Thank you so much for your very informative videos. I had been interested in doing transcribing for a number of years, now that the children were getting older. I was living my dream of being a house wife, supporting my husband with his mountains of paper work and sorting. Then the unimaginable happened. At the age of 47, he went to work to tie up some loose ends in preparation for taking 2 weeks of vacation time (he hadn't taken vacation time in over 5 years since becoming manager) to help me recover from a serious surgery. He never came home. I finally found him laying on his office floor, gone. Massive heart attack. So here I am, disabled, a widow and single mother with a son who would turn 9 years old in 3 weeks, and a seven year old daughter who hero worshiped her Dad. A year later my mother passed away. And during all the ensuing paper work, cleaning out homes, finding another home for myself, children and family pets, I got lost somewhere in the shuffle. Struggling from month to month just to pay rent, never mind buy enough food to eat or pay the bills in full. So once again, I began considering transcription work as a means to provide extra income. Since I have been a writer from an early age and my typing and English skills are impeccable, this seemed the most obvious way to go. I have watched your video several times, taken copious notes and downloaded Expressscribe. Now I begin my journey to financial comfort, if not freedom. You will never know how much your level headed and realistic information and suggestions have impacted not only my life, but the life of my children. With hard work and dedication, they will be once again able to have the "wants" in their lives, and we can live the life we had intended before their Dad passed away. Thank you.
I am so sorry for your losses. Thank you for sharing this. Your story is very moving, and I'm so glad that my videos could be of help. I wish you and your family all the best! I truly hope your hard work will pay off and that you and your children will reap all of the benefits of the journey you're undertaking. Take care.
This was a fantastic and informative video. I've been researching this job and your video is the first (out of dozens) to be concise, well organized, and hit on many questions I have about this kind of work. THANK YOU.
You're welcome, and thank you for watching! That's the very reason I made these videos. I couldn't find many on this topic when I first started in the field, and I think videos about general transcription as a career are lacking.
Thank you so much for your video and input. I officially started transcription contract work Nov. 1st. It is so nice to be able to work from home!! Thanks again!
Best Transcription videos ive watched so far. I immediately felt your honestly unlike some of the others ive watch. Very articulate and easy to understand especialy for those that are new to transcribing. Sharing some of your experiences from when you first decided to transcribe was very helpful and hopeful your awsome. Thank you!
Thank you so much for your friendly and encouraging input. While reading the other comments, I noticed one person who had said that they were losing their site and was interested in transcription as a possible career choice. I am a person who is totally blind, and I also believe that this is a good fit for me as well. I have been making my living in the music industry for almost 50 years. But, it is an industry that has times of work and times of slowness. This is the kind of work that I could do at home or anywhere I am. I applied and was approved by a company called Babbletype. I haven’t started anything with them yet, and they know that I am new. They seem as if they are honest, and the pay seems to be with in the average within the average of what you are stating. So, thank you again. I will take your advice and look into joining bad forum. Thanks again, Joe.
This was a very helpful video! Thank you. I've read all the comments and your responses and just wanted to thank you for your kindness to all of us who are just beginning to walk a road you've already traveled. You're the best!!
Thank you for the video! I have been working for Rev the past few months and had no idea that their pay was so much below the standard for the industry. I'll try to look for other options.
Thank you. I greatly appreciate your video. The explanation of the audio-time to actual-time ratio was very helpful, particularly regarding working as an independent contractor with companies. Your words are encouraging in expecting value pay for value work and not unnecessarily settle for low pay. Best Regards
Thank you for making this video! you are the first person to post a truthful video that didn't include a plug for a training program. I was thinking of applying for rev.com just to ease my worries about the application process. I figure, if I don't get accepted, I know I have to practice more. I have been practicing my typing on various typing test websites, and also practicing on listenandwrite.com.... which is a good tool, but can be frustrating at times. I actually really enjoy typing and grammar (always have), and think this would be a great fit while being conducive to my schedule. I was starting to get nervous that I wouldn't be good enough, but after watching your video, I'm feelin' pretty good again. The payrate for rev.com was really worrying me, but I feel and definitely know now that I'm worth more than $.50 an audio minute. Thank you again!
If you get rejected from Rev, it's not because you need practice. I've applied multiple times and I know fair well that I do a very well job and there is no mistakes but I get rejected all the time.
Thank you for all the great info. I'm glad I stumbled onto your site, as I am curious about transcription. Your video gave me a heads up on important issues such as bad pay and proper use of equipment. I look forward to watching others videos on your site.
This was actually extremely useful. Thank you very much for your 2 part video. I was looking at transcribe me, but I am very happy to see some valid alternatives, especially on the pay scale factor.
I was thinking about foot pedels, then you say it like 30 seconds later. I feel MUCH better knowing it's that simple for the most part. I have been thinking about a subscription to FlexJobs and see about doing transcription jobs. I need a job for sure though, so something at-home would be ideal.
Thank you for this video. I've just begun my search into this field of work, and your video was very VERY helpful!!! I will totally let you know if I end up doing transcription work.
I work in general transcription. I am about to sign up for the Transcription Essential forum and telling me what kind of equipment you used was helpful. Thank you for the video :)
Hi there, thank you so much for your informative videos. I am retiring soon and exploring some options for generating additional income. I am definitely an introvert, and in listening to you, I think this would be a good fit for me. I'm still in the research stage. Thanks a bunchGayle
Hi, Gayle! I'm already retired and now find I need to try to generate some extra income so we can travel and enjoy ourselves more. I love working from home so I may give this a try as well. Good luck to you!
