Notary Training Hub

10/18/2026

🥪 Today's Stamp Snack: Your Google Business Profile Category

Quick question. When someone nearby searches for a notary, what does Google think your business is?

That answer lives in one small field: your primary category.

Google's own help pages say the categories you choose affect your local ranking. They also offer a simple test. Pick categories that finish the sentence "This business IS a..." and skip ones that only describe something it HAS or offers.

A few more guidelines from Google:

Choose the most specific category that fits your main business.
Use as few categories as possible.
Don't add a category for every service, and don't use categories as keywords.

Your individual services, like mobile signings or loan signings, can be described in your business description instead.

Today's action: open your Business Profile, find your primary category, and type "notary" into the category box to see what Google offers. Does the one you're using say what your business IS? If not, this is a five-minute fix. 📍

Happy Stamping! 🧸

10/18/2026

🥪 Today's Stamp Snack: Apostille or Authentication Certificate?

A client says, "I need an apostille." Before you quote anything, ask one question: which country will receive this document?

The answer changes the certificate.

Countries that are part of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention accept an apostille.

Countries outside the Convention use a different certificate, called an authentication certificate.

📄
Either one comes from the issuing authority, usually the Secretary of State for state documents or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones. Not from the notary.

Today's action: Bookmark the official Apostille Convention status table on HCCH.net.

When a request comes in, look up the destination country's status before you quote a turnaround time.

The list changes over time, so check it each time instead of going from memory.

Happy Stamping! 🧸

10/18/2026

Sunday confession: my stamp gets a day off, and so do I. 😴

If your calendar was quieter than you hoped this week, hear this. Slow stretches happen in every small business. A quiet week is information, not a verdict on you.

Busy weeks reward the notary who is rested. A tired brain is the one that misses an initial on page 14.

So today, rest on purpose. Take the walk. Eat a real lunch. Put the phone in another room for an hour.

Then, before bed, jot down one name: a past client, a friendly realtor, or the office manager you met last month. That's who hears from you this week.

Rest today. Build tomorrow.

Happy Stamping! 🧸

10/17/2026

You finally picked the perfect name for your notary business. 💡 The logo is done, the cards are printed, and the website is live.

Then a question pops up: is that name actually yours?

Registering a business name and owning trademark rights are two different things. Many notaries find that out after they have built a whole brand around a name.

In this training, we walk through what a trademark is, which parts of a notary brand may be eligible for protection, why a search matters before you commit to a name, and the difference between ™ and ®. You will also hear when it may be time to talk with a trademark attorney.

Educational only, not legal advice.

Watch the full training here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHRUZh-MGgs

Happy Stamping! 🧸

10/17/2026

🥪 Today's Stamp Snack: Apostille or Authentication Certificate?

A client says, "I need an apostille." Before you quote anything, ask one question: which country will receive this document?

The answer changes the certificate.

Countries that are part of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention accept an apostille. Countries outside the Convention use a different certificate, called an authentication certificate. 📄

Either one comes from the issuing authority, usually the Secretary of State for state documents or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones. Not from the notary.

Your role stays narrow, too. You don't decide which certificate or documents a client needs. The receiving party sets those requirements, and the client should confirm them directly with that party.

Your action for today: bookmark the official Apostille Convention status table on HCCH.net. When a request comes in, look up the destination country's status before you quote a turnaround time. The list changes over time, so check it each time instead of going from memory.

Happy Stamping! 🧸

Hague Conference on Private International Law - The World Organisation for Cross-border Co-operation in Civil and Commercial Matters

10/17/2026

Why did the notary refuse to play hide and seek?

Every signer has to appear in person. 😄

Now a Saturday nudge that takes about ten minutes: catch up your mileage.

Every signing this week came with a drive. Before those trips blur together, write down the date, where you went, why, and the miles. A notes app works. So does a paper log in the glove box. 🚗

Ten calm minutes today beats a weekend of guessing at tax time. Ask your tax professional which records they want you to keep, then make this a weekly habit.

Small and boring. Also the kind of habit that keeps a business steady.

Happy Stamping! 🧸

10/17/2026

A client's original document is sitting in an envelope on your desk, and someone else is about to carry it to the state office. 📦

That handoff deserves a clear process.

Before any document leaves your hands, write down exactly what is in the envelope: document type, page count, and a client reference with no extra personal details. Ask the courier to confirm receipt in writing, even by text. Then agree on how they will report drop-off and pickup, so you are never guessing where a client's paperwork is.

A short log like this protects your client, your courier, and your reputation.

If you want the full walkthrough, Apostille Courier Strategy breaks down how the courier process works, how to vet and select reliable couriers, and how to position yourself as a courier. It includes a downloadable Courier Vetting Checklist.

It's for notaries who offer apostille services or want to support those who do. It's here:
https://stan.store/notarytraininghub/p/apostille-courier-strategy?lang=en

Happy Stamping! 🧸

10/17/2026

Your calendar has open spaces between signings, and you keep wondering what else could fit there. 🚗

Field inspections come up a lot in that conversation. They are a separate line of work from your notary commission: you visit a property or site, take photos, and complete a checklist for the company that sent you.

One tip before you apply anywhere: treat your photos as the product. Clear, well-lit, straight shots that follow the company's instructions are what get your work accepted the first time. Practice on your own home this week and time how long a full set takes you.

If you want a guided starting point, the Field Inspection Workshop and List includes an ebook, the full workshop replay, the slides, where to find free training, and a list of 33 companies to research.

It's for notaries curious about adding field work to their week. You can find it here:
https://stan.store/notarytraininghub/p/field-inspection-workshop-and-list?lang=en

Happy Stamping! 🧸

10/17/2026

Who's ready for our Week 3 Estate Planning Practice LIVE?!

We're on Day 20 of the 30-Day Notary Business Launch Challenge, and this week has been ALL about estate planning notarizations, trust ex*****on, and building partnerships with attorneys!

Now it's time to put what we've learned into PRACTICE!

I've got our Estate Planning + Trust Ex*****on Lab workbook ready, and we're getting hands-on with what it actually looks like to execute these documents.

Because watching someone do it and actually practicing it yourself are two different things!

Challenge crew, grab your workbook! I'll see you LIVE!

TrustEx*****on