• If you host your videos on Youtube check the demographics of your Youtube account. Are your videos watched by your target audience? You may go further and see age group, sex or country even. If your answer is no or maybe, then that’s a good reason to start targeting the non-video watching audience of your niche.
• Check your Google analytics or any other you may use, and confirm whether the bulk of your visitors are your target audience. If not, you may want to give providing transcripts a serious thought.

Benefits of Repurposing Contents
Multiply your content: Lets say, you have a blog with 100 videos. By simply providing transcripts of these 100 videos you’ll now have 200 blog posts! Providing transcripts increases your chance of reaching a wider audience.

Gain more Time: Assuming you publish a post a day on your blog, you gain a 100 days! This is ample time for you to write the ebook that’s always on your mind but never got the time to start. Or, spend more time researching your next video and producing them.

Post more frequently: Or, you could simply go full steam and post twice a day – a video and an article (transcript). Rev up the frequency of your posts and reap the rewards in terms of more visits and page views.

Earn more: Having your videos in the written format means you have the means to link out to the products mentioned in the videos within the article. It also means you never run out of posts to publish on your blog.

Lets be real here, there are pockets in the world where the Internet connection speed is not viable for watching videos online. These oft-neglected regions will be well served with articles and blog posts.

AND THE BEST PART IS – you don’t have to do all the hard work of typing out the transcripts!

You don’t have to spend hundreds of hours typing up and readying these transcripts. Virtual assistants called transcriptionists, who specialize in providing transcripts of audios, videos and podcasts, will be more than willing to provide you with ready to publish transcripts of your videos and podcasts. And the rates transcriptionist charge are always affordable, if not downright cheap!

Bonus Tip
With minimal cost your transcriptionist can turn your transcripts into an ebook and make more money!

To Recap:

• Double your content by having transcripts of your videos/podcasts, interviews, etc
• You don’t have to waste any time in producing these transcripts.
• Transcriptionists are always affordable even for bloggers who are starting out and transitioning into probloggers.
• More chances of being linked to and quoted by other bloggers and websites.
• Your readership becomes wider
• Your online earnings increases many folds.
• Use the transcripts and turn them into an ebook – make more money!

Transcriptionist will free up your time, provide you more contents and even provide you with ready to sale products at a reasonable price.

Repurpose Your Videos or Podcasts For A Reading Audience

Related posts:

1. Secret to Skyrocket Online Income for Video Bloggers
2. Types of Transcription
3. 22 Reasons why People Go Online: Does Your Blog Cater to Their Needs?

Remember the popular phrase “well begun is half done”? This is also true for getting the best out of your transcriptionist. As a client you would only want error free transcripts from your transcriptionist.

For a transcriptionist to provide their clients with error free transcript much depends on the quality of the dictations. I’d go as far as to say that 40% of the quality of transcript depends on the quality of dictations.

But what can be done while recording the dictation to help increase accuracy.

Here are some tips for recording a good dictation:
1. Check that your recorder is working.
2. Organize your data before you start recording.
3. Dictate in a quiet area, with no distractions and background noise.
4. Speak clearly.
5. Speak from 6 inches away from the recorder.
6. Don’t rush. Dictate at an even pace and speak clearly.
7. Don’t use abbreviations unless stating what it stands for at least once in the report.

These are just a few tips, there are many more depending on the industry you are working in.

The most important tip would be to work with your transcriptionists so that there is a clear understanding of what is expected so that your documents will be completed to the highest of standards.

Elements of a Good Dictation

Related posts:

1. Secrets to a Better Transcriptionist
2. What is Transcription – The Idiot’s Definition
3. How to get the best deal out of your transcription services provider

The reasons transcribers face this problem are:

• Limited vocabulary
• Not understanding the context of the dictation
• Not having good listening skills, yet.
• The dictation itself is bad with background noise, difficult accent, or different pronunciation from what the transcriptionist is familiar with.