Thanks. I've been in the transcription game for long time with Reality TV for a few Reality companies but recently they're starting to ship them out to transcription houses. So this is helpful for doing it outside of just the reality t.v. realm. So thanks for sharing. Those ergonomic boards look intimidating by the way.
You're welcome! I found that I got the hang of using the ergonomic keyboard pretty quickly, but I agree that they can look intimidating. Now, it's awkward for me when I use any other keyboard.
Hey thanks for the info. I was looking for a work at home alternative. I am losing my sight not to bum you out..but yeah the workplace is stressful so something like this fits me well. I'll try my hand at a couple you mentioned. If you feel 1 can be better equiped for the visually impaired then the others from your experience of these companies give me a shout.
You're welcome! I have actually not worked for the three companies I mentioned in the video, so I unfortunately am not sure about the details of how they operate.
This has helped me alot in my search for information. I'm looking for transcription jobs. I have no experience. I have to learn the skills first and you video is helpful. Thank you.
Hi there, I too am looking to begin a career in transcription. What do you feel has been your biggest obstacle? For me, I think it is formatting/style. Have you found any resources that have helped you in your endeavor?
Hi! This video was very helpful for me; lots of great advice. What about style guides? As I read through them, I see that each company has different procedures. Do I need to be concerned about this as I take the initial tests? Should I memorize them beforehand? Print them out for reference for during the test? Thank you in advance for your time! :)
You can usually have the style guide as a reference whenever you need to. During tests, it's good and even encouraged to continually refer back to the style guides to make sure that the transcript matches the guidelines. I think printing them out might be easier than having them on a different window on your computer. When you're hired, you can refer back to the guides as much as you need to and will eventually not need them very much when you are more comfortable with their format. In the tests, they aren't testing your memory. It's mainly your transcription skills, research abilities, and how well you can follow directions. I hope this helps!
Thanks! As you probably saw in the video, I don't recommend TranscribeMe because of how it impacts the industry, even if it's just for practice purposes, because I think people should always seek out a fair rate for transcription, among other reasons. That being said, if you still want to work for TranscribeMe, that's your choice, and I hope it works out for you!
Hi Batty, thanks for a very good video, as are your other ones. I am trying to get a job as a newb in transcription but it's quite difficult atm. I won't work for the terrible wages ($3 per hr !!!) from companies who will take just anyone. And the names you mentioned are now requiring either prior experience or to be minimum 70 wpm. I can't find a single company to hire true beginners that will pay even $8 per hour. Thoughts ?
You're welcome! As time goes on, it seems like it's getting tougher and tougher for beginners to find good companies to work for that are willing to hire them because it seems like there's a lot of competition out there. In terms of WPM, I would recommend trying to increase your speed because it is true that many companies prefer workers that can type faster. If you look around, research, and apply to many companies, but you still aren't able to land a decent contract, you could possibly look into finding private clients. Maybe there are some businesses or people (friends, neighbors, etc.) in your area that could use your services. Even grad students might be willing to pay someone to transcribe interviews for them. I hope you're able to find a job soon!
I enjoyed your video, it is very informative. I have been trying to get a started as transcriptionist. Even signed up for a training but got no luck.. still trying tho
I'm glad you mentioned Rev. If you go to Rat Race Rebellion, that is one of the first companies they have listed in their non-phone work-at-home jobs. I am looking to do this as a side hustle. I already have a full-time work-at-home job in healthcare. I do some typing at my job, but it is not a job where I type nonstop. I will see if I can pass the test.
Thanks for the video! Just curious but what is your turn around time? Like how fast can you get an hour of audio typed up? Today was my first day transcribing and the audio quality was terrible. It took me forever just to do like 17 minutes smh.
amberEVOLVED You're welcome. My turnaround time is 3 working hours to 1 audio hour, on average. That's for good audio quality with not too many speakers. Luckily, most of my work has at least decent audio. Nobody likes terrible audio, newbies and experienced alike. I'm always happy when I finally finish files like that.
Thank you for your video. Im trying to get into transcription at 47 years old. With no experience not even a good typer but im hoping this will turn out well for me. I am just nervous trying new things.
This was a pretty helpful video. I graduated with my certificate in Judicial Court Reporting in 2015 and am currently looking into transcription work so that I can work from home. I type on QWERTY about 100 wpm and I think I'd be able to narrow the 4 to 1 ratio you gave as an example to hopefully half that time. I am currently in communication with Net Transcripts and a company called REV - have you had any experience with either company personally? (elaborating on Net Transcripts - how they like their transcribed document to be formatted, etc.) (and is REV something you've heard of?) All info, tips, tricks are welcome. Thank you!
I use the mouse instead of a foot pedal for now and don't mind at all. I love using a mouse for everything, but someday will buy a foot pedal and try it.
Jen, If you're just doing this as a hobby, no problem using the mouse. However if you're trying to make a living wage, word to the wise, get a foot pedal. You need to get as much typing done as quickly as you can (when you're paid by the audio hour you complete, the more time you take transcribing an audio hour, the lower your hourly rate is). The key with the foot pedal is YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ONE HAND OFF OF THE KEYBOARD to stop and start the audio. Taking one or both hands off the keyboard to use a mouse, (or anything else) just slows you down. You can find new USB pedals on eBay for under 50 bucks, and used ones are even less.
