Freelance Jobs...Transcription

There is a high demand for transcriptionists which means there are a lot of freelance opportunities. Even though the opportunities may seem endless, the application process is strict and, as a beginner, you won't start out making a lot of money. Most companies pay per audio minute; the quicker you can complete your task, the more money you make. Those with a lot of experience have very successful careers.

Let's break down the pay: rates can range from $.30 to $2.00 per recorded minute. If there are 15 minutes of transcription at $1.00 per recorded minute, then you will get paid $15.00 whenever you finish. But, it is not easy to type the speed of people talking, plus the recording may be hard to hear. My first attempts would take me at least 45 minutes to an hour to complete the first draft. Then it would take me another hour to edit my first draft to make sure that I typed every word correctly and had the correct punctuation. Also, every company has different rules so I had to keep those in mind when I edited. After about 1.5 to 2 hours of work, I still got paid $15 (which is about $7.50/hour). Each company has a different rate of pay and each varies widely.

I tried transcription for a while but just didn't enjoy the work. I was excited to get started and it took me quite a while to become approved by just one company. I probably applied to 20-25 different transcription companies. The hardest part for me was hearing what people say on the recordings. After 15 minutes of transcribing, I became very tense because I was straining so hard to hear. If I stuck with it, I would probably be more successful and get used to listening to people and would, thus, be more successful. There are a lot of transcribers who are very successful.

Except for Rev.com, all of the companies have strict application processes. You usually have to transcribe at least one recording, take a grammar/proofreading and/or spelling test, have certain backgrounds or education, have previous experience, type at least 65 wpm, and many other criteria. Rev.com only gives you a couple of chances to fail. When you do, you are banned for life, which happened to me.

I liked the idea of transcription as a steady income and something to keep me busy. I still think it's a great freelance job which gives you the freedom to work when you can or want. There are so many companies that need your help, that I can almost guarantee you'll find a good fit. And, through practice, your transcription speed will ensure that your pay matches your experience.

Here are some transcription companies: Rev.com, 1-888-Type-It-Up, 3PlayMedia, Accutran Global, Appenscribe, Babbletype, Casting Words, Crowdsurf, Daily Transcription, Focus Forward, GMR Transcription, Net Transcripts, Quicktate, Scribie, SpeakWrite, Tigerfish, Transcribe.com, TranscribeMe, Ubiqus, Verbal Ink, Verilogue, Way With Words, WeLocalize