Transcription Services for Bloggers » Transcription

How to Remove Background Noise from Your Podcasts

Carey — Sat, 14 May 2011 20:38:00 +0000

Every problogger worth his salt is producing podcast. If you haven’t, you should, really should.

Podcasting, whether audio or video, is like taking your blog to the next step.

But the problem with podcasting is that many a blogger have a hard time getting really, really clear recording. It has nothing really to do with the blogger or his skills. It’s comes with the territory.

Recording crystal clear audios or videos are hard as there is the ever-present background noise.

However, there is a solution to that.

By the way, removing ambient noise from your audio files will improve the quality of your transcripts, if you get your audios transcribed that is. If you’re not, get it done already!

Excellent Podcast Transcription Service: How to Find One

Carey — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 20:02:57 +0000

Every law firm, blogger, writer, journalist, real estate firm or company is spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing the right podcast transcription services company.

While there are hundreds of podcast transcription services companies to choose from, not all of them will meet your standards or your needs. That’s the truth.

Some questions that may arise when choosing the right podcast transcription company include:

Whether you are willing and allowed (by law) to outsource (to a podcast transcription services company outside your country) or to use a domestic podcast transcription services company?
Whether to use a podcast transcription company that employs only native speakers or not?
Your primary reason(s) for hiring a podcast transcription company in the first place – whether to reduce cost, workload, stress, working hours, to enjoy a more work-life balance, get more work done, need more expertise in documentation, your required turnaround time (TAT), the level of expertise required, etc.

Before you hire a podcast transcription company, consider all the factors listed above and weigh your options. Below are a few tips to help you choose an excellent podcast transcription services company.

How to Know if its right for you?

1. A podcast transcription service that specializes in your industry.
There are podcast transcription service companies in almost every field. Choose one which specialized in your industry. If you are a law firm choose a legal podcast transcription company. If you are a blogger choose a podcast podcast transcription company or freelance transcriber. This will go a long way in your relationship with each other. The quality of their services will more likely be excellent. Besides, having an in depth knowledge and expertise in your industry, the podcast transcription may be able to add more value.
2. A reliable podcast transcription service company.
A reliable podcast transcription company means one which meets and exceeds your expectations in terms of quality, turn around time (TAT) and volume of output. Check if they can provide services 24/7.
3. One recommended by others.
A podcast transcription company that comes highly recommended by other firms in your industry or colleagues should be considered a potential partner in your business. A reliable podcast transcription firm with a good track record with past and present clients is rare but not impossible to find.
4. Reasonably priced.
A podcast transcription company should be reasonably priced for your business to utilized their services. You should be able to save cost.
5. Podcast transcription service that understands search engine optimization (SEO)
For online content producers, one thing that can never be overemphasized is SEO. A podcast transcription service that understands and implements SEO in the transcripts can go a long way in helping the ranking of its customers.
6. Podcast transcription service with a blog/site and understand online marketing and blogging, naturally.
Personally, I would be hesitant to hire a company that doesn’t understand the field(s) I’m working in. As a content producer that utilizes online marketing techniques, maintains a blog and uses social media I would naturally favor transcription company doing their own online marketing, blogging and social media campaigns.

How to find an excellent podcast transcription firm?

1. Ask around.
Ask others who have used podcast transcription services companies before for their recommendations and tips. Maybe they can even point you to an excellent podcast transcription company.
2. Search online.
Use the Google search and find your industry’s top most podcast transcription company. Contact them and see what they offer. How prompt they respond to your queries is an indication of their customer care services. Most podcast transcription companies have at least a week’s trial period for you to take advantage of. See if they are really up to their claims!

What about you?

How you do find a podcast transcription service company over others? How do you find one that meets your needs and expectations? What would you recommend to other looking for their first podcast transcription company to work with or one looking for a better podcast transcription company? Fire away in the comments!
——
If you liked this article, please share it on Facebook, StumbleUpon or Twitter. I’d appreciate it.

5 Qualities of Highly Successful Podcast Transcriptionists

Carey — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:49:10 +0000

Today I am intrigued, as I look around me, to see what sets highly successful podcast transcriptionists apart from other podcast transcriptionists. Are they different from you and me? What qualities do they have that we don’t?

I can see a lot of common attributes in them. In order to be more successful in the podcast transcription industry as a transcriber one has to practice and cultivate these, what I call, 5 qualities of highly successful podcast transcriptionists.

A successful podcast transcriptionist has an eye for detail. She notices errors and hear sounds/words which others don’t. She focuses all her attention in what she does and pays more attention to quality than to quantity.

A successful podcast transcriptionist has loads of patience. I easily get annoyed and upset when the dictation is bad – background noise, muffled sound, too high pitched, too low pitched, talk too fast, talk too slow. When I get annoyed, it shows in my quality – it dips. Successful podcast transcriptionist are cool with whatever kind of dictations they get.

