You are great at transcribing, and you
know you want to use your abilities to create a business. You want to get out
of that 9 to 5 environment and start freelancing. There is just one problem.
Where do you get clients from?
It would be great if you could make full
time income from your transcription services, right?
Well, you can! It just takes some effort.
Getting clients is much like the being on a job, meaning that it takes WORK.
And if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you can grow your business
and get enough clients to make a full-time living at freelancing as a
transcriber.
Okay, so that piece of advice is great and
all, but it’s not a concrete tip, right? Well here are some real tips that can
get you some experience and more importantly, some money in your pocket. This
can put you on the path to becoming a small business owner, running your very
own transcription company.
First things First
You can’t just go up and tell people you
are a wonderful transcriber. I mean you could, but be prepared for glares and stares.
You have to show proof of your professionalism. The best way to start doing
this is to create a website.
A website speaks volumes of your new
transcription services. It’s your online business card, and it means you have
been willing to invest time and money into your new company. Clients with
inquiries can contact you directly through your website to express a concern or
ask a question.
What Type of Website?
You can decide to create the website
yourself or hire someone else to do it. It really does not matter. What does
matter is that it needs to be a well laid out site with graphics and content
that speaks of your professionalism. You also need a contact page and a page
where past clients have left references of your service, and preferably a blog
where you can offer examples of your service or tips for people that might need
transcription services. We will get into the importance of a blog in a later
post. For now, just getting the framework of a website with blogging capabilities
will do.
Social Media
Once you have a website, you will also
need a presence on social media websites. Preferably, you need a professional
LinkedIn profile and Facebook page. These are social sites, so you want to make
social posts. You can do this in the form of tips, ideas, topics of interest
and photos. The important thing is that you network with people here, and in
between social interactions, you add a few posts advertising your service and a
few posts that demonstrate any successful work you have completed. Generally,
you want to keep it at about 80% social interaction and 20% business
advertising. Just remember to keep your social interaction related to your
business. In other words, don’t get to personal. A bonus: link your social
sites to your website for optimal interaction from potential clients!
Business Stationary
It’s important that you have business
cards and flyers made up. You want to be professional at all times and these
are business products that need to be taken seriously.
On Bulletin Boards
Once you have all the business items you
need, you are ready to start finding clients. You need to start in several
places because there is no one best place to look. Take an afternoon off from
doing other things and visit your local colleges, laundromats and restaurants.
Look for bulletin boards where you can post flyers of your service. Be sure to
advertise on digital bulletin boards as well. Many cities have local classified
websites, and then of course, we all know of Craigslist.
By Email and Phone
Go online and look for websites of local
medical clinics, lawyers and insurance providers. Call the offices up and
explain your services. Offer to drop off a business card. If you email, then
explain your services, leave your website address and your email address.
Freelance Websites
A bonus: a good place to start generating income are on freelance
websites like Upwork or Freelancer.
Both of these websites offer a safe option
for both people who need to get work done, and those who need to find work.
These sites are often only a starting point, which means that you may need to
offer your services at a lower price to start getting a few clients. However,
this gives you the opportunity to acquire the experience you need for future
clients – and more importantly, it gives you immediate income for your new
business.
Bottom Line
Acquiring customers for your new transcription business comes from many
different places. However, it is crucial that you first have the business
presentation elements you need in order to present yourself as a professional
transcriber.
Much Success To You!
P.s. Information like how to network and what to charge will come in a future post.
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