Thank you for this video :) I'm brand new to transcribing. My question is how fast should I be at transcribing before I start applying. It takes me up to 3 hrs to transcribe 1 hr. 4 hrs if you're including the proof reading. :/ I feel like that's not very good lol what is the best way to speed up my transcription skills? just practice?
This is very helpful! Thank you so much! I'm about ready to apply for the first time, and have been practicing and researching. However, I have a question that I can't find an answer to. Can I use Open Office as a free alternative to Microsoft word? If anyone knows I'd appreciate your help!
Hey, thanks for making these videos. There's not a lot out there that speaks to the experience of general transcriptionists. I've been doing general transcription for a living since late 2011 and it's the only work that's ever really suited me. I first started working for a company that paid $0.70 to $1 per audio minute but they had to drop their rates, so I jumped ship to Rev. I'd like to work for a company that pays more, but with the onboard interface and audio preview features that Rev offers its workers, I think I'm spoiled for anything else. Are there other companies that offer the freedom Rev does but pay more?
blazmaverick Hi. I've personally never worked for Rev and I've only worked for a few companies, so I don't know how a lot of companies assign work. Personally, I've not worked for a company where you can choose the files you want to work on, but I don't mind that.
Thanks for getting back to me. Yeah, that's a huge feature of Rev that I think makes up for the low pay somewhat. Also they have a really nice on-site transcription interface complete with spell check and text expanders, so you never have to fuss with formatting or submission. I hated using Express Scribe because it makes a copy of the file you want to work with that always has inferior sound quality. Rev's interface streams files directly. Unfortunately there's no continuous rewind or fast-forward on their interface, so I use hotkeys instead of a pedal (which their interface also supports). Honestly, they're so good to their workers that I seriously don't understand how they stay in business.
Hey girl I just saw this video and I never knew about Feverr.com . Im knew to this hole transcribing work. And I already did an account for feverr. I did a gig for transcribing and another for translating . Im just wanting to know how long you waited to get your first feverr request. Or what I can do to get an actual request, like I said I’m new I’ve never done it. But I’m super interested in this field.
It took about a week or two. I do not get orders from that many different clients, even now. Most of my orders are from the same few repeat clients that like the work that I do and have ongoing work for me. If you are having trouble actually receiving orders, you can advertise on the Fiverr forums or use other methods of advertising, like creating a Facebook page for your business,
This information is helpful. I am in the process of completing a transcription online course. I would like to work from home, so I need all the guidance I can get. Please advise.
Thank you for sharing those great tips! I am a complete beginner, my typing speed is on average 60 wpm, and my grammar and punctuation are good. I was thinking of applying to those places that don't pay well in order to gain experience. Do you think it is a good idea? Because right now, applying to some of those places such as Verbal Ink or Ubiqus is hard due to competition. Also , can you recommend FREE online transcription courses? Keep up the good work
hi, im a big fan of your videos. I'm wondering if you could help me, could you tell me a few reputable companies I could work for besides transcribe me, Rev etcetera. I just don't want to be scammed. Thanks
Good Day! This is Gabriel from the Philippines. Thanks a lot for sharing your story. It definitely gave me an outlook about this type of career. I want to ask if there is any video tutorial, online course or self-help book about general transcription that you can recommend for a beginner like me? Thank you. Have a great day ahead =)
Gabriel S An e-book that I'd recommend is Jump-Start Your Work at Home General Transcription Career by Lisa Mills. There's a lot of good information in there. I don't think I would recommend any courses in particular unless you are looking to do medical or possibly legal transcription. The internet is a great resource for learning about general transcription without having to pay for courses.
I've been transcribing for 5 years and I recommend Scribie. Don't worry they accept beginners. Thank me later ;) scribie.com/freelance-transcription?rc=81e2ff09bf0c420eaee6a69c6aa702f1bc37c43a#intro
Thanks! Sorry, I don't know any specific websites for practice. The types of transcription that are out there are very broad, so it really depends on what you're looking to do. I would practice with UA-cam videos of the type of content you're interesting in transcribing and upload them to a transcription software like Express Scribe so that you can practice with that.
I found this video and love the information! I am totally blind and want to start transcribing. Do you think it possible? It seems you might have the knowledge to answer this question. Thank you for your input and honesty!
Thanks for all the info. I downloaded the free Express Scribe but I can't figure out how to load their practice files or any other practice files. Could you please help me with this? Thank you.
You're welcome. Do you mean loading them onto Express Scribe or downloading them? If you have the files already on your computer, go to the top left area of Express Scribe where it says "Load." It should take you to a folder of your computer. Change the folder/location to where your files are located and it should show the files you want, and you can load them from there.
Hi, Thank you very much for uploading this video. I am a new bee in this industry, I mean, I am still thinking and researching to join the industry. I have my own laptop and good typing skill. Your video really helped me. I will be sure stay updated with you and ask help if needed. :-)
Well, I am a little bit confused about what would be the right way for me to go. According to your advice, I created an account in Transcription Essentials. But I couldn't figure out how to apply for a job there. Can you help me with this? :-)
Life Of Fahim The Transcription Essentials forum is not meant to be a job board, but rather a place to talk to and get advice from a community of transcriptionists. If you do some reading on the forum, you will come across lists of companies that people have worked with that may be worth looking into.