Successful podcast transcriptionists are lifelong learners. Every single day they are excited to come into office and process a bunch of audio dictations. They often share any new things learnt with friends and family. They often research new topics of interest that come up during a dictation and thus, learn a new thing or two.

Successful podcast transcriptionist are passionate about podcast transcription. They are often caught talking about their work and sharing inside jokes with colleagues. They enjoy transcribing and listening to audio dictations. They always look for ways to improve their work and how they work. Successful podcast transcriptionists love podcast transcription. Period. (Some even blog about podcast transcription almost everyday!)

Successful podcast transcriptionist are good communicators – written and spoken. Every Tom, Dick and Harry can become a podcast transcriptionist, but to be highly successful they have to have highly developed communication skills. Often podcast transcriptionists with poor communication skills suffer in terms of salary, promotions and don’t earn the trust of management. It’s often the good communicators who get away with better perks and allowances. Successful podcast transcriptionists don’t shy away from communicating their doubts, fears and insecurities therefore getting their issues addressed.

Over to You?

What other qualities do you notice of successful podcast transcriptionists? Do you have any or some of these qualities? If you are an employer, how do you encourage your transcribers to better themselves and therefore their work?
——
If you liked this article, please share it on Facebook, StumbleUpon or Twitter. I’d appreciate it.

2 Simple Steps to a Better Transcriptionist

Carey — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:43:34 +0000

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

Within six months of joining a transcription company as TC (typist/transcriber) I was promoted to QC (Quality Checker) from a novice transcriber. In the following short two years, I was made Team Coordinator, and then Assistant Team Leader.

And in doing so, 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.

The Art of Getting Testimonials (and a Bonus!)

Carey — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:14:41 +0000

I just got my first testimonial from my first client! (If you haven’t noticed, its displayed on the right sidebar.)

It made me all warm and fuzzy, and more importantly, hopeful.

Getting testimonials from clients is one of the most important things you can do in your freelance career or online business.

It’s free endorsement from a happy client. It’s the most effective social proof.

Here’s what I did to get my first testimonial from my first client.

Over-deliver: I simply did more work than was expected of me. I was tasked to edit translation works. But, when Jes asked me to help her find more translators I didn’t hesitate. I posted about the job on one of my websites. I emailed to a Yahoo! group where I knew there were people with the requisite qualifications. Two people actually contacted me right away. I then wrote to them explaining more about the job and then gave their names to Jes for her to decide whether she thinks they were up to it.

Ask: The best way to get what you want is to ask. And, that I did. I’ve been following quite a number of blogs on freelancing and one thing they tell newbies is to get testimonials. I simply asked Jes if she could be so kind as to give me a testimonial. Just like that. She did. Not only that, she gave me a bonus. Add 2 hours to your invoice she told me!

So, there it is.

Getting testimonials is easy when you over-deliver and ask for one.

No related posts.

How to Optimize your Podcast Transcripts for Search Engines

Carey — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:17:47 +0000

The reason behind providing transcript of a podcast or a video on one’s blog is two fold – providing your readers an alternative means to consume your content while optimizing your blog for search engines.

Readers who want to skim through your content are given the choice to do so; instead of subjecting them to listen to the whole of your podcast.

Search engines index your transcript (or blog post) and rank your page in order of what it believes is most relevant.

Hence, it is very important to optimize your podcast transcript for search engines to drive more traffic to your blog. This can be achieved with little or no effort.

Below are a few suggestions:

SEO Optimized Headline

Many podcast bloggers fail to optimize their podcast headlines. It doesn’t have to be clever or over the top. Keep it relevant and descriptive.

Take for example this headline Podcast: Donna Spencer on Geek Girl Blogs.

I’m sure there is a better way to writing the headline. It is an interview podcast so Podcast Interview with Donna Spencer is relevant and descriptive. If the person interviewed is considerably well-known and you want to capitalize on their name!

Other alternatives -

Donna Spencer on How to Organize a Conference from an Experience Design perspective

Donna Spencer on How to be a freelancer & balance work & family life

My point is, there are many ways to write a headline.

If your podcast blog is about interviews like BlogcastFM then Podcast Interview with Donna Spencer might be good enough. If your podcast blog is about freelance and business, you might want to try Donna Spencer on How to be a freelancer & balance work & family life.

Podcast transcripts don’t have to be verbatim

Most transcription service providers will transcribe audios or videos verbatim. That is, they will type up whatever is recorded on the audio or video including filler words like ah, um, etc. Although it’s a sign of a good transcriptionist, that is not your objective. You are not publishing your podcast transcript to show the world how accurate your podcast transcription provider is!

