- Branding
- Expert-ism
- The Small Business Development Center

-Pricing Determination for Maximum Profits
-Boost Your Profit Margins by Refilling and Bulk Buying

-Bring Success into Clear Focus (Personal Editorial)

-Feedback Page

Pet Lovers:  A notary dog which belongs to one of our notaries (who shall remain anonymous) is in need of surgery.  This is going to cost $900.  The notary does not have the money to do this.  To read this page, please go here.  It has been updated to give you more information.  UPDATE 06-25-06:  IT'S DONE!!!  The wonderful NotaryRotary.com community put it together for Lil Bit.  Please see this page!

Greetings All!   Learn to work smarter, not harder!

Brenda Stone - June 24, 2006 - Texas-Signing-Agent.com

If you follow my blogs and posts on NotaryRotary.com  you know I have taken a part-time job at the local, and quite effective Brazos Valley branch of the Small Business Development Center (http://www.bvsbdc.org ). I have done so to compliment my notary signing agent income due to the rising interest rate which has such a large affect on my notary closing business. Not all states are affected by this fact of life, however, Texas is one state which is feeling the impact in the notary loan closing business.

Some of the inroads to working smarter and not harder will be considered in the ideas offered in today's short articles.  If you make it to the end and Bring Success Into Focus, you might also find I have answered the question of why I write this newsletter. To read this entire article go here.
 

Branding

Brenda Stone - June 24, 2006 - Texas-Signing-Agent.com

(This short blogged article on branding originally appeared NotaryDepot.com.)

Here is a quick, down and dirty explanation of what "brand" means. I could not say it better myself, so I won't.

What makes up a brand identity?   Brand identity includes brand names, logos, positioning, brand associations, and brand personality. A good brand name gives a good first impression and  evokes positive associations with the brand. To read this article, go here.
 

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Expert-ism
Brenda Stone - June 24, 2006 - Texas-Signing-Agent.com

You can become an "expert" and sought after to do work if you think and study your business. This is not, however, the end of it. You must be dedicated and willing to put continually put extra effort into being all you can be. This is my approach. To read this article, go here.

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 Small Business Development Centers  TexNotary Tried and True

Brenda Stone - June 24, 2006 - Texas-Signing-Agent.com

As a prelude to the pricing article, I must first stop to give credit where it is  due. This is going to sound like an advertisement for my employer, the Brazos Valley Small Business Development Center, but as you know, I promote things I believe in and I will not give the "TexNotary Tried and True" status to things I know nothing about.  To read more about how this free resource can help you, please go here.

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Price Determination for Maximum Profits
Brenda Stone - June 24, 2006 - Texas-Signing-Agent.com

Pricing Strategy is not just grabbing a fee. Pricing is not just about money, it is about achieving a  goal.

There are four pieces to successful marketing and succeeding in business:

1-Product (Loan signings)
2-Place (Delivering the Product / Area Covered)
3-Promotion (Marketing)
4-Price (Fees)

The critical questions are:
1- How can I improve my loan signings to appeal to hiring entities?
2- Where will I cost effectively deliver my signing services.
3- How can I effectively market my services?
4- What should I charge?

When you know the answers to #1 - #3 then you will focus on #4. Here are pricing strategies which will achieve certain goals for your business:

To read this article, please go here:

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Buying Paper in Bulk and Refilling Your Own Toner

Cartridges To Boost Your Notary eDocs Profit Margin

As far as I am concerned, eDocs would be too expensive if it were not for these sites:

www.TonerKits.com and www.TonerRefillKits.com . I purchase supplies from them and refill my own toner cartridges.

  Having to pay out $79.95 at Sam's Club for a new cartridge would be more than I could afford and still make a profit in our business, so I have opted to refill mine.  To read this entire article go here.

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Bring Success into Clear Focus

Brenda Stone - June 24, 2006 - Texas-Signing-Agent.com

Just like we left the "real" jobs for become a professional notary, and to be our own boss, we must be ready to leave full-time signings and develop strategies when low-ball competition causes the fee structuring to go completely haywire. 

It's doubtful to me that any of us woke up one morning in junior high and decided "I will become a notary signing agent."  Our dreams led us to this field for many reasons, but aspiring to becoming notaries was not one of them. 

If we are honest with ourselves, our jobs as signing agents became a stop in our career path  in order to possess one or more of the following.

• More time for family

• More time for self

• More income.

• Less stress

• Sense of control over life

Rather than fret over a business which is dwindling, we must recognize that success is an over all picture.

Read this article here.

Until next time... I remain - your humble correspondent, and Texas Notary Publisher, Brenda Stone of TexNotary.com
 

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Feedback Page

Brenda Stone - June 24, 2006 - Texas-Signing-Agent.com

Please be sure to take a look at the feedback received from readers.  You can do so right here.