On occasions the person dictating these words may not always say them clearly (or use them properly) and if you are not paying attention, you may transcribe the word incorrectly.

Here are just a few words of which you should be aware:

accede: stick to agreement
exceed: surpass

accept: receive
except: exclude

adapt: adjust
adept: proficient

adverse: opposed
averse: not interested

affect: change, influence
effect: (v) to bring about (n) result, impression

all right: all right
alright: outdated usage

allude: refer to indirectly
elude: avoid

allusion: insinuation
illusion: apparition

already: previously
all ready: everything prepared

altar: place of worship
alter: to change

appraise: value
apprise: inform, notify

assistants: helpers
assistance: help

capital: seat of government; money
capitol: building where legislative body meets

cease: stop
seize: apprehend

cite: speak of
sight: vision
site: location

complement: collection
compliment: praise

continual: happens frequently in time: close succession
continuous: uninterrupted

council: praise
consul: ambassador

console: comfort
counsel: advice

descent: decline
dissent: disagree

disapprove: condemn
disprove: discredit

elicit: extract
illicit: illegal

eligible: qualified
illegible: indecipherable

emigration: moving from a country
immigration: moving to a country

eminent: outstanding, revered
imminent: threatening to happen soon

farther: forward
further: additionally

floe: large sheet of floating ice
flow: move, run freely, circulate

formally: in a dignified way
formerly: previously

imply: speaker implies (suggests)
infer: hearer infers (perceives)

incidence: occurrence
incidents: situations

lay: to set down, to place or put an item down
lie: to recline

passed: go by
past: earlier

principal: first in authority; main participant; amount of a debt less interest
principle: basic truth or assumption

pray: to ask for by prayer or supplication
prey: animal hunted or caught for food; victim

residence: dwelling
residents: occupants

right: correct
rite: ceremony
wright: worker
write: compose

their: possessive form of “them”
they’re: they are
there: at that place

stationary: not moving: fixed
stationery: writing material: letterhead, envelopes, etc.

suit: a set of clothes; legal action
suite: number of items making up a set, series, or sequence

waiver: the giving up of a claim
waver: to hesitate; also tremble or quaver

through: by way of
threw: tossed

whose: of or relating to whom
who’s: who is

your: of or relating to you
you’re: you are

Transcribing Homonyms and Similar-sounding Words

Related posts:

1. Commonly Confused Words: Advice and Advise
2. Secrets to a Better Transcriptionist

Types of transcription is generally drawn from the industries they serve. They include:

• General Transcription
• Legal Transcription
• Academic Transcription
• Media Transcription
• Business Transcription
• Speech and Manuscript Transcription
• Medical Transcription
• Real Estate Transcription

Transcription services are therefore used by:

• lawyers
• journalists
• bloggers
• podcasters
• talk show hosts
• radio show hosts
• students
• speakers/preachers/pastors
• personal investigators
• doctors
• researchers
• writers
• CEOs
• business owners
• (online) entrepreneurs

As such, documents produced by transcribers include:

• Letters
• Memos
• Statements
• Medical reports
• Survey reports
• Site reports
• Memos
• Lectures
• Talk shows
• Podcasts
• Articles
• Blogs posts
• Manuscripts
• Interviews
• Focus Groups
• Dissertations
• Deposition Reports
• Research Reports
• Video transcripts
• Etc

I hope this gives you a fair overview of the range and scope of transcription.

Types of Transcription

Related posts:

1. How to get the best deal out of your transcription services provider
2. What is Transcription – The Idiot’s Definition

The better you are at what you do, the easier it becomes.

Have you heard my (success) story?

It goes something like this.  Within six months of joining a transcription company I was promoted to QC (Quality Checker) from a novice transcriber.  In the following two years I was made Team Coordinator and then Assistant Team Leader.

The juicy part is – I will never tell this anywhere else or ever again – that I more than tripled my salary in 3 years!

