventually, you may make more than $100k or realize it is just too much work and move on to the next late night get-rich-quick scheme.

To Journal or Not to Journal

2008-12-11T14:01:00.001-08:00

I get calls all the time about whether you should log an event in the journal or not. For the record, here is our policy on the journal:

If you perform notary service, log it in the journal.
If you deny notary service, for any reason, log it in the journal
If your state does not require journals, log your service anyway.
If you have multiple documents from the same signer, make one journal entry per document, per person signing.
If you do not charge for notary service, log it in your journal and the reason why you did not charge.
Make sure the signer signs your journal and, if possible, thumbprint the journal as well.
If you run out of space in your journal, buy another one and possibly a back-up!

The notary journal with the signature and thumbprint of the signer is positive proof that the signer appeared before the notary. It is fool proof evidence if ever called to court. Your journal is your best friend, as long as you are consistent in using it.

Make Your "Competition" Your Friend

2008-12-10T11:46:00.001-08:00

Ever get a call for a loan signing job that you couldn't accept due to scheduling conflicts? Instead of sending the title or loan signing company to find a random notary, you should point them to a network of friends in your area. How do you find these "friends?" You should look no further than your "competition." Get to know other notaries in your area. By networking with a few other notaries, you can each send each other business when one of you isn't available. You can expand or stay small if you choose. You may have seen examples of these networks on the internet, such as: www.californiansanetwork.com and http://floridansanetwork.com/. If you get big enough, you can start your own Loan Signing Company and not have to worry about if and when you will get paid.

Business is Slow, What Should I Do?

2008-12-09T13:14:00.001-08:00

As a business owner, I look at slow times as perfect opportunities to expand and develop new programs and products. It is important that you do the same and not sit around and wait for the phone to ring. Think of new marketing ideas, read a marketing book, such as Guerrilla Marketing. Slow times are not necessarily bad. Make sure you keep a positive attitude and think about what you can do today that will make you more money tomorrow. Spring is right around the corner and the market will be flooded with home sales. Use this time wisely and you will reap the rewards in the coming months.

LoanSigner101.com Acquired by GSN, Inc.

2008-12-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

Kelly Robertson, owner of LoanSigner101.com, SigningAgentCoach.com and others has agreed to release these domains to Golden State Notary, Inc. Robertson used these domains to promote her signing agent mentoring program. She has left the notary industry to pursue other projects. Her presence will be missed, but her legacy remains.

LoanSigner101.com will be the new gateway for our new loan signing training program. We will have this new training program available by the end of 2008. We are now accepting feedback on what you, the student, would like in a loan signing training course. We have received several great suggestions, but please keep them coming.

Notary Website Marketing

2008-12-05T13:40:00.000-08:00

If you are a notary looking to make an internet presence for soliciting business, you need to check out Sharon Hassler's new eBook, "So...You Think You Want a Website." Sharon is an internet SEO (search engine optimization) expert and has written this eBook as an exhaustive guide for any notary, whether technically savvy or not. Whether you have your own personal website or if you are just using notary search sites such as Search.Notary.net and GoGetNotary.com. This eBook will show you the ins and outs of getting your notary website to the top of Google, Yahoo! and MSN.

New York Newspaper "Steals" Empire State Building

2008-12-04T07:14:00.000-08:00

The New York Daily News stole the Empire State Building in 90 minutes by drafting bogus documents and with bogus notary seal. Their stunt showed just how easy it is for anyone to obtain a notary stamp. Link to Story

This story echoed the one of Matthew Cox that aired on Dateline in April of 2007: Matthew Cox Story. The title was "Thief of Hearts" but it should have been "Con Artist of the Year." Cox used single, desperate women to pull off his mortgage fraud schemes. He would purchase a home with them, get a mortgage, then file a bogus deed of reconveyence on the property. He used a fake notary stamp to do so. He would then apply for several mortgages simultaneously on an apparent paid for home. He did this in states like Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and Texas where there are no regulations on how notary seals are manufactured. To this date Arizona, California, Georgia, North Dakota, Oregon and Washington are the only states that restrict manufacturing of a notary seal. In fact, in this story, Dateline created a notary stamp in Texas with the name of I.D. Fraud. The Texas Secretary of State said that they would not burden businesses with verifying that the person is authorized to have the notary seal.

Further complicating this story is that the county clerks are not verifying that the documents are legit. It would only take a few extra minutes to check to see if the notary stamp was legit.

With more and more of these stories surfacing, hopefully, more states will realize that their archaic notary laws and policies need updating to help deter some of these serious crimes.