So I heard that even though transcribing might be a dwindling field they now need transcription editors which means when they use the voice to text programs the computer always gets words wrong (it just can’t get it 100%) and I humans must edit /correct it and send it back So because voice recognition is becoming so popular the demand for transcription editor is increasing. The lady who runs career step told me that so I signed up for the school online course transcription AND editor all in one.
Yes, that's true. However, editing is more tedious and time consuming than actual transcription, and companies generally pay editors less. Transcription done by experienced humans is much more efficient.
Hey what do you think about upwork? Is transcription a reliable source of income. last question lol what do you think about working on your own and not relying on a company to make an income?
thequestforHealth I don't have experience with Upwork, but I've heard that it is decent if you charge a good rate and can still get clients. Transcription can definitely be a reliable sort of income depending on the contracts you have and how long you have been doing it. It takes a while to build up to that. I love working for myself and hope to never have to work a "normal" job again, and many freelancers feel the same way. I guess taxes and lack of benefits are the downfalls, but the freedom I have in self-employment is more important to me.
Thanks for this video. I am new to transcribing and am interested in transcribing videos from you tube. What software would you recommend using? Thanks
creativecompanion You're welcome! There are many online video converters, like Listen to UA-cam. You can also use a screen capture program (like Nimbus) if you don't want to use those websites. I use Express Scribe as transcribing software.
Divine Freedom Medical transcription is a dwindling field, but there is still a constant need for general and legal transcriptionists at many companies.
I was checking out Fiverr and noticed that everyone had different offers regarding revisions. Some offered unlimited, while others offered only 1 or two. What is your policy regarding revisions? Should I offer only a number of revisions? Are the revisions paid? Or are you offering a select number for free, but after that they must pay a certain fee, or the whole fee all over again? I feel I need to know more about revisions before I open a hornets nest and offer unlimited revisions, which I might regret in the future.
On my profile, it says that I don't offer revisions. I will, however, generally provide revisions if they're asked for as long as they are reasonable, but most clients don't ask for them, at least in my experience. I always make sure to let clients know that I will be happy to address any concerns with the transcript, and it occasionally results in some minor revisions, but it has only very rarely been something major. I'm sorry if my answer isn't much help, but since I've never had unlimited revisions on my order page, I'm not sure if that would be a help or hindrance. Offering one revision would probably be a safe approach, though.
Okay that makes sense now. I didn't want to get myself into hot water offering unlimited revisions until i understood what was meant by revisions . Thank you soo much
Thank you so much for your very informative videos. I had been interested in doing transcribing for a number of years, now that the children were getting older. I was living my dream of being a house wife, supporting my husband with his mountains of paper work and sorting. Then the unimaginable happened. At the age of 47, he went to work to tie up some loose ends in preparation for taking 2 weeks of vacation time (he hadn't taken vacation time in over 5 years since becoming manager) to help me recover from a serious surgery.
He never came home. I finally found him laying on his office floor, gone. Massive heart attack. So here I am, disabled, a widow and single mother with a son who would turn 9 years old in 3 weeks, and a seven year old daughter who hero worshiped her Dad.
A year later my mother passed away. And during all the ensuing paper work, cleaning out homes, finding another home for myself, children and family pets, I got lost somewhere in the shuffle. Struggling from month to month just to pay rent, never mind buy enough food to eat or pay the bills in full.
So once again, I began considering transcription work as a means to provide extra income. Since I have been a writer from an early age and my typing and English skills are impeccable, this seemed the most obvious way to go.
I have watched your video several times, taken copious notes and downloaded Expressscribe. Now I begin my journey to financial comfort, if not freedom. You will never know how much your level headed and realistic information and suggestions have impacted not only my life, but the life of my children. With hard work and dedication, they will be once again able to have the "wants" in their lives, and we can live the life we had intended before their Dad passed away.
Thank you.
I am so sorry for your losses. Thank you for sharing this. Your story is very moving, and I'm so glad that my videos could be of help. I wish you and your family all the best! I truly hope your hard work will pay off and that you and your children will reap all of the benefits of the journey you're undertaking. Take care.
@@battyashes9375 hi Miss Ashesim writing to you from Jamaica . Can you please start me off with a lap top please. I would love to be a transc8ber
This was a fantastic and informative video. I've been researching this job and your video is the first (out of dozens) to be concise, well organized, and hit on many questions I have about this kind of work. THANK YOU.
You're welcome, and thank you for watching! That's the very reason I made these videos. I couldn't find many on this topic when I first started in the field, and I think videos about general transcription as a career are lacking.
kimchiicecreamCanada joinjob.online/?cash=62066
@@battyashes9375 thank you mam. I am very late for this video however I hope the rules remain the same
Thank you so much for your video and input. I officially started transcription contract work Nov. 1st. It is so nice to be able to work from home!! Thanks again!
You're welcome! Sounds like it's going well for you. ☺
Best Transcription videos ive watched so far. I immediately felt your honestly unlike some of the others ive watch. Very articulate and easy to understand especialy for those that are new to transcribing. Sharing some of your experiences from when you first decided to transcribe was very helpful and hopeful your awsome. Thank you!
1shoefetish1 Thanks so much! You're welcome. 😊
You do a tremendous and thorough job of explaining the ins and outs of transcription.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for your friendly and encouraging input. While reading the other comments, I noticed one person who had said that they were losing their site and was interested in transcription as a possible career choice. I am a person who is totally blind, and I also believe that this is a good fit for me as well. I have been making my living in the music industry for almost 50 years. But, it is an industry that has times of work and times of slowness. This is the kind of work that I could do at home or anywhere I am. I applied and was approved by a company called Babbletype. I haven’t started anything with them yet, and they know that I am new. They seem as if they are honest, and the pay seems to be with in the average within the average of what you are stating. So, thank you again. I will take your advice and look into joining bad forum. Thanks again, Joe.