Podcast transcripts need not be verbatim. It is important to realize that you can edit the transcript and make necessary changes. That’s the basic premise for optimizing podcast transcripts for search engines. Remember, as your spoken words are reproduced as written words some paragraphs may be too long, some too vague, etc. Get to the point – your readers will appreciate it. The best way is to almost summarize your podcast! If you are utilizing the services of a transcription provider you should instruct them of your needs.

An exception would be an interview podcast – even here I would filter out filler words and false starts.

Keywords

Are your targeted keywords appearing too often or not? Where are they most prominent?

The best way to optimize podcast transcripts for search engines is to incorporate relevant and targeted keywords. These Keywords may be lacking in your recordings as search engine optimization may not occupy your thoughts while you record our podcast.

When speaking we don’t normally use nouns over and over; it is replaced by relevant pronouns. But if such noun is your keyword, it is wise to change all or some of the pronouns to nouns in your transcript.

For example: Transcriptionistforbloggers.com is my blog. It is my online shop for selling my transcription services to bloggers or any one who needs help. It is also an outlet to learn from and connect with others.

The above second and third sentences both start with it. If need be, it can be changed to Transcriptionistforblogger.com in both instances.

Add relevant headings and subheadings

To signal a change in the topic do provide headings and subheadings on to your transcripts. They also make it more interesting and easier to read/skim through.

I normally turn away when I see large chunks of texts without any heading, subheading or bullet points. I bet you do too.

Almost the same thing as above, do format your transcript to good presentation.

Add images

You’ve heard this one before. Add pictures to your post. In this case, add relevant interesting image(s) to your podcast transcript. And optimize your images!

Below is what Chris Pearson has to say about How to Optimize Your Images for Google.

Every standards-compliant, Google-sensitive image reference should contain 5 key items:

A src attribute specifying the URL of the image

A width declaration in which the width of the image is specified in pixels

A height declaration in which the height of the image is specified in pixels

An alt attribute that describes the content of the image—this is the #1 element of image-oriented SEO

A title attribute that contains text to be displayed when the user hovers his/her mouse over the image

So, what are you waiting for?

Is there anything you might want to add? Does your podcast transcriptionist work with you on these? Or, do you do it yourself?

photo credit: iancapstick

What do You Think of TranscriptionVendors.com? Good or Bad

Carey — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:21:40 +0000

I stumbled across Transcriptionvendors.com today and wanted to know more about working with them.

If you’ve had any experience working with them, please share your experience.

It seems to me like a decent enough place to work on, seeing some reputed transcription companies in their list.

Having said that I have reservations.

First, you have to pay $25 just for the test.

Secondly, to work with them you then pay $250 as regular member and $1,500 as premium member, annually.

Not only that 10% of your earnings through them is paid to them again!

Finally, how is it any different from working for another trancription company if you work through them.

Please share your opinion and experiences with working on TranscriptionVendors.com in the comments below. It will be appreciated!

Ways to become a freelance transcriptionist

Carey — Sun, 30 May 2010 14:59:16 +0000

In this age of outsourcing and crowdsourcing, there is tremendous prospect for the work at home types. Freelance work is more attractive than ever before.

As I myself turn to freelance work from being a fulltime transcriptionist I thought it’d be useful if I jot down some thoughts on becoming a transcriptionist.

Read the full article: How to become a freelance transcriptionist

How Podcast Transcription Maximizes SEO

Carey — Thu, 27 May 2010 21:00:11 +0000

Podcast transcription is fast becoming very popular.

Not only because some of your visitors will prefer reading, but also because it can maximize SEO for your blog or site.

Depending on how you use, transcripts of your podcasts can maximize your SEO.

Publish it along with the podcast – some people still prefer reading to listening. For some people its easier and faster to skim through your post then listen to a podcast.
Package it as a free report or white paper. Positions you as an expert in your niche.
Turn a collection of transcripts into ebook – give it away free to your subscribers, you will earn their trust and respect.
Search engines love new content. When you publish your podcast transcripts as blog posts your blog is SEO-ed. Search engine cannot index your podcasts. While text is easili indexed.
Your transcripts will be keyword rich naturally.
Write a SEO optimized heading rich in keyword(s).
Link to other posts/pages on your blog or outside resources.

Podcast transcription naturally takes care of search engine optimization for your blog.

The only question is – do you want to type the transcripts yourself or outsource to a podcast transcriptionist, who understands search engine optmizing blogs.

Grab my free podcast transcription offer valid till 30 June 2010 and see for yourself!

What is Legal Transcription

Carey — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:45:58 +0000

Legal transcription is the process of converting audio recorded dictations into text.

Transcription process involves recording dictations and then typing out these recorded dictations using word processors such as MS Word or WordPerfect.

A transcription is said to be legal transcription if the subject matter is of legal nature. Legal transcriptions are required by law firms and solicitors on a daily basis.

Read more about legal transcription: What is legal transcription?

This is part of a hub published by Carey on Hubpages.com