State-Approved Missouri Notary Course Now Online

2008-12-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

We have been working diligently with the Missouri Secretary of State to get our online video course approved. It has been filmed, reviewed and approved! We offer what no one else in the country offers: Streaming video online notary courses. It is the next best thing to being personally taught by Bruce Johnson. If you would like more information about the mandatory Missouri notary education, please go to http://mo.notary.net. If you would like to view a FREE sample of this innovative notary training course, please click this link: Missouri Notary Course.

It is our pleasure and privilege to continue to the be the notary training technology leader in the U.S. We always love to hear from our students, so feel free to drop a line or two in the comments below.

Notary.net Phone Call

2008-10-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

This is the transcript from an actual phone call to our office:

US: "Thank you for calling, how may I help you?"

Customer: "Yes, I need information about renewing my loan signing certification."

US: "You do not need to renew it."

SILENCE

Customer: "What do you mean? It has an expiration date."

US: "Did you get it from the NNA?"

Customer: "Yes."

US: "They want you to pay more money. You do not need to renew it. Certification gives others peace of mind that you know what you are doing. Now that you have experience, certification is less important."

Customer: "I understand. Thank you so much. I love you guys. You are way better than them."

US: "We are here for you and our prices reflect that."

Customer: "Thank you."

US: "Have a great day."

Customer "You too!"

5+ GB of Streaming Video

2008-06-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

I had a complaint the other day that this blog hasn't been updated in a while, so here it is. We are in the middle of yet another innovative project that no one else has done. We have spent the last month uploading over 5 gigabytes of Flash video files to our server. That equates to about 21 hours of video! We currently have 44 state-specific online notary courses delivered via streaming video. We are working on the final 7 right now. Oregon, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Florida all require that we get approved to teach the mandatory notary course. North Carolina and Nevada have state-sponsored courses only. Louisiana is one of the most unique states there is when it comes to notary law.

One of the most exiting things about this project is that we do everything in-house, so we are able to keep our costs down. In fact, you can get our state-specific streaming video courses for the same price or oftentimes less than you can get a generic text-based course. Our philosophy has always been to offer the highest quality at the lowest prices. That way you have no reason not to choose us. Some people don't understand this.

I tried to give away a course to one lady in Tennessee. She signed up for FREE membership about 2 weeks prior. We sent her an email notifying her that the Tennessee course was online. She notified me that she was already a notary and did not want to receive any more emails. That didn't make much sense to me. She said she didn't need our free membership because she was already paid up with the NNA. I told her she can take our course for free since she would have been one of the first to try the Tennessee course. She declined. I asked her why it was so hard to give her stuff for free while she is so eager to pay the NNA. I never got a satisfactory answer. Oh well, I can't convince everyone that we are better, I guess I just have to wait a few more years for people to realize it.

The Search For Notary - Top 6 Sites

2007-09-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

There are definitely many options for notaries to choose from when they are looking to advertise online. I have done the homework for you and have broken down the six top (and only websites) you should look at when you spend your notary advertising money:

Site	Google	Alexa	Compete	Price
123notary.com	6	238,913	9884	$0-$99+
search.notary.net	5	191,117	6028	$19.95
gomobilenotary.com	4	142,737	4424	$19.95-$39.95
gogetnotary.com	4	206,244	2217	$49
notaryrotary.com	3	78,376	16019	$59-$179
lendinguniverse.com	3	142,011	14,454	$0

GOOGLE
This column represents the site's Google Page Rank. Google ranks each of the pages it indexes on a scale from 0-10, 10 being the highest and the best. This score is based on several things, but generally, the higher the score, the higher that page will show up on competitive searches.

ALEXA
Alexa (or Amazon) has a tool bar that tracks where people go on the internet. Based upon those results, it ranks websites from 1 to several million. #1 right now is Yahoo.com, #2 is Google. This ranking is based on the ENTIRE domain. So, sites such as ESPN.go.com, Disney.go.com, ABC.go.com, all share the same base domain: go.com. All three sites would have the same Alexa rank even though they are essentially independent sites. You can see how the traffic actually breaks down:

espn.go.com - 61%
disney.go.com - 25%
abcnews.go.com - 3%
movies.go.com - 2%
abc.go.com - 2%
disneyshopping.go.com - 1%
abclocal.go.com - 1%
forums.go.com - 1%

So, in this example, forums.go.com would show the same Alexa ranking as espn.go.com, even though espn.go.com receives MUCH more traffic.

COMPETE
Compete.com works similarly to Alexa, but outputs the data slightly differently. Instead of ranking sites in order, Compete.com estimates the number of monthly visitors. The more visitors a site receives, the more accurate the number. So, the higher the number the better.

