You may have heard it’s possible to get a transcription job at home, but weren’t really sure what this means. Basically, a transcription types out dictation, what is said in an audio recording, video and more.
Transcription services are used by business owners, organizations and more. They may transcribe meetings, courses, conversations, etc.
Want to get started quickly?: Here’s a Transcription Business Guide
Finding Transcription Jobs
Finding steady income as a transcriptionist can be tricky for the first few months. Where do you find clients? How can you ensure that you have enough work to fill all the hours you want to work?
The trick lies in finding a specialty and gaining experience and contacts in that market. Rather than calling yourself just a “transcriptionist,” it helps a lot to be able to say that you have experience with a particular kind of transcription.
Here are the various types of tasks a transcriber might do, along with a few tips on getting clients.
=> The Different Types of Transcribing Specialty
* Medical transcriber – One of the most common types of transcription. Your job is to transcribe audios from hospitals and other medical professionals and turn them into texts. These can be from phone conversations, operating rooms or any other range of things.
* Legal transcriber – A recorded meeting with a client will often need to be transcribed.
* Marketing focus groups – Marketing meetings produce a lot of audios. Executives don’t want to listen to audios; they just want the most relevant parts in text. Focus groups tend to need quite a few transcribers.
* Insurance transcriber – Phone conversations with insurance companies or other auditory reports often need to be turned into text.
* Business transcriber – Business owners who host webinars, audio seminars or interviews often need them transcribed.
The list goes on and on. It’s generally best to pick one industry and stick to that industry. For example, if you choose to become a medical transcriber, you’ll have a much easier time landing work from other hospitals once you have your first.
=> Finding Clients
There are a few places you can find clients.
First of all, your own network of contacts. If you have contacts with business owners, lawyers or doctors, that’s a very good place to start.
If you have a specific specialty, start networking in those circles or directly contact them by phone or email.
You can also find clients online. Post an advertisement for your services on Craigslist, eLance, Guru, O Desk and Freelance. These are websites that people go to in order to find freelancers.
Finally, once you get a client be sure to do a great job and ask for referrals. You’ll make most of your money from a handful of repeat clients.
Most of the work in finding clients comes in the beginning when you’re just getting off the ground. After a few months, you’ll have a few steady clients that make up the bulk of your income, plus a few side jobs that come and go.
Finding a steady stream of income as a transcriptionist takes effort to start with, but once you get your first couple batches of clients it gets much easier going forward.
Get More Information: To learn what it takes to get started and launch your transcription business,pick up your Transcription Business Guide.