How did I do that?

Well, I have these few secrets that help me to be a better transcriptionist.  These are what I call my secret sure-fire ways to be a better transcriptionist.

It’s all about quality, NOT quantity

As transcibers (TCs) a lot of my colleagues focused their attention on their typing speeds and other statistics.  And, you know what, after 3 or 4 years they are still transcribers while I moved up the ladder.

From day one, I concentrated on my quality/accuracy. I was and am only interested in getting everything right – the words, the phrases, the tenses, the format, the grammar. 

Don’t get me wrong.  Being productive is well and good.  And, as a transcriber there are certain expectations you have to meet but first concentrate on quality.  Everything else will follow.

Being the fastest transcriber crunching out hundreds of pages a day will not help unless your transcript meets the quality standards of your clients. It may be helpful if you work by yourself and get paid by the pages or line count.  Because someone else (a QC) will have to proofread the whole transcript anyway.  That’s why quality should be your first priority; not quantity.

How To Improve Your Transciption Quality

• Improve your comprehension skills: The most important skill you can develop as a transcriber is your comprehension skill.  All else will follow.  Accurate comprehension of dictations is what most transcribers struggle with. To improve your comprehension skills its important you practice listenting to different accents. Try watching the news on foreign TV channels in English.
• Improve your English vocabulary: Make it a point to note down every new word your come across in your work or anywhere else.  Note down and look up a dictionary for its meaning.
  
• Brush up your basic grammar: Remember the boring English grammar classes in high school?  Well, now is the time to revise and improve upon it.  Most transcribers struggle with the basics!  Tenses and verbs are pretty important so do learn them again.
• Create Notes for each client: By notes I mean a document where you note down commonly occuring uncommon words, addresses, names, places, legal terms, technical terms, etc unique to a client.   These notes will be a quick reference for you and your colleagues when in doubt or when clueless about anything in the dictation.  And over time, these reference notes will be a resource for everyone.
  

It’s Team Work

In an office setting, interpersonal skills go a long way in developing your career.  They can break or make your career.  Transcription industry is not exception.  I got my promotions with the help of my (previous) Team Leader!

Granted transcription can be routine and mundane, but that’s not an excuse to be a recluse.  Make it a point to get up from your cubicle and interact with your colleagues and team members.  Remember, transcription is a team work unless you are a freelance transcriptionist working from home.

• Always be presentably dressed.
• Always be helpful.
• Be understanding to new transcribers.
• Be ready to work beyond the call of duty.
• Be proactive and take initiatives in your work.
• Ask when in doubt.
• Ask for feedbacks on your work from quality analysts (QCs) and your Team Leader.

To conclude, transcription is a team work where it takes at least two persons to complete a job.  But, with practice and perseverence one should be able to work alone and produce transcripts that meet the quality standards of clients.  And, that’s the ultimate goal because it only gets easier and better from there on.  I promise.

Secrets to a Better Transcriptionist

Related posts:

1. How to Become a Transcriptionist – The Ultimate Guide
2. What is Transcription – The Idiot’s Definition
3. Elements of a Good Dictation

Although not homophones, advice and advise are two words most transcribers consistently mix up.

The “c” in the final syllable of “advice” is like the “s” in “see”, “sip”, and “sat”. As for the verb “advise”, the “s” is pronounced like the “z” in “zip”, “zero”, and “zoo”. Remember, the word “advice” is an uncountable noun. There is no word “advices”.

Advice is noun. It is a proposal or recommendation.

Eg:

1. His advice is always sound and everyone should listen to him.
2. Always listen to the advice of the old.
3. I turned down the proposal on your advice.

Advise is verb.  It means ” to give advice” or the act of giving advice.

Eg:

1. I am advised to go the doctors for a check up.
2. Please advise me on this matter, I need your help.
3. Didn’t I advise you not to go there?

