Blog Transition Period

I'm in a transition period with regards to my blog. This blog will soon be totally dedicated to mobile notary tips with information for fellow notaries and the general public.

In the coming weeks I will be starting a Wordpress blog committed to discussing technology, blogging, the Internet, marketing, and business from a woman's point of view. I'm excited but anxious about all the steps required.

I look forward to sharing and learning along the way.

FREE Market Research with Google Alerts

According to Google, Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results. You are able to receive alerts for any search term you use choose, and currently your results come from news, blogs, groups, web, video, or all by comprehensive search of them all. The frequency of the alerts are set by you - daily, weekly, or as it happens.

You may be thinking, "And why do I need to set up a Google Alert?" My top reasons to set up a Google Alert:

• keep track of industry news
• research competition
• to be alerted if anyone mentions you, your company, or blog

Click here to learn how to set up your own Google Alerts.

(Click on graphic to enlarge)

Friday Funny - 2008 Naked Fireman's Calendar

Made you look! Too cute!

Friday Funnie - Walmart Cake

From now on my posts on Fridays will be lighthearted and funny. By the end of the week you're exhausted so a good laugh won't hurt.

I received this in an e-mail. It was brought to use by our friends at Walmart:

"It took me a minute, but is worth figuring it out! Make sure you read the story under the picture…"

Keep in mind this actually really did happen!!!! This is someone who was moving from an insurance claims office.

Okay, so this is how I imagine this conversation went:

Wal-Mart Employee: 'Hello 'dis Walmarts, how can I help you?'

Customer: ' I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week.'

Wal-Mart Employee: 'What you want on the cake?'

Customer: 'Best Wishes Suzanne' and underneath that 'We will miss you'.

Blog Tip - If You Can't Speak, Write

I've heard plenty of marketing gurus tout the amazing benefits of public speaking. They speak of how it will grow your business by leaps and bounds as you fill theaters with people waiting to buy what you're selling.

The only problem is not everyone is a good speaker. Just because you can stand and speak in front of crowd without getting nervous doesn't mean you should. Having the title President, CEO, or Manager doesn't make you an amazing public speaker.

Personally, I'm not a bad public speaker but thanks to English 101 I'm a better writer so that's why I blog. Blogging has it's own drawbacks as there's more than a little trepidation about publishing a blog to an unknown audience of hundreds, if not thousands.

Facing a large audience can be a little unnerving but once you focus on your thoughts and your topic at hand, then you're on your way. I've been blogging for almost six months and I've written over a hundred blogs. I can no longer be stopped!

So if you're one of those people that would rather die than speak before an audience then blog away to your business success!

What Is Your Blog's Readability?

I came across this cool little tool yesterday that test the readability of your blog. I'm not sure how accurate it is but it is fun.

My blog readability is supposedly GENIUS. I do not know whether having a higher readability is a good or bad thing but I guess that depends on your audience. Click here to try it yourself.

*Beware - if you decide to post your results this spam is included this the link:

I have a feeling this is against Google webmaster rules. I deleted it before I posted my results.

Google Does FREE 411

Why pay a $1.25 to $1.75 for directory assistant on your cell phone?! Personally, I think it is a rip off. It is just another way for Corporate America to charge the little guy. Thankfully, Google has come up with a solution.

From any phone dial 1-800-466-4411 or send a text message to 46645 with the name and location of the business you are looking for and Google 411 will help you FREE of charge.

You gotta love FREE!

Do You Need A Mobile Notary?

When people think of a Notary Public they don't necessarily think mobile. A regular notary public works from an office that you travel to in order to have your document notarized. Usually, they work out of mail box stores, copy centers, banks and travel agencies.

A Mobile Notary Public travels to you. Our motto is have stamp, will travel! The mobile option is for those that want the convenience of someone coming to them. Our lives are so busy these days it's nice to have someone come to you. The traveling notary is also good for those that are home bound, in a nursing home, or hospitalized and it is impossible for the individual to leave to have a document notarized.

There is an extra charge for the mobile notary services but it is hard to put a price on convenience. Each notary sets their own travel fee, which may include such variables as distance, weekday vs. weekend, if it's a holiday, and the time of day (whether you're needed early in the day or late in the evening).

(Note: While the travel fee may vary the maximum a notary can legally charge for a notarization is $10 per notarized signature in California.)

I provide mobile notary services in Long Beach and throughout Los Angeles & Orange counties so when the need arises give The Document Diva a call.

I look forward to meeting all of your mobile notary needs!

Updated California Acknowledgment & Jurat

As my previous post (2008 California Notary Law Changes) noted, there have been several changes in notarial law that affect notaries starting in January 2008.

One noted change is that notaries are no longer able to use personal knowledge as a method to verify the identity of a signer. New California Acknowledgment and California Jurat forms are now available for download from NotaryClasses.com.

*Bonus - you can also download a 2008 Recession Calendar.

Blog Tip - Use Images to Enhance your Blog

An easy way to jazz up your blog and to catch your reader's attention is to insert a couple of graphics. The old saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words" holds true in the world of blogging too.

What helped make the concept sing for me was to think of each individual blog as a magazine layout. Articles that use pictures to help tell the story are more appealing to the eye, this is especially true since most computer uses scan versus read word for word so you will want to make the scanning process easy as possible.

While using images can be easy and incredibly fun, you never want to forget that most images on the web are copyrighted, so you will either need to get permission to use an image, make your digital camera your best friend by taking your own pictures or use graphics that are open for public use.

Also, do not forget the importance of underlines, italics, bold, and color. These are simple formatting options that draw your reader in and make your blog enjoyable and simple to read.

These are a few sites that offer FREE images:

FreeFoto, SXC, HP, and my favorite of all Microsoft

www.CopyrightFreePhotos.com

www.LogoDesignWeb.com/StockPhotos

www.FreeFoto.com

The Springfield Township High School Virtual Library

www.public-domain-photos.com

www.publicdomainpictures.net

Environmental Education Station

www.FreePhotos.se

www.PDPhoto.org

http://geekphilosopher.com

Funny Video - Wedding 1st Dance

T.G.I.F. is here! I wanted to offer some humor to give you a good laugh.

Check out this hilarious wedding video of a couple's first dance. I would have loved to do this when I got married.