Thank you so much Batty, for your advice. I have felt the need to practice more audios before attempting any job.
Janeruth Wairimu You're welcome! 😊
This was a very helpful video! Thank you. I've read all the comments and your responses and just wanted to thank you for your kindness to all of us who are just beginning to walk a road you've already traveled. You're the best!!
Thanks so much! 😊 I'm glad people have found this video so helpful.
Thank you for the video! I have been working for Rev the past few months and had no idea that their pay was so much below the standard for the industry. I'll try to look for other options.
You're welcome! I hope it works out for you. :)
The best information in a long while.
Thank you for sharing... This is the moat useful video i searched for around 2 days. Your research help me a lot. You are so genuine.
Thank you.
Two things:
1. You're so cute
Thank you. I greatly appreciate your video. The explanation of the audio-time to actual-time ratio was very helpful, particularly regarding working as an independent contractor with companies. Your words are encouraging in expecting value pay for value work and not unnecessarily settle for low pay. Best Regards
You have a good heart and dedicated to what you do keep it up. really appreciate you a lot
Very informative. I heard about foot pedals and didn't know what it was. You covered everything.
Thank you for making this video! you are the first person to post a truthful video that didn't include a plug for a training program. I was thinking of applying for rev.com just to ease my worries about the application process. I figure, if I don't get accepted, I know I have to practice more. I have been practicing my typing on various typing test websites, and also practicing on listenandwrite.com.... which is a good tool, but can be frustrating at times. I actually really enjoy typing and grammar (always have), and think this would be a great fit while being conducive to my schedule. I was starting to get nervous that I wouldn't be good enough, but after watching your video, I'm feelin' pretty good again. The payrate for rev.com was really worrying me, but I feel and definitely know now that I'm worth more than $.50 an audio minute. Thank you again!
You're very welcome! I'm glad you found my video helpful. I wish you all the best with finding a good company and meeting your goals. :)
If you get rejected from Rev, it's not because you need practice. I've applied multiple times and I know fair well that I do a very well job and there is no mistakes but I get rejected all the time.
Thank you for all the great info. I'm glad I stumbled onto your site, as I am curious about transcription. Your video gave me a heads up on important issues such as bad pay and proper use of equipment. I look forward to watching others videos on your site.
Tj Jenkins You're welcome! I'm glad you found the video helpful. ☺
This was actually extremely useful. Thank you very much for your 2 part video. I was looking at transcribe me, but I am very happy to see some valid alternatives, especially on the pay scale factor.
I am so happy I found you. You give great info. I really appreciate it very much. You were very good at explaining too.
It was very informative .Thanks for making it . Its very detailed , condensed , to the point and very helpful .
Thanks for watching! :)
Bhai main India se hu
How do you manage the accent?
I was thinking about foot pedels, then you say it like 30 seconds later. I feel MUCH better knowing it's that simple for the most part. I have been thinking about a subscription to FlexJobs and see about doing transcription jobs. I need a job for sure though, so something at-home would be ideal.
I was looking for an informative video for a friend --- and you are definitely informative and provided a lot of great detail! Thank you.
You're welcome! 😁
I am gathering information on becoming a transcriber, your information was extremely helpful. Especially your do's and don'ts.
Amanda Dougherty Thanks for watching! 😁
Thank you!! Your transcription videos are really helping me figure this out😊
You're very welcome!
Thank you for this video. I've just begun my search into this field of work, and your video was very VERY helpful!!! I will totally let you know if I end up doing transcription work.
I work in general transcription. I am about to sign up for the Transcription Essential forum and telling me what kind of equipment you used was helpful. Thank you for the video :)
Hi there, thank you so much for your informative videos. I am retiring soon and exploring some options for generating additional income. I am definitely an introvert, and in listening to you, I think this would be a good fit for me. I'm still in the research stage. Thanks a bunchGayle
You're welcome. :) Congrats on the upcoming retirement, and I hope that you can find what works best for you!
Hi, Gayle! I'm already retired and now find I need to try to generate some extra income so we can travel and enjoy ourselves more. I love working from home so I may give this a try as well. Good luck to you!
Hi Batty, Thank you so very much for uploading this video. I found it very helpful. Keep up the good work.
rakhi vaasudevan You're welcome! Thanks for watching. 😊
Thanks. I've been in the transcription game for long time with Reality TV for a few Reality companies but recently they're starting to ship them out to transcription houses. So this is helpful for doing it outside of just the reality t.v. realm. So thanks for sharing. Those ergonomic boards look intimidating by the way.
You're welcome! I found that I got the hang of using the ergonomic keyboard pretty quickly, but I agree that they can look intimidating. Now, it's awkward for me when I use any other keyboard.
Thanks for the info. I have over 14 years experience transcribing legal documents and want to do this part time so I am starting to look now.
Hey thanks for the info. I was looking for a work at home alternative. I am losing my sight not to bum you out..but yeah the workplace is stressful so something like this fits me well. I'll try my hand at a couple you mentioned. If you feel 1 can be better equiped for the visually impaired then the others from your experience of these companies give me a shout.
