Being able to work from home is the dream for a lot of people. If you can type fast, you might want to learn how to do transcription jobs from home.
If you don’t know, transcription jobs are where you take audio files and you convert them to the written word. It requires someone to have a sharp ear and fast fingers to type.
Transcribing is a great option for people who are looking for jobs to do at home, since you can pretty much do this job from anywhere.
It’s an industry that continues to grow, especially with more and more people needing to create content for the internet.
Let’s cover the basics of what you need to know such as what it is, what skills you need, and how you can find jobs in this industry.
What Are Transcription Jobs?
If you choose to do some transcription jobs, the basics you need to know are that you’re going to spend your time listening to audio and turning it into written text.
There are a ton of reasons people could need these services.
For example, you could be creating captions for hard of hearing people. You could be creating blog posts from YouTube videos. You could be transcribing someone’s thoughts so they could use them for an upcoming book.
The reasons are endless, but the most important thing you need to know is that it’s an industry that is constantly in need of people so it’s a good choice to pick for either a career or even just a side hustle to make a little extra money.
It especially continues to grow due to more and more people needing to make content for their businesses and blogs.
What Skills Do You Need to Succeed With Transcription Jobs?
In order to succeed as a transcriptionist, you need to be able to listen well and type fast.
You don’t necessarily need any specific degree, but the more accurate you can type, the better.
You might have to listen to people who have interesting voices or are harder to understand, and you’ll still need to be able to transcribe things fast.
If you want to do this as a job, you’ll most likely need to go through a few test assignments or to build a portfolio to show off your skills. That way, clients can be sure that you’re meeting their expectations and that you will do a thorough job.
While you might not need specific skills, you will often need:
- A reliable computer for getting your work done on time
- Solid internet connection to be able to stream audio and send in your written work
- Proofreading skills
- Headphones to be able to hear the audio clearly
- A plan to improve your typing accuracy (this will save you from having to constantly fix your typos later on)
What Else Can You Offer As A Transcriptionist?
If you discover that you enjoy doing this type of work, there are so many other things you can do with it too.
For example, you can also create captions for videos. This will require you to sync the words with the audio as it’s happening, but captions are essential to a lot of companies.
If you’ve ever put on Closed Captioning for your movies or TV shows, you know how important it is to be able to accurately describe what you’re hearing and to time it perfectly. That could become something you end up doing, if you choose to pursue this type of work.
Are Transcription Jobs Competitive?
While most freelancing jobs can be quite competitive, you can stand out by being someone who does great work and as someone who always hits their deadlines.
Don’t let the competition deter you from getting involved in this industry if you want to.
It might take a while to get your foot in the door, but once clients are happy with you and you have some good referrals or reviews to show off, you will find that it becomes easier to land work.
Where to Find Transcription Jobs From Home
First you’ll need to figure out if there are particular industries you want to write for. Some industries will pay better than ever, but you should also pick something you actually enjoy writing about.
Some industries that can pay well include medical, financial, and legal transcription jobs.
Let’s take a look at some of the places you can find transcription jobs form home.
#1 – Upwork and Fiverr
While a lot of freelancers have hot and cold feelings about Upwork and FiverrFiverr, there’s no doubt that they are still a place that a lot of new freelancers start.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of transcription jobs posted at any given time so you can pick and choose the jobs that work best for you.
It’s at least a good place to test out this potential job to see if it’s something you enjoy doing or not. That way, you can be sure you want to move forward with this as a side hustle or even turn it into a full career.
#2 – TranscribeMe
Transcribe Me offers different transcription jobs, starting at $15 per hour, for people to choose from.
Most of the jobs are 2 to 4 minute clips, so you’re not stuck listening to long audio clips to transcribe.
It’s a good starting point for people looking to make some extra cash or start transcribing without too much pressure, as they help give you training and resources to succeed as a transcriber.
#3 – LinkedIn
LinkedIn has a ton of options for freelancers. Whether you choose to directly connect with potential clients or companies that you could work with.
You’ll want to spend time filling out your profile to make it clear to potential clients or recruiters that you’re looking for transcription work so they can find you.
#4 – Direct pitching to clients
If you’re looking to directly pitch clients, that is also possible. This is often where you will find the best clients because you will be working with them directly instead of through third party sites (which always take a cut of your income, too).
#5 – Rev
Rev offers $0.30-$1.10 per audio/video minute for people to transcribe.
The process to get started is easy. You’ll simply need to take a quick test to show that you understand the basics of the English language and grammar.
Then, you’ll need to do a sample assignment, just so they can double check that you’re up to the task.
Once those steps are done you’re ready to start getting paid, which happens every week, depending on how much work you can take on your plate at a time.
#6 – Crowdsurf
Crowdsurf is another option for people looking for transcription jobs from home
With Crowdsurf, you’ll be creating video captions for deaf, hard of hearing, and second language viewers. They often approve people within one business day so you can get started sooner than later.
#7 – Scribie
With Scribie, you can earn between $5 to $20 per audio hour.
They have been in business since 2008, which provides some assurance that it’s not just a company that will go under any time soon. Scribe has given over $3M in payouts and has 50,000 transcribers across the world.
What to Do Next
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