Google Business Profile: A Notary Business Requirement?

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I just moved into a new home in northern Washington after living the last 18 months in fully furnished AirBnB's.  I find myself needing everything from coasters, lamps, & garbage cans, to landscapers and exterminators (Did you know Washington has a “spider season”? They certainly didn’t mention that in the sales brochure).

When I need something, a service especially, I go to two places- my network for referrals, and/or a Google search. My network up here in Washington is nothing like it was in Phoenix, so if my real estate agent or AirBnB host don’t have a referral for me, guess what-off to Uncle Google I go.

Most consumers skip the referral part and go straight to Google, where they make a decision on who to call based mainly on whose information appears on their screen and the quality and number of their reviews. 

When a consumer types in their search for say, “Notary Near Me,” Google’s job is to display information for businesses or services that most closely match that request. 

And Google is really good at its job. 

That’s why it’s so important for you, as a mobile notary and loan signing agent (and maybe a fingerprint tech, wedding officiant, apostille agent, etc) to tell Google all the reasons why YOU are the best match for a search like “Notary Near Me.”

And Google makes it easy for you. They want you to succeed. Because if consumers can’t find what they need on Google, then they won’t use it and poor little Google goes out of business. 

So they built their Google Business Profile (GBP) platform (formerly Google My Business). They designed this to be user friendly, and easy to share info about you and your business. 

Think of it like a dating app…for business. 

You get to put up your picture, share a little about why you love your business and what makes you special...

“I enjoy long walks on the beach, rubber stamps, and an occasional apostille. NO FRAUDY STUFF.”

Okay, so maybe I am having too much fun with this analogy. You get the point. 

Once you create a great GBP, including all your services and specialties, Google goes to work, matching you with potential partners-people who need your services. 

This "Google Business dating service (GBP)" is so powerful that many notaries across the country have come close to replacing their loan signing revenue with General and Specialty Notary Work revenue. Some notaries are getting an extra 30-75 calls per month! 

If you’re still asking whether you really need a Google Business Profile, I have one question for you:

Do you want to grow your business or not? 

If yes, Google Business Profile is the new price for admission for success in this industry. If people can’t find you, they can’t hire you. You absolutely need it. It’s not the end all be all, but it’s the table stakes for this game. 

If no, then why are you here? My analogies? 

I know you're here because you want this business to work. You love it, but you likely have one or all of the concerns below about Google Business Profile:

1. “Google Business Profile is too expensive!”- GBP is free and they don’t upcharge you for special services, etc. It’s free, free, free! You can start your profile here. 
2. “I am not a techie person! I can’t even operate my remote control.”- I hear this all the time, and can totally relate. I just ran my coffee maker...without the coffee. So, as I enjoyed a cup of plain hot water, I asked my buddy, Jim Allen, the Marketing Notary, if I could share a recording of a special training he did recently. In the training, Jim literally walks you through the setup process step by step. You can watch it for free here.
3. “I don’t want my home address all over the interweb!”- I totally get it. Samesies! I don’t want people knocking on my door for notarization either. I still hide when Amazon rings my doorbell. Google thought of that, of course. With the click of one little box as you’re setting up your account, you can hide your home address. That way, Google still knows where you are based so it can better match you to consumers looking for “Notary Near Me,” but they won’t be sending people to your house (no more hiding!). 

I’m willing to bet that those three concerns have been on your mind if you haven’t yet moved forward on your Google Business Profile yet. If you still have some questions or concerns, ask them in the comment section below. Let's get it figured out quick, because yes, I believe Google Business Profile is required for Notary success in 2022 and beyond. 

And, if you happen to be one of those notaries that still doesn't feel like you know your craft well enough, and you're actually scared that the phone will ring and you won't know what to do, I see you. This was one of the biggest reasons I turned my SEO off in the beginning of my Notary journey (much to my regret). I was terrified! The last thing I wanted to do was to make a mistake that negatively impacted other people, OR made me look like a total fool.

If you feel the same, you can overcome that with training and experience. My friend and colleague, Laura Biewer is really good at that level of training. The kind of training where you'll be able to dissect a notarial certificate and know exactly what is expected of you at every appointment. She offers her "Laura Biewer Presents...Training and Replay Library for General and Specialty Notary Work" here. And, she offers state-specific "Real World Notary Training" replays here. 

And access to both of those trainings (all Real World State trainings and LBP) are included in the Notary Business Builder program too. That's just how we roll in NBB-all inclusive baby. 

Bill Soroka is the founder of Notary Business Builder, an elite community of professional Notary entrepreneurs that are committed to building a successful business in any economy by leveraging authentic sharing technology and cultivating deeper relationships.