Commonly Confused Words: Advice and Advise

Related posts:

1. Transcribing Homonyms and Similar-sounding Words
2. Needle in a Haystack: A Guide to Proofread Copies for Foolproof Results

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No related posts.

If you are pondering these questions this post is for you, my friend.  This is quite a long post as I want you to come out of it with a true understanding of being a transcriptionist.  I want to provide as much value as possible in every post I publish. So buckle up and enjoy the read.

How I became a Transcriptionist

photo credit: nerdycreative

Back in 2005, I was reading commerce at Delhi University when my father met with an RTA (road traffic accident) and succumbed to his injuries. As he was the lone bread earner in the family, I had to step in his shoes and take care of the family.  Fortunately, shortly after that, a friend who was then working in a transcription company invited me to give an interview.

To cut the story short, I gave the interview and as of today, I have been working there for almost 5 years.

Just like that. I became a transcriptionist.

How I heart my work!

Until that time, I had no idea what transcription is!

I soon fell in love with transcription.  I found my mojo!

A few months down the road saw me moving up the corporate ladder! [Read here how I got promotion after promotion!]

There are a few things that helped me tremendously early in my work (and even now):

• English Grammar: I loved English classes, and the teachers too! Is it funny how English teachers always end up being our favourite teachers in high school?  The basic grammar I learnt in high school is all I needed to succeed in the transcription business. If asked, I’d say English is THE subject students should never neglect.  This forms the basis of your communication skills and maybe underestimated in some quarters.  I believe, in whatever industry you maybe, it is essential for actively managing your career and for your confidence – whether in interviews or in the workplace.
• Watching TV: Yes, at the risk of sounding rather juvenile let me say the hundreds of hours I’ve spent watching TV finally pays off!  And, mind you I was watching only English/American movies and programs.  I am comfortable with any accent.  I simply adore the UK English accent more.  Its classy and even sexy. The more movies and TV programs you watch the more you are exposed to different English accents.  Always watch the news on TV.  You get to see and learn history, places, people etc which are beyond your culture and society.
• Reading loads of novels and books: I’ve always loved reading.  In fact it’s an acquired habit.  I was 12/13 years of age when I decided to make reading a habit. I’d read all the books and magazines I can lay my hands on.  I’d frequently used up my library cards in school.   I joined the local District Library.  I was saving for book sales.  In the process I accumulated quite a library.  Reading books and magazines improved my vocabulary, to say the least. I became more aware of geography, culture, history and art.  All these really help in transcription.  Believe me.
• Everything I do or experience is a chance to learn: I am a student of the University of Life. I believe there is always a chance to learn something new in every situation or place. When my dad write articles I’d help him in typing.  In fact, I helped in proofreading his last book that was published posthumously.  I learnt a lot from these experiences.

So there you have it.  You don’t need a degree or do a course to become a transcriptionist.  That is not to say, degree is not important. In fact, I have now joined a correspondence BA English course.  It is not degrees that maketh a man, but how he utilizes his knowledge that is more important. Simply align what you are doing with what you want in your life.

See below, how what I’ve been learning all my life BEFORE I became a transcriptionist readies me for the job!

What you need to become a transcriptionist –

• Basic English grammar
• Good typing speed of 60 – 100 wpm (word per minute)
• Good comprehension of English language
• Awareness of different cultures, history, art, law and business.
• Proficiency in a word processor like Microsoft Word and/or any other alternative.

Why I Heart Transcription

Before working for the company where I still work, I’ve never heard the word transcription even.  Even after a couple of months I still don’t know if it pays enough to feed my family.  How wrong one could be!  I’d go as far as to say that not only does it feed my family, there is even a chance to make yourself a nice, comfortable living, too!  Lets see below a few of the benefits of working as a transcriptionist.