You're welcome! I have actually not worked for the three companies I mentioned in the video, so I unfortunately am not sure about the details of how they operate.
This has helped me alot in my search for information. I'm looking for transcription jobs. I have no experience. I have to learn the skills first and you video is helpful.
Thank you.
Hi there, I too am looking to begin a career in transcription. What do you feel has been your biggest obstacle? For me, I think it is formatting/style. Have you found any resources that have helped you in your endeavor?
Hi! This video was very helpful for me; lots of great advice. What about style guides? As I read through them, I see that each company has different procedures. Do I need to be concerned about this as I take the initial tests? Should I memorize them beforehand? Print them out for reference for during the test? Thank you in advance for your time! :)
You can usually have the style guide as a reference whenever you need to. During tests, it's good and even encouraged to continually refer back to the style guides to make sure that the transcript matches the guidelines. I think printing them out might be easier than having them on a different window on your computer. When you're hired, you can refer back to the guides as much as you need to and will eventually not need them very much when you are more comfortable with their format. In the tests, they aren't testing your memory. It's mainly your transcription skills, research abilities, and how well you can follow directions. I hope this helps!
Great video, I'm new to the transcription Idea and figured I probably wouldn't mind trying TranscribeMe for practice purposes.
Thanks! As you probably saw in the video, I don't recommend TranscribeMe because of how it impacts the industry, even if it's just for practice purposes, because I think people should always seek out a fair rate for transcription, among other reasons. That being said, if you still want to work for TranscribeMe, that's your choice, and I hope it works out for you!
I am new to the industry and will definitely let how it goes. I think your vids are very informative as well.
Hi Batty, thanks for a very good video, as are your other ones. I am trying to get a job as a newb in transcription but it's quite difficult atm. I won't work for the terrible wages ($3 per hr !!!) from companies who will take just anyone. And the names you mentioned are now requiring either prior experience or to be minimum 70 wpm. I can't find a single company to hire true beginners that will pay even $8 per hour. Thoughts ?
You're welcome! As time goes on, it seems like it's getting tougher and tougher for beginners to find good companies to work for that are willing to hire them because it seems like there's a lot of competition out there. In terms of WPM, I would recommend trying to increase your speed because it is true that many companies prefer workers that can type faster. If you look around, research, and apply to many companies, but you still aren't able to land a decent contract, you could possibly look into finding private clients. Maybe there are some businesses or people (friends, neighbors, etc.) in your area that could use your services. Even grad students might be willing to pay someone to transcribe interviews for them. I hope you're able to find a job soon!
Thank you so much. Such a kind a thoughtful reply. :)
I enjoyed your video, it is very informative. I have been trying to get a started as transcriptionist. Even signed up for a training but got no luck.. still trying tho
Thank you. I hope that you will be able to find good business soon!
Hi Batty, Thank you so much for the advice. I will definitely get back to you as soon as I start getting transcription jobs.
Sheila Mukoto You're welcome! I hope you will be able to find jobs soon. 😊
This Video is great !!! It very informative, Specially the replies, I really like those replies to the questions !!! Good job Dear .
Excellent job! Really enjoyed the information provided.
Thank you! 😊
I'm glad you mentioned Rev. If you go to Rat Race Rebellion, that is one of the first companies they have listed in their non-phone work-at-home jobs. I am looking to do this as a side hustle. I already have a full-time work-at-home job in healthcare. I do some typing at my job, but it is not a job where I type nonstop. I will see if I can pass the test.
Thanks for the video! Just curious but what is your turn around time? Like how fast can you get an hour of audio typed up? Today was my first day transcribing and the audio quality was terrible. It took me forever just to do like 17 minutes smh.
amberEVOLVED You're welcome. My turnaround time is 3 working hours to 1 audio hour, on average. That's for good audio quality with not too many speakers. Luckily, most of my work has at least decent audio. Nobody likes terrible audio, newbies and experienced alike. I'm always happy when I finally finish files like that.
Batty Ashes Thank you for replying!!
Thanks for sharing such valuable information! Do you use a desktop computer or laptop, with your ergonomic keyboard?
Thank you for your video. Im trying to get into transcription at 47 years old. With no experience not even a good typer but im hoping this will turn out well for me. I am just nervous trying new things.
You're awesome for sharing this information to us peeps considering this.
Wow! Thank you so much for all this information.
Marlene Ferguson You're welcome! :)
Thank you for sharing Batty, very informative and helpful!! :-)
Diana Cortes You're welcome! 😊
This was a pretty helpful video. I graduated with my certificate in Judicial Court Reporting in 2015 and am currently looking into transcription work so that I can work from home. I type on QWERTY about 100 wpm and I think I'd be able to narrow the 4 to 1 ratio you gave as an example to hopefully half that time.
I am currently in communication with Net Transcripts and a company called REV - have you had any experience with either company personally? (elaborating on Net Transcripts - how they like their transcribed document to be formatted, etc.) (and is REV something you've heard of?)
All info, tips, tricks are welcome. Thank you!
Good info. I am in this, just started a newbie. Kindly hold my hands.
Great video! Thanks for the integrity and thorough information☆
I use the mouse instead of a foot pedal for now and don't mind at all. I love using a mouse for everything, but someday will buy a foot pedal and try it.