THE OTHERS
The top 6 sites above were found by searching Google for: "find a notary" and "notary search" The other sites found ranked far behind the six, but to be fair, here are their statistics:

Site	Google	Alexa	Rank	Price
americannn.com	4	1,000,732	N/A	$29.95
thenotarylist.com	4	1,731,706	918	$30
cmna.net	4	4,588,834	1370	$19-$34.50
findanotary.com	4	7,937,865	890	$39
notary-services.com	3	694,521	3409	$0-$65
50statenotary.com	3	752,567	2192	$69.99
notaryone.net	3	989,660	2637
notarylocator.com	3	989,742	1702	$12.75-$24.95
needanotary.net	3	1,409,912	1365
notaryfind.com	2	1,164,338	N/A	$29.95
notaryofcalifornia.com	2	5,247,270	N/A	$20
notaryphonebook.com	2	5,252,106	1187	$0-$29.99
unitednotaries.org	0	102,383	1357	$55+

Calling All Notary Bloggers

2007-09-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

Notary.net is opening its doors to notaries nationwide to help contribute to the Notary.net Blog. As a Notary.net blogger, you can post anything that may help notaries in your state or nationwide. You can link your posts to your product(s) and/or your personal website. If you are interested, please go to: http://www.notary.net/contact.cfm.

Notary.net Journal On Showtime's Dexter

2007-09-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

I got a call from the Art Department of the hit Showtime series called Dexter. They wanted a notary journal for an upcoming episode. So, I sent them a couple of the Notary.net journals. They will be shown on Episode 11 of Season 2, which should be in December sometime. If you haven't seen the show, it is actually pretty good. Dexter is a serial killer, but he only kills "bad people." It is definitely not a show for the kiddies, but it has us hooked. I will let you know more details as I get them. If you don't get Showtime, they also have Season 1 on DVD.

New York Notary Course Online

2007-08-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

Notary.net has produced an industry first, streaming video online notary course. Taught by veteran instructor, Bruce Johnson, this online course will teach you how to pass the difficult and mandatory NY notary exam. Not only that, but Bruce goes beyond the basic information and teaches the notary how to protect his/her assets.

This innovative course features 32 video sessions in the popular Flash format. In a few short hours, we can take an individual from knowing nothing about notary public law, to being able to pass the NY notary exam. Bruce has been teaching New York notary law for over 10 years, so you know you will be getting the highest quality training for a ridiculously low price.

This online notary course is available for an extremely limited time for only $29.95. Take advantage of this introductory offer now. If you do not need the course, please pass this on to someone who you think might be interested.

Thank you for your patience in waiting for this course to be available. We believe this will be a great resource for all NY notaries.

http://www.notary.net/newyork/

Incorporate Your Notary Signing Business

2007-06-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

S-Corporations are the best legal entity to protect your assets. Many notaries never take the time to setup a legal business for their notary work. Even with a bond and E&O insurance, you still could be putting you and your family at risk.

Lawsuits are one of the most devastating events in a small to medium size business. Big companies like McDonald's can afford to pay-off settlements for hot coffee on a lap. A small business doesn't have the luxuries of high profit and full-time legal staff. What most people don't realize is that a lawsuit against a notary can mean that a notary would lose all of their assets (car, home, television, etc.) The best way to prevent this is to place the liability on the corporation and not the individual.

It is easier than you think to incorporate. Legal Zoom can do it for you for as little as $139.

The advantages of a corporation reach beyond the protection from losing personal assets from a business lawsuit. The tax advantages of a corporation also make it a popular choice. You can expense gas charges, automobile maintenance and purchasing (or leasing), etc. You should consult with a CPA for all the different tax advantages your corporation can offer you.

Don't wait until the lawsuit is already at your door. Protect your family and assets by incorporating your notary business today.

New Site Design For GSN

2007-03-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

We are currently working on a redesign of the Golden State Notary website to match the style of Notary.net and to be more user-friendly and streamlined. The initial design can be found at http://gsn.notary.net. We would appreciate your feedback on the new design and any way we can make it better for you, the consumer. While you are there, be sure to vote on whether you like the new design or not.

Also, there has been talk that this new design might have some similarities to the new Chargers Unis...what do you think?

Notary Business

2007-02-20T12:47:00.000-08:00

I found this business for sale today:

"ON-LINE NOTARY COURSE - At any given time, it is estimated that there are more than 260,000 commissioned notaries in the State of California. Starting July 1, 2005, all California Notary Public applicants are required to provide proof of completion of a six-hour course of study, which includes the information needed to be able to complete the proctored written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State. In response to these requirements, the owner of this business developed a comprehensive on-line notary course which has been approved by the Secretary of State, and has subsequently linked to the Secretary of State website. The course material is comprehensive and covers notarial laws, procedures and ethics to educate the notary and help minimize errors. The course is designed to assist new, as well as veteran notary applicants by providing the information necessary to pass the written notary exam. This is an owner/operator e-business (PR4) that is home-based with no employees, that can be operated by one person from anywhere that has internet access. The current owner spends approximately 1-2 hours per day managing the site as needed, primarily sending out certificates of completion to students that have completed the course. It is an easy business to operate and the seller will provide adequate training to bring the new owner up to speed. A person does NOT have to be a notary in order to run this business. However, they should be able to answer questions about the content of the course. If you would like more information about this exciting opportunity, including a full business profile, please contact us today. Sunbelt eBusiness Advisors is a full service business brokerage firm that specializes in the sale of websites and other internet related businesses. As part of the world's largest network of business intermediaries, we have the knowledge and experience that comes from selling more existing businesses than any other firm. You can learn more about our services by visiting www.sunbeltebusiness.com."

