The Best Start-up Guide for Newbie Transcriptionists
Are you interested in jobs that offer a flexible schedule? Have you had the thought of wanting to become your boss? If you wish to start a comfortable work-from-home job, consider transcribing now! It’s one of the best beginner-friendly careers out there.
But how exactly do you get started? Here, we will provide you with a quick start-up guide that you can use to your advantage. These tips will help you get a good start on your new transcription career!
Practice Your Typing Skills
Although transcription jobs advertise that experience and skill are not needed. Training your skills to convert audio into text is a must if you want to be excellent in the field. Besides, you’ll have to prove to the people who will hire you that they won’t regret it. If you’re planning to be a professional, then more reason to improve!
If you’re already good at typing, then that’s a plus. Although that’s the case, keep practicing since practice makes us better. All you have to do is dedicate a bit of time each day for you to practice your typing skills. The slow daily repetition is enough to make a huge difference!
Touch typing is a skill that you can learn to improve your transcription time. It involves typing without looking down on your keyboard. Sure it sounds tricky, but you’ll master it with enough practice and discipline.
Another skill that could help with transcription speed is smart typing. Though typing fast is enough, typing smart will make a huge difference! It involves setting up shortcuts for words that are often used. You could also set up an autocorrect function for those words that can be hard to spell.
Prepare the Right Equipment
It is only right to invest in great-quality equipment and tools that will be useful in your new career. Already you might have thought of buying a clicky keyboard, but hold on! What you want to invest in instead are noise-canceling headphones. To be exact, the quality of what you hear is more important than your typing.
Other tools could also help speed up the work and reduce future frustrations. For example, a foot pedal is a strong recommendation. This tool can help you control the recording with your foot to keep typing with your hands. It functions such as rewind, forward, speed, volume, and many more!
Set Up Your Workspace
Setting up your workspace can make a difference in tons of ways. Since you get to decide when to work, a good environment can encourage productivity. Find a place with proper lighting to avoid eye strain. Also, keep the space clean and away from possible distractions.
A comfortable setup can also help improve in different ways. Keep in mind that you will be sitting in front of a computer for most of your time. Ergonomic chairs can help you feel comfortable, and it is also suitable for your back. Consider having enough space for you to stand up, stretch, and rest.
For a successful transcription workspace, it must be quiet and peaceful. Since we’re working with audio and recordings, you must be able to hear them loud and clear. Irrelevant noises can hinder your productivity and focus. You can make necessary changes to your workspace according to your preference.
Consider Transcription Softwares
One of the easiest ways to improve your transcription speed is through software. Having reliable software can make an impact on your work time. You won’t have a hard time searching since there are lots of free or paid software. All you have to do is look for the one that fits your preference and go with it!
Transcription software offers a lot of services that can help you. For example, automated transcription services can create a draft text from the audio you upload. It will not be perfect, but you can use it as a basis for your work. And most of the time, all you have to do is correct some mistakes.
In this line of work, you can’t avoid pausing to rewind the audio. So software also provides services such as an automatic backstep. Whenever you pause to type, this will rewind the recording a bit. This function will save you time and effort and reduce your future frustrations.
Find Your Clients
Now, you’re done with the preparation. All there is to do is find your clients. Since you’re new to this, this part may sound intimidating. But finding your clients isn’t as hard as you think. All you need is to know where to look for them.
Freelance marketplaces are the best websites to get clients. Marketplace websites are looking for long-term and one-time freelancers. For example, Upwork wants freelancers to build a long-term connection with their clients. In contrast, Fiverr wants freelancers that would work on past projects only.
If you still lack ideas on who your clients will be, then here are some of them. You can work with police departments, law enforcement agencies, and attorneys. You can also get clients such as podcasters, content creators, and YouTubers. There is more to choose from, but now you understand the wide range of clients you may have.
But how do you get your clients to hire you? The easy way is to offer them incentives, discounts, and more. But one of the best ways is to display your quality work and performance. Remember that the first files you’ll get hired to do are crucial for your career.
You have to remember a few things before working on the transcription. First, never forget to read the instructions of your client. Always follow the format that your client provides. And at last, don’t be afraid to ask!
You’re Good To Go (Conclusion)
Transcription jobs are great if you want to earn quick cash or if you want to make it a career. Either way, it has tons of perks to it. Though starting can be intimidating, this quick start-up guide will help you with it. So use this to your advantage and get a good start on your new transcription career!