Jen, If you're just doing this as a hobby, no problem using the mouse. However if you're trying to make a living wage, word to the wise, get a foot pedal. You need to get as much typing done as quickly as you can (when you're paid by the audio hour you complete, the more time you take transcribing an audio hour, the lower your hourly rate is). The key with the foot pedal is YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ONE HAND OFF OF THE KEYBOARD to stop and start the audio. Taking one or both hands off the keyboard to use a mouse, (or anything else) just slows you down. You can find new USB pedals on eBay for under 50 bucks, and used ones are even less.
Thank you for this video :) I'm brand new to transcribing. My question is how fast should I be at transcribing before I start applying. It takes me up to 3 hrs to transcribe 1 hr. 4 hrs if you're including the proof reading. :/ I feel like that's not very good lol what is the best way to speed up my transcription skills? just practice?
Thank you Batty for this video, I am actually preparing myself to apply in this industry. Hoping to be hired. :)
You're welcome! I hope you will be hired too. :) Good luck!
Thanks, your effort is informative indeed.
Thanks for your very informative video. You rock!!
Awesome video, thank you Batty, good info!!!!
Mary Zizzo You're welcome! 😊
Please put all your transcription videos into a playlist x
Thanks , God pless you.
Curious if you are still a transcriptionist? I am thinking about starting it and wonder if it is worth it? It would be a secondary income at my home.
Erin Michelle Yes, I still transcribe and would recommend giving transcription a shot!
Thank you for the information...
It will help me a lot in the future!
lovely and honest advice
Thanks for the info, looking into this!
Any other companies you can recommend? Some of these won't take you if you live in California
This is very helpful! Thank you so much! I'm about ready to apply for the first time, and have been practicing and researching. However, I have a question that I can't find an answer to. Can I use Open Office as a free alternative to Microsoft word? If anyone knows I'd appreciate your help!
Keep going
Hey, thanks for making these videos. There's not a lot out there that speaks to the experience of general transcriptionists. I've been doing general transcription for a living since late 2011 and it's the only work that's ever really suited me. I first started working for a company that paid $0.70 to $1 per audio minute but they had to drop their rates, so I jumped ship to Rev. I'd like to work for a company that pays more, but with the onboard interface and audio preview features that Rev offers its workers, I think I'm spoiled for anything else. Are there other companies that offer the freedom Rev does but pay more?
blazmaverick Hi. I've personally never worked for Rev and I've only worked for a few companies, so I don't know how a lot of companies assign work. Personally, I've not worked for a company where you can choose the files you want to work on, but I don't mind that.
Thanks for getting back to me. Yeah, that's a huge feature of Rev that I think makes up for the low pay somewhat. Also they have a really nice on-site transcription interface complete with spell check and text expanders, so you never have to fuss with formatting or submission. I hated using Express Scribe because it makes a copy of the file you want to work with that always has inferior sound quality. Rev's interface streams files directly. Unfortunately there's no continuous rewind or fast-forward on their interface, so I use hotkeys instead of a pedal (which their interface also supports). Honestly, they're so good to their workers that I seriously don't understand how they stay in business.
blazmaverick this comment was very helpful. Thanks!🙂
Hey girl I just saw this video and I never knew about Feverr.com . Im knew to this hole transcribing work. And I already did an account for feverr. I did a gig for transcribing and another for translating . Im just wanting to know how long you waited to get your first feverr request. Or what I can do to get an actual request, like I said I’m new I’ve never done it. But I’m super interested in this field.
It took about a week or two. I do not get orders from that many different clients, even now. Most of my orders are from the same few repeat clients that like the work that I do and have ongoing work for me. If you are having trouble actually receiving orders, you can advertise on the Fiverr forums or use other methods of advertising, like creating a Facebook page for your business,
This information is helpful. I am in the process of completing a transcription online course. I would like to work from home, so I need all the guidance I can get. Please advise.
A lot of good information.
Thank you for sharing those great tips! I am a complete beginner, my typing speed is on average 60 wpm, and my grammar and punctuation are good. I was thinking of applying to those places that don't pay well in order to gain experience. Do you think it is a good idea? Because right now, applying to some of those places such as Verbal Ink or Ubiqus is hard due to competition. Also , can you recommend FREE online transcription courses? Keep up the good work
hi, im a big fan of your videos. I'm wondering if you could help me, could you tell me a few reputable companies I could work for besides transcribe me, Rev etcetera. I just don't want to be scammed. Thanks
Good Day! This is Gabriel from the Philippines. Thanks a lot for sharing your story. It definitely gave me an outlook about this type of career. I want to ask if there is any video tutorial, online course or self-help book about general transcription that you can recommend for a beginner like me? Thank you. Have a great day ahead =)
Gabriel S An e-book that I'd recommend is Jump-Start Your Work at Home General Transcription Career by Lisa Mills. There's a lot of good information in there. I don't think I would recommend any courses in particular unless you are looking to do medical or possibly legal transcription. The internet is a great resource for learning about general transcription without having to pay for courses.
Also, you're welcome, and I hope you have a great day as well! 😊
I've been transcribing for 5 years and I recommend Scribie. Don't worry they accept beginners. Thank me later ;)
scribie.com/freelance-transcription?rc=81e2ff09bf0c420eaee6a69c6aa702f1bc37c43a#intro
First off great vid! 12:13 is tax talk.
Great video! Helped so much.
This was quite helpful! Thanks
Hey awesome video! Do you have any good websites for practice?