• Everyday is a learning experience: It is never monotonous and boring.  One file may be about family law or immigration matter.  The next you are listening about the current state of law. Depending on the clients, you may also be exposed to how a company is run to business ethics and practices.
• Upgrades your skills: Before I became a transcriptionist I knew how to use the MS Word, but it’s only after I became a transcriptionist that I learnt to use all the keyboard shortcuts, efficient Google search and research techniques, formatting text, text box, MS Word templates, etc.  I now often look at the documents I helped my father type and see how unprofessional they are!
• No pressure: Transcription job is a pressureless job.  Client usually give us ample time to complete the transcripts. Once you get used to a client and his/her diction and pronunciation, transcribing only gets easier.  With experience and increased efficiency, typing and proofreading documents is a breeze.
• Pay: I can’t say for other cities and countries, but in New Delhi a transcriptionist with zero experience can earn anything between Rs  8,000 to Rs 15,000.  Within 2/3 years an skilled transcriptionist should be making 2ok plus.
• Parttime/work at home : There is always an option to work parttime from home.  To supplement your regular income you can always find a subcontractor in your city who will provide you with transcription work at home.  I would not encourage you to depend on this for the long term, though.  The pay rate is not too great.
• Go freelance – you can always take it to the next level: Almost similar to the above, you may reach a stage where you believe you have all the skills required to take on clients yourself. That’s when you might want to go freelance.  This is an option well worth checking out.  Freelance transcriptionist acquire their own clients and deal with the client directly.  By cutting out the middleman (company or individual), there is limitless earning potential. Details on this will be in the future posts.
• Build your own transcription company: For the ambitious, this is the ultimate in the business.  It may require a bit of capital and ready contracts for this to work.  But if you have been freelancing and alreading having regular billing clients, this is something you should look into.  Because, an individual can do only so much.  In transcription business, more hands do matter!

Go out and get in!

To becoming a transcription simply work for a transcription company.  There are no strict requirements.  The question only then is where is a transcription company that employs freshers or gives training.

• Contact your friends and relatives and ask if they know of any company in the transcription industry.
• Read opportunities pages in newspapers.
• Join online job sites like Naukri.com
• Check out online jobboards.

Although it’s possible to be a transcriptionist without any experience in a transcription company, it’s advisable to work for one at least say 3 years.  For one, you will be dealing with an array of different clients, meaning different accents, formatting and requirements.  That’s free exposure will only get in a company.

Good luck now!

How to Become a Transcriptionist – The Ultimate Guide

Related posts:

1. Secrets to a Better Transcriptionist
2. What is Transcription – The Idiot’s Definition
3. How to get the best deal out of your transcription services provider

Simply put, transcription is the process of converting audio/video recordings (dictations) into written text.  A transcriptionist is also known as transcriber.


As you can see, this process involves listening to a recorded audio and typing out the text on to a word processor like MS Word (paid software) or OpenOffice (free).

To transcribe a piece of dictation you need both hearing and typing skills.  We also need a computer with internet connection to receive the audio/video files, play the audio file, type out the dictation using a word processor, and finally send back the text file.

To transcribe a piece of dictation, one must be able to hear what is being said and, comprehend and understand the subject and context. It’s one to thing to hear every word and be able to type it out and its altogether a different skill to comprehend the context.  A transcriptionist must be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. That is to say that, some dictations may include instructions and other details which may or may not be required to be typed up.  And, some details may have to be placed in their designated areas of the document.  A transcriber should be able to differentiate between instructions and text, and, decide on which is which.  It requires a great deal of common sense and practice.

A transcriptionist is not a typist. Trancription is much more than typing.  It involves listening to and understanding recorded dictations, it requires an excellent grasp of the English language, grammar and the ability to decipher different accents.  A good transcriptionist must have an eye for detail and a huge reserve of patience. He or she must also be very conversant with Microsoft Office or any other alternative. To a transcriptionist Internet is his/her best friend.  Researches are done primarily on Internet – addresses , names of companies, schools, names of streets, spellings, etc are confirmed using the Internet.

