Is Transcription a service I should Provide?

[karlaamaya]

Hello Everyone,

I have never done transcription, but I have a few clients who have already asked me if I can provide this service. I don't think it's something I can't do, but don't have the experience to take on a project.

Can anyone advise me on this one.

Thanks.

Karla

[AM/PM Virtual Assistants]

Hi Karla,

I think it depends on whether you will be transcribing handwritten or typewritten notes or audio recordings. If it's from handwritten or typewritten notes, then it should be something you can handle. If it's audio recordings, those are a little harder and more time consuming. You have to be sure to have a good set of headphones and good listening ears.

I would suggest practicing with some free audio samples online to see if this is something you can do. I transcribed for a year and hated it because I was so slow that the pay was not worth my hours I worked.

I hope this helps!

Lynn

[karlaamaya]

Hi Lynn,

Thanks for the info!

could you explain a little bit more how it works. How do you transcribe a document or audio, just write exactly what you hear, how does it work?

Karla

[AM/PM Virtual Assistants]

Hi Karla. If you are transcribing a document such as a company's meeting minutes, the company owner will most likely fax or scan them to you. He or she will most like suggest to you how they want the document to appear. Your job is then to type them into an organized manner and a professional format that includes the date, meeting attendees, things discussed, etc. It is good to start with a template that all of the meeting minutes will use to keep the look of all of the documents uniform. You can visit the Minutes Template under Microsoft Word for template ideas.

If you are transcribing an audio recording, the client will most likely provide you with guidelines for the transcription such as verbatim (word-for-word, including ummm), filtered verbatim (word-for-word without ummm), or summarized. The lengths of the recordings ranged from 30-minute interviews to 2 hour focus groups. The company that I worked for gave very detailed instructions on each type. They would email me the audio file and I would download it. I typed all of the transcriptions into Microsoft Word. I was also responsible for editing the documents before emailing them back to the company. I didn't have one, but a footpedal is also a good investment if you will be doing audio recordings. It will aid you in rewinding without having to use the mouse.

Let me know if you have any more questions. I will be glad to help you.

Lynn

[karlaamaya]

Thanks for all the information Lynn, I guess I can try a small project and see how it goes.

Karla

[PamH53]

Hi Karla! I do a lot of transcription work and really enjoy it. If you have never transcribed any audio files and don't have a foot pedal, you will have a hard time doing it. Without a foot pedal, it goes really, really slow and can be very frustrating. I bought my foot pedal off of EBay and it wasn't very expensive.

You might want to consider subbing this work out, or just passing on the client to someone else who does this type of work. It might save you a few headaches.

If you do decide to give it a try, you might want to look into Express Scribe. Great program that will make things a bit easier (but you still will want the foot pedal).

Let me know if you have any questions.

[VYPA72]

Hi Karla,
The suggestions made by Lynn are very good ones. Transcriptions come in various forms but in most cases the client will let you know exactly what they are looking for. Transcribing from handwritten notes is the easiest and is less time consuming but many clients prefer to use audio and then have that transcribed.

With audio if you're a beginner it can be a little hard going until you get the hang of it, but it also takes a keen listener and fast, accurate keyboard skills to make the job worth while.

If this is something that you are interested in then you can try a sample audio just to get you familiar with the whole thing. Express Scribe is one of the most common software used for transcription and you can use your keyboard or get a footpedel for controlling reverse, speed etc.

You can look at providing this service to your clients by looking at subcontracting out to another VA.

Hope you found this information helpful in making your decision.

[karlaamaya]

Althea, Pam & Lynn,

I appreciate very much all your advise. I will practice with the software you mentioned above and see what happens. I have to say, I have become interested.

Thanks again!

[ldagdag]

I was also considering offering transcription. I started taking a medical transcription class but never finished. In that case though it was because all the medicines and diseases were way too hard to identify. But the previous suggestion of transcribing handwritten or typewritten notes is a good one, I may try that.

[kirstylynn]

I am in the medical field as a Unit Secretary for over 10 years and I am an EMT and I still have issues trying to understand the medicines and diseases. UGH !
I would love to transcribe but after listening to those Doctor's its not even the knowing of the diseases and all its how fast they speak.. My Gosh!!! lol
I would love to maybe type for an attorney or something like that. I love to type.