Thanks! Sorry, I don't know any specific websites for practice. The types of transcription that are out there are very broad, so it really depends on what you're looking to do. I would practice with UA-cam videos of the type of content you're interesting in transcribing and upload them to a transcription software like Express Scribe so that you can practice with that.
Thanks for the video. It was really helpful. I would love to ask some questions about some of the sites i was interested in but privately.
You're welcome! Feel free to contact me via my Instagram @batty_ashes.
email would be preferably okay
Great vid. Thank you!
So, how much should beginners charge per hour, or per minute? What do you think is a fair amount?
I found this video and love the information! I am totally blind and want to start transcribing. Do you think it possible? It seems you might have the knowledge to answer this question. Thank you for your input and honesty!
Thank you! This was so helpful!
Is there a course that you need to take before you can start in this career?
Thanks for all the info. I downloaded the free Express Scribe but I can't figure out how to load their practice files or any other practice files. Could you please help me with this? Thank you.
You're welcome. Do you mean loading them onto Express Scribe or downloading them? If you have the files already on your computer, go to the top left area of Express Scribe where it says "Load." It should take you to a folder of your computer. Change the folder/location to where your files are located and it should show the files you want, and you can load them from there.
Hi, Thank you very much for uploading this video. I am a new bee in this industry, I mean, I am still thinking and researching to join the industry. I have my own laptop and good typing skill. Your video really helped me. I will be sure stay updated with you and ask help if needed. :-)
You're welcome! I hope everything goes well for you. 😊
Well, I am a little bit confused about what would be the right way for me to go. According to your advice, I created an account in Transcription Essentials. But I couldn't figure out how to apply for a job there. Can you help me with this? :-)
Life Of Fahim The Transcription Essentials forum is not meant to be a job board, but rather a place to talk to and get advice from a community of transcriptionists. If you do some reading on the forum, you will come across lists of companies that people have worked with that may be worth looking into.
it was a helpful information, thank you.
So I heard that even though transcribing might be a dwindling field they now need transcription editors which means when they use the voice to text programs the computer always gets words wrong (it just can’t get it 100%) and I humans must edit /correct it and send it back So because voice recognition is becoming so popular the demand for transcription editor is increasing. The lady who runs career step told me that so I signed up for the school online course transcription AND editor all in one.
Yes, that's true. However, editing is more tedious and time consuming than actual transcription, and companies generally pay editors less. Transcription done by experienced humans is much more efficient.
Honestly its great info.
cartoon mania Thanks! 😊
Thank you!
Hey what do you think about upwork? Is transcription a reliable source of income. last question lol what do you think about working on your own and not relying on a company to make an income?
thequestforHealth I don't have experience with Upwork, but I've heard that it is decent if you charge a good rate and can still get clients. Transcription can definitely be a reliable sort of income depending on the contracts you have and how long you have been doing it. It takes a while to build up to that. I love working for myself and hope to never have to work a "normal" job again, and many freelancers feel the same way. I guess taxes and lack of benefits are the downfalls, but the freedom I have in self-employment is more important to me.
Are those 3 sites recruiting from all over the world or just US residents?
whoa! That was so informative. I am interested general transcribing; I have one question where do you purchase foot pedals?
Tiffani Bonmon I think they're only available online. I got mine on Amazon, and I think eBay sells them too.
Tiffani Bonmon Mine is the Infinity USB.
Great video..Keep going..
So, how much experience does one need to have to no longer be considered a newbie?
U have been formidable !
Thanks for this video. I am new to transcribing and am interested in transcribing videos from you tube. What software would you recommend using? Thanks
creativecompanion You're welcome! There are many online video converters, like Listen to UA-cam. You can also use a screen capture program (like Nimbus) if you don't want to use those websites. I use Express Scribe as transcribing software.
Thanks! Happy Thanksgving! :)
Thank You
Thanks for your response. I mean downloading them. When I'm in their website I click on the download audio file but I can't get it to download.
Right-click on the download link and click "Save Link As," then you can save it to any folder you want and load it to ES after that.
Thank you so much for taking time to help me. What a kind person you are. Have a great day!
I'm glad to help! I hope you have a great day too. :)
Are there a lot of General Transcription and Medical transcription jobs out there now in 2018? Is this a growing field?
Divine Freedom Medical transcription is a dwindling field, but there is still a constant need for general and legal transcriptionists at many companies.
please keep making videos
Verbal Ink works with transcriptionists worldwide? Im not from the US. Thanks!
I'm not sure if they hire worldwide. I don't think it says whether they do or not on their website.
I was checking out Fiverr and noticed that everyone had different offers regarding revisions. Some offered unlimited, while others offered only 1 or two. What is your policy regarding revisions? Should I offer only a number of revisions? Are the revisions paid? Or are you offering a select number for free, but after that they must pay a certain fee, or the whole fee all over again? I feel I need to know more about revisions before I open a hornets nest and offer unlimited revisions, which I might regret in the future.
On my profile, it says that I don't offer revisions. I will, however, generally provide revisions if they're asked for as long as they are reasonable, but most clients don't ask for them, at least in my experience. I always make sure to let clients know that I will be happy to address any concerns with the transcript, and it occasionally results in some minor revisions, but it has only very rarely been something major. I'm sorry if my answer isn't much help, but since I've never had unlimited revisions on my order page, I'm not sure if that would be a help or hindrance. Offering one revision would probably be a safe approach, though.
Okay that makes sense now. I didn't want to get myself into hot water offering unlimited revisions until i understood what was meant by revisions . Thank you soo much