Transcribing also requires a decent typing speed say, 60 – 100 words per minute. You should be able to use the foot pedal (that plays, rewinds or pauses the audio player) and type at the same time.

Transcriptionist usually work for transcription companies while many chose to work from home as freelance transcriptionist. It’s a very rewarding career.  With the ever competitive business environment and cost-cutting being the only business strategy for most law firms, real estate firms, and business houses to stay competitive in their respective markets, transcriptionist will find themselves in huge demand in the coming years.

And if the current trend of blogging for business is to flourish and thrive, or those creative types simply wanting to dedicate more time to creation, there will be millions of individuals (usually those comfortably living in the cloud, as Glen of ViperChill.com would say) who will want to outsource their mundane chores to virtual assistants like transcriptionists!

Hope this is useful to you.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave them in the comment below.  I am always open to your suggestions.  Believe me, your comment can improve my work and my life!  BTW, if you require a transcriptionist you know where to find me, right?  Please share this article if you like it.

What is Transcription – The Idiot’s Definition

Related posts:

1. How to Become a Transcriptionist – The Ultimate Guide
2. Types of Transcription
3. Elements of a Good Dictation

This article contains tips for getting the best out of your transcription services provider.

Understanding the reasons why you are outsourcing transcription services in the first place:

1. Time constraints: Most legal firms cannot expect their solicitors and legal assistants to spend much time in drafting memos, statements and reports. Their time is better spent doing what they do!
2. Minimize costs: Law firms and real estate businesses outsource their typing jobs to transcription companies to reduce their overheads.  Businesses minimize their costs by not hiring fulltime employees for such jobs as typing, editing, proofreading, etc.

Keeping all the above points in mind, below is how you can get the best deal out of your transcription services provider.

• Provide clear instructions on the format: If possible you should provide samples of the documents so your transcriptionist can work from the samples.  From experience I find this very useful and comfortable. Even if you are unable to provide samples, make sure you provide clear and concise instructions with regards formatting.  These may include -
  • Font/Font size – for body, heading, sub-heading, quotes, etc
  • Paragraph spacing – one line, 1.5 or double spacing, etc
  • Whether to populate headers and footers, etc
  • If necessary spell out proper nouns like names of persons, places, legal terms and medical terms, etc
• Provide your details: This may seem like a given, but its surprising how many clients fail to provide their details when dictating. I often find myself in a limbo when finishing off, say, a letter and not knowing how the client wants to sign off.  Is the name of the firm enough? Should the author’s name and designation be added as well?
• Set clear deadlines: Let your transcriptionist know beforehand when the transcripts are expected back.  Calling your transcriptionist and/or emailing him/her 2 or 3 times during his work may affect the quality of his effort.  Set a realistic deadline.  Contact your transcriptionist if and only the deadline is not met.  If the file is required urgently and instantly, inform him/her via IM or email instead of calling.  Believe me, the pressure is much less this way.
• Provide contingency plans: This may include you providing your IM accounts/telephone numbers etc to your transcriptionist to contact you, if required, to deal with any exigencies. Exigencies may include wrong files being sent (believe it or, this can occur!), wrong templates attached, or simply when the transcriptionist has any doubt pertaining to all the above points he/she may contact you direct.

The list above is not exhaustive by any stretch. But they should minimize time spent editing and proofreading by you once you get back the transcripts from the transcriptionist.  I mean, what use is it, if you have to spend more than 30 minutes pouring over the transcript to fill in the blanks and ready the copy for use.  That’s what you paid the transcriptionist to do in the first place.

Hope this is useful to you.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave it in the comment below.  I am always open to your suggestions.  Believe me, it will improve my work and my life! BTW, if you require a transcriptionist you know where to find me, right?

How to get the best deal out of your transcription services provider

Related posts:

1. Types of Transcription
2. What is Transcription – The Idiot’s Definition
3. Elements of a Good Dictation