Writing is by no means an easy profession. But for lovers of words, it’s hard not to take up the pen (or the keyboard in today’s world) to make a living. Since you’re reading this, I presume you are a freelance writer or wish to become one. I have great news for you! You can take up online transcription jobs to earn well while doing what you love to do the most, that is, writing.
The Growing Popularity Of Freelancing
Research suggests that one-third of these freelancers are involved with jobs that require creativity. Plus, about 17% of these freelancers are writers or content creators. Yes! Freelancing is gradually gaining steady ground on a global scale.
Why Freelance Writers Should Consider Taking Up Online Transcription Jobs
I have already told you that you might consider taking up transcription work if you are a freelance writer. Choosing to be a transcriptionist comes with a host of benefits. So, what are they?
Firstly, online transcription jobs will help you make money from the comfort of your home. Apparently, 25% of freelancers prefer working from home. With social distancing slowly becoming a norm, working from home naturally seems viable to many.
Secondly, you will have the opportunity to choose your own work hours. There are certain companies, however, that have stipulated work hours. But, otherwise, you are free to choose when you can complete your assignments and projects. What is more attractive than flexible work hours?
Thirdly, freelance transcriptionists can choose who they want to work with. Needless to say, that is the central idea behind freelancing. You are not bound to a particular company or client. You have the freedom to work with a client or multiple clients of your choice.
Finally, if you wish to take up transcription as a profession, you need not possess any special skills. Yes, you read that right! Plus, you need no prior work experience. To take up online transcription jobs, you don’t require excellent educational qualifications either.
But, to excel as a transcriptionist, you need to put in the best of your efforts.
What Is Transcription Work?
So, aren’t you eager to know what transcribing is all about? I have explained to you the various benefits of working as a transcriptionist. But what exactly do you need to do in transcription jobs?
To put it simply, you will have to translate audio and/or video into words as a part of this job. First of all, you need to listen carefully to what is said in the audio or visual document. Then, you just have to write, or rather type, what you heard.
In these kinds of jobs, you are allowed to work from home. You will get paid based on transcription done per audio hour or a minute or on similar parameters.
If you are involved in freelance transcription, you will have to edit and proofread your works very carefully before sending them to your client.
For your information, a professional transcriptionist may earn up to about $45,000 per annum.
Sounds easy? Sorry, but it isn’t as easy as it sounds. That is exactly why you need a lot of practice. Only then can you succeed in a transcription job.
Some Basic Requirements Before You Begin Working As A Transcriptionist
Although you need no special skill to take up online transcription jobs, you need to possess certain things or equipment. These are your basic requirements. Wondering what they are? You may want to take a look at the list below, in that case:
A Computer
First of all, you must have a computer if you wish to get started as a transcriptionist. It can be either a laptop or a desktop, as per your preference.
High-Speed Internet Connection
Having a computer isn’t enough. It’s also extremely important to have access to a high-speed internet connection for online transcription jobs. A stable internet connection is an absolute imperative.
Headphones
The most important part of being a transcriptionist is to listen carefully and attentively to the audio or video files sent to you.
Sometimes, you might be given audio files that are of dismal quality.
There might be occasions when you face difficulty in understanding what is being said. That may happen if the speakers use strong accents. It may also happen if there are unwanted sounds or noise in the background.
There might be some kind of disturbance in your immediate surroundings as well.
So, if you invest in good-quality headphones, you will be able to do away with all these troubles.
Foot Pedal
Do you know that if you use a foot pedal while transcribing, you will be able to complete your assignments really fast? Investing in a foot pedal will definitely benefit you in your transcription work.
An Ergonomic Keyboard
It is needless to say that you will have to type for several hours at a stretch if you choose to take up online transcription jobs. Your fingers might hurt in that process.
So, if you choose to get an ergonomic keyboard for yourself, it will certainly not be a bad investment.
An Ergonomic Mouse
It is also very important to invest in an ergonomic mouse to make transcribing easy for you.
Points To Remember Before You Begin Transcribing
The above appliances are very basic requirements. Apart from all these devices and gadgets, you must keep the following things in mind:
Transcription Requires Plenty Of Patience
To be successful in transcription, you must have a lot of patience. Without patience, this job might become very difficult for you.
As I have already said, sometimes you may be given audio files of bad quality. So, you need to be a very patient listener. If you’re too impatient, online transcription jobs are not for you.
Transcription Is Not An Easy Job
I have already talked about it before. If you believe that online transcription jobs are easy, then you must not make a foray into this field. You need to practice hard to improve your transcription skills.
You Need To Be An Excellent Listener
To become a transcriptionist, you must be an excellent listener. You need to notice every detail while listening to what the speaker is talking about.
Sometimes, your employer might instruct you to note down expressions like “hmm,” “ugh,” “umm,” and so on.