I never knew it was that easy to run a notary business: 1 person, 1-2 hours a day. Give me a break...it is people like this get-rich-quick, setup and run person that is marring the notary training industry. Such a flippant attitude for something that has legal implications...no wonder so many notaries don't know what they are doing. Good job buddy, I'm glad you are selling, but I don't think you will get the $78,000 you are looking for. It is free to get approved by the state and couldn't cost more than $5000 to get course up and running on the internet.

Immitation is the best form of flattery...

2007-02-12T11:17:00.000-08:00

I did a search today for "search.notary.net" on Google and found this page: Search Results. It appears that NotaryOne.net is "cloning" the map search similar to the one on Notary.net. While there is nothing that prevents them from doing this, it is good to know that we are doing something right if someone wants to clone or copy it. This is just another example how we set the standard for others to follow in this industry.

10,000 Journals

2007-02-09T08:43:00.000-08:00

We just received a shipment of 10,000 soft cover notary journals. We don't have enough room for the 250 boxes in our storage. So, we are giving away the journals for free to make more room. All you have to pay is shipping and handling. You have nothing to lose and you are helping us out. For more information check out this site: Notary Journal.

Custom Notary Websites

2007-01-26T09:09:00.000-08:00

Commerce is changing drastically. With the Gen-Xers grown up in Corporate America, you need to make sure you are evolving with the times and not a dinosaur. The fact that you are reading this is good...it means you have a computer, you are on the internet and you are seeking more information about notary. Or, someone printed it out for you since you do not and are not any of those things. Regardless, you are reading this for a reason. Do you know how easy it is to get your own website? It is much easier than you think. Notary.net can get you your own personal website for only $249! This includes unlimited email addresses, 1 year of hosting, etc. If you are wondering if you really need a website, the question you should ask is how serious are you about your notary business. If you want to be taken seriously, get your own website. We will take care of all the technical aspects, all you supply is the text. For more information go to: Notary Websites

Notary Web Awards

2007-01-10T07:09:00.000-08:00

Notary.net is the source of the one and only Notary Web Awards. Every month we choose a notary-related website that stands out above the rest. This month we are recognizing NotaryGift.com a blog site that helps loan signers to grow their business which translates into more money. This site is a wealth of information that is FREE, which is why it's a gift. 2007 will likely be a year in which this website really takes off. It is worth every penny, so go check it out and tell a friend!

If you would like your website to be considered for future awards, please contact us.

Is it time to backup your data?

2006-12-13T09:59:00.000-08:00

It has probably happened to all of you. One day your computer is working fine, the next day your hard drive crashes. I can still hear that terrible clicking and grinding sound of my last hard drive dying and all my precious data lost. How smart would I have been if I had just backed up my data a week (or even a month) earlier. The truth is that it is way more cost-effective and less time consuming to perform regular backups of your irreplaceable digital life. With the plummeting costs of DVD burners and external hard drives, there is no reason why a weekly backup should not be on your regular work schedule. I like to do it every Friday, but it always seems there is a mad dash to get everything done before the weekend. Whatever day you do I HIGHLY recommend making it a priority to ensure that your files are saved in more than one location. If you need help, I encourage you to contact your local computer nerd.

Have any data loss horror stories? Share them with us.

New Feature

2006-12-07T10:22:00.000-08:00

We have just added an Avatar feature for the Notary.net Message Forums. Now, members can login to their account and click "Upload Your Avatar" to have a personal picture displayed in the Notary.net message forums. So, what are you waiting for? Login to your account now and start chatting.

Nationwide Notary Search

2006-11-30T12:21:00.000-08:00

Find a Notary

Notary.net has come up with an innovative new way to search for and find notaries throughout the country. We have combined the power of Google Maps with our notary database to make the best notary search available. Notaries also benefit by having a 5 page website with contact forms and HTML customization options. For only $19.95 for a year, you cannot beat this anywhere on the net. Check out this new notary search.

Welcome to the Notary.net Blog

2006-09-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

It was bound to happen. Sometimes you just have so much information that you need to get out to your clients that you need to put them somewhere. This is where we can update you on what is affecting you as a notary. Please feel free to share your comments on any of the posts or about something you want us to "blog" about.