So, if you are a good listener, you can excel in this job.
You Must Be Very Accurate While Typing
Accuracy in typing is a skill that gets better with practice. If you take transcription seriously, you will be able to transcribe with great accuracy in a short period of time.
Be Wary Of Fraudsters
There is no dearth of fraudsters in this world. They are there everywhere. So, even before you apply for online transcription jobs, make sure that you don’t get duped in the process.
Firstly, a business venture or any other enterprise or individual will never ask you to pay them something before you begin working for them.
Yes, some companies deal with very sensitive information. Only some of these companies may ask you to pay a nominal amount. So, be careful if you haven’t applied for a job in any such company.
Secondly, it’s normal to expect clear guidelines from your recruiter or recruiting agency regarding your work. If they fail to provide you with this basic information, they are not worth your time.
Lastly, be very particular about the payment packages. It will be good to talk to your employer very clearly before you begin working on their projects.
Some recruiters will pay you only after you have successfully finished the projects assigned to you. Just talk about your payment very openly to avoid being deceived later.
Fields In Which Transcriptionists Are Much Sought After
Transcribing is of considerable importance in a lot of fields. I have mentioned some of these fields in the list that follows:
- Some educational institutions often avail of transcription services. Transcription of certain research projects is carried out in these institutions.
- In several business enterprises, transcriptionists are hired to transcribe recordings of virtual conferences, webinars, conference calls, etc.
- Market researchers may often hire people offering transcription services to transcribe research lectures.
- Journalists may work closely with those involved in transcription too.
Apart from those that I mentioned above, a transcriptionist is needed in a host of other fields.
The Various Kinds Of Transcription Jobs
Transcription can be of different types. In case you are not aware of them, you may read the list given below:
1. General Transcription
For wannabe freelance transcriptionists, general transcription seems to be the most suitable option. That’s because general transcription is the most basic variety of transcription and you need not possess any specialized knowledge for this. Most importantly, it’s easier than other varieties of transcription.
2. Technical Transcription
Technical transcription will be ideal for you if you hail from an engineering background. You will be given audio and/or video files where the speakers might be using many technical terms. So, it’s meant for those with a degree in engineering or those pursuing engineering.
3. Medical Transcription
You can make more money than others involved with transcription jobs if you take up medical transcription. But the catch is that it’s quite a difficult task. In addition, this form of transcription demands a very high level of accuracy.
4. Legal Transcription
As the name suggests, legal transcription entails transcribing recordings of court proceedings, hearings, verdicts, and so on. Long story short, it involves everything that is associated with the law and judiciary. Also, your work has to be very accurate in this case.
5. Financial Transcription
People hailing from the Commerce stream can choose to apply for financial transcription jobs. You will have to transcribe audio consisting of data like a company’s finances, sales, yearly reports, and other such documents.
6. Verbatim Transcription
To transcribe something verbatim means transcribing each word and non-verbal expression in a particular speech, podcast, or audio recording. This implies that you’ll have to include expressions like “umm,” “ahem,” and so on. This form of transcription requires a lot of patience, and it’s quite time-consuming as well.
10 Websites Offering Online Transcription Jobs For Beginners And Transcription Jobs From Home
So, you are now aware of the fundamentals of online transcription jobs. But where can you find such jobs? Is there any particular platform that offers transcription jobs for beginners?
Well, there is not just one online platform. In fact, many websites offer transcription jobs to beginners.
I have prepared a list of some of the sites that provide transcription jobs for beginners. The list is given in the following section:
1. GoTranscript
GoTranscript is probably one of the best websites offering transcription jobs to beginners.
Even if you are inexperienced, you can easily secure a job from this website. You can live in any corner of the globe and yet get a job on GoTranscript. You are free to choose your working hours as well.
Want to know what’s more interesting? The payout options they provide are quite secure. You will be paid close to $0.60 per video minute. The payments are made through PayPal or Payoneer and are processed every week.
Just sign up, answer a couple of questions, and translate the test audio files given to you into words. You will be notified regarding your selection within a week.
2. Verbal Ink
For US citizens looking for online transcription jobs, Verbal Ink is an excellent platform. It is one of the best sites for wannabe transcriptionists. Here you can choose your working hours. Plus, Verbal Ink offers a good sum as compared to other platforms.
Beginners can earn around $8 to $10. All payments are made through PayPal.
But, there is a catch. You have to sit for a test which is quite difficult. Only if you clear the test can you get a job on Verbal Ink. If you get selected, you can start working immediately.
3. CastingWords
You may be a beginner or an experienced transcriptionist. On CastingWords, it hardly matters. This website provides equal opportunities to all. That’s why it’s unique in comparison to other websites.
CastingWords is quite user-friendly and has a clean interface. You will have to provide some personal information when you open an account on this website. This information might be your email ID or something similar. If you manage to secure a job on CastingWords, you’ll be notified. After that, you can take a look at the jobs that are available on the site.
Besides, there is one feature that makes CastingWords all the more unique. The site ranks its users based on their performance in every task they finish. Those who score really high get the chance to bag well-paid jobs!
4. SpeechPad
SpeechPad, which was known as Speechlink before, is a platform that recruits people from all over the globe. This site presents a whole range of transcription jobs for beginners as well as for experienced transcriptionists.
But before you go and quickly open an account on SpeechPad, just listen to me. Unless you can type 40 words per minute (wpm), there is no point in signing up.
Now, if you can type 40 words per minute, you can sign up, after which your listening and typing skills will be put to the test.
On this site, beginners can earn as much as $0.25 per minute. On the other hand, the experienced ones can earn $1 per minute. They process the payments via PayPal.
5. Rev
Among all the websites offering transcription job opportunities, Rev enjoys a lot of popularity. Here both wannabe transcriptionists and professional ones can look for work opportunities.
Before you open an account and sign up on Rev, you’ll have to appear for a test. If you can clear it, you will be notified about the same within two days.
6. GMR Transcription
Freelance transcriptionists must flock to GMR Transcription if they wish to make a lot of money. Undoubtedly, the amount of money you earn on this site depends upon your qualifications, skills, and the difficulty level of the tasks assigned to you. Every month, you can earn as much as $1000 to $3000.
People from all countries can bag job opportunities on GMR Transcription. The company provides legal transcription, transcription for educational purposes, and similar services.
Here you will have to submit your CV at the very beginning of the process of signing up. Then, you’ll be notified about the test that you have to take. This is done via email.
If you end up being selected, you will receive an intimation regarding the same. It will, however, take nearly two weeks for you to receive the intimation.
There’s one more thing that I need to tell you about GMR Transcription. Here you will be on probation. It will last until you learn to transcribe for a minimum of two audio or video hours.
Those experienced in transcription will enjoy a lot of perks here.
7. Scribie
For beginners in the field of transcription, Scribie is an excellent choice. The audio files that they provide are not very hard to work with, and these mainly consist of interviews, speeches, and so on.
The jobs available on Scribie are known for their flexibility. Besides, you get to decide how long you’re going to work. Plus, Scribie lets you work from home.
Even on Scribie, you’ll have to pass an eligibility test. Only then can you get a job.
But, Scribie has a few downsides. First and foremost, you cannot earn much money on Scribie. In fact, the payments they make are quite low as compared to those made by other platforms. Also, Scribie has a turnaround time of two hours for every audio and/or video file.
You will be paid an amount ranging from $5 to $50 per audio hour. The payment will, however, depend on how fast you can complete and hand in your assignments. It also depends on the difficulty level of the files provided to you. Here, you get paid via PayPal only.
8. SpeakWrite
This company has been there since 1997, and it attracts clients from a variety of sectors like law, for instance. You’ll have to pass a test here as well to prove your eligibility.
Beginners in search of transcription jobs on SpeakWrite must satisfy a couple of requirements. The applicants must be able to type out 60 words per minute. They must be proficient in English and must be very accurate in terms of grammar. In addition to these requirements, they must possess some knowledge about MS Word.
SpeakWrite pays its transcriptionists via cheque only. No payment is made via PayPal or by other means.
9. TranscribeMe
Do you know what makes TranscribeMe stand out? Well, it offers a hefty sum of money as payments to professionals hailing from a medical or legal background.
There’s more! The payment you get over here is higher than what is offered by many other platforms. On TranscribeMe, for an audio hour, you’ll be paid a sum ranging from $15 to $25. They will pay you for your work via PayPal.
10. QuickTate
QuickTate is associated with behemoths like Ford, CocaCola, and the likes of them. On this website, you will be asked to work with voice memos, phone call recordings, speeches, and so on. If you manage to get a transcription job here, you’ll receive between $5 to $10 per audio hour.
Apart from the websites that I have discussed in the list above, there are many other websites where beginners can easily find remote transcription jobs. I must mention names among these sites like Happyscribe, Daily Transcription, Appen, Tigerfish, and more. On these platforms, you will find jobs that will involve transcription of YouTube videos, webinars, documentaries, and whatnot.
Now that you have a fair idea about online transcription jobs, you may want to get started in this field. Think about all the perks that online transcription jobs offer.
You can work from home with clients of your choice. You’ll be able to offer your services to global enterprises or companies while you work from home and make money.
You can work as much as you want and take a week or more to complete your work. Nobody will say anything to you.
You don’t have to worry about which field you are from. You may hail from a medical or legal background and still be a transcriptionist. You won’t require a lot to get started. You’ll just need a computer, stable internet, and a couple of other things to make money to your heart’s content. Also, you’ll get paid by most companies every week or per month.