The Perfect 'Transcriptionist': freelance

Showing posts with label freelance. Show all posts

Sunday, December 10, 2017

The Perfect "Transcriptionist" - Start Your Career Now! [TeamBynes]

REVISED December 10 2017
Jump-start Your Transcription Career

The Perfect "Transcriptionist"

Just a reminder: This blog was designed for contractors, freelancers, newbies or anyone who wants to learn more about the transcription business.

I've worked with a lot of freelance transcribers who range on different levels of expertise:

newbie
moderate
and expert

No matter the level of experience, I have come to witness that transcription or the skill of transcribing is an art. It takes creativity, different talents and skill sets to be able to appreciate and master being a transcriber. A common myth in this industry is that anyone can do this kind of work, and this simply isn't true, not by long shot! The truth of the matter is, anyone can 'type' but not everyone can transcribe.

So, I created this blog about four or five years ago to reach those who are passionate about learning all they can about transcription. You can reach me at any time if you have questions: teammembers@bynestranscriptions.com

We ask you to feel free to share your tips, ideas, tool and advice as often as you like. We welcome guest bloggers in this industry that wishes to contribute to our blog.

Additional reading

Pros and cons of working as a transcriber.

Are you in front of your potential clients?

The Perfect Candidate

Join our Facebook Group

Team Bynes Objectives - Our plans are to change the focus a little bit and discuss different aspects of the transcription business; things such as leadership, project management, how to get clients, how to produce quality transcriptions and so forth. If you haven't already, we highly recommend subscribing to this blog in order to receive our information in your email.

A little history

Bynes Transcript and Typing Services, formally A Helping Hand Office Support specializes in processing general transcriptions for professionals for a range of different industries. We've been in business since 2005 and online since 2006 offering back end office support to small businesses. It wasn't until our seventh anniversary, we decided to make some changes.

Some of the industries we provide for:

Journalist

Writers/Authors

Media - Marketing

Churches

Students

Social Media

WHAT'S IN STORE FOR YOUR TRANSCRIPTION BUSINESS IN 2018?? Leave your comments below.

Here are some questions newbies should ask themselves:

Can I type?
Am I good at meeting deadlines?
How is my grammar and punctuation?
How fluent is my English?
Can I work independently?
Do I have what it takes to start and run a transcription business?
Am I good at research?
Can I sell my services?

We hope you enjoyed this post! Subscribe now to receive tips in your email!

Mgmt

Friday, January 2, 2015

2015 Company Objections for TeamBynes

Happy New Year Fellow Freelancers!

We are happy to see another year. 2015 shows a lot of promise. We have a lot of projects including updating our business forms and company policies in our Administration Department that we will soon share with you. It is recommended that you subscribe to this blog to receive any and all of our updates.

If you wish to be an active participant on Yammer to receive alerts for new and upcoming transcription jobs in our transcription and front office groups, just email us and ask for an invite.

Here are just some of the adjustments we'll be focusing on this year, this quarter.

Prescreening for transcribers - we are used to working with newbies, allowing new freelancers to 'get their feet wet' so to speak. This year will be catering to more experienced transcribers; freelancers that understand the value of using correct grammar, punctuation, formatting styles as well as the importance of honoring deadlines.
Testing - transcription and basic aptitude testing will be required upon hiring.
Front office team - while we work with one or two clerical specialists at at time, we will create a front office team where all of our administrative departments are covered.
Company policies [Sales and Marketing departments] - Project agreements will be updated describing our marketing efforts for each new client.
Social Media Marketing projects - we'll be revamping our social media marketing strategy and readjusting it calender to focus on certain time tables to match our target market.

We're open to hearing from our audience. If you have any input such as comments, ideas, or ways to help empower freelance transcribers, shoot us an email or submit a comment in this blog post.

Frann, Bynes, Team Leader

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Verbatim Transcription Rules

When you receive a transcription job and you are requested to transcribe it verbatim, are you just going to type away with your knowledge about verbatim transcription? Or are going to search more about it to be able to deliver the perfect verbatim transcription? What about retrieving clarification from your client?

Here in this post, we'll share some of the rules that you can consider for a verbatim transcription.

But first, let's have a look at what verbatim transcription is.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, verbatim means "In the exact words" or "word for word". Does this mean that we have to transcribe every word including false starts and the uhms and ahs in the file?

Absolutely.

Verbatim Transcription means typing out every sound and every word on an audio/video recording. You should convert the original source to text with every corresponding word and you must be skilled in doing so.

You should be able to listen attentively without ignoring the fillers and false starts. You must have a great attention to detail and the patience to clarify every word you hear in the recording.

Aside from the obvious, here are some rules that you can follow with regards to Verbatim Transcription:

Don't leave out the non-verbal communication

When transcribing, you may have the tendency to just transcribe the spoken word. However, when you are required to do a verbatim transcription, you must also consider the non-verbal sounds in the recording such as laughing, hand gestures, and pauses. Be sure to include those in your transcriptions.

Note external sounds

The difference between the non-verbal communication and the external sounds is that the external sounds pertains to doors banging, phone ringing, or dog barking.

There are some instances when clients and customers require that this should be included in the transcript. Especially for transcriptions needed for market research or qualitative research, they often want to know what's happening with the surroundings while someone is speaking. It is vital to have these sounds noted. It can be placed inside brackets and may or may not have time stamps in them.

Capture every word (Don't paraphrase)

Since this is a verbatim transcription, you ought to transcribe it word for word even if it's not quite readable. For business transcriptions, you might not need to do this. However, if the transcription is for researchers and analysts, be sure not to paraphrase the statements and always transcribe the recording word for word. This is because the emotion is captured more when each word is transcribed. Depending on the purpose of the transcription, this will really have a big difference. So when you're asked to do a verbatim transcription, always type them word for word.

So whenever you are being asked to do a verbatim transcription, consider these three rules and you can never go wrong.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Freelancers: What's Your Worth? (A Guide to Calculating Your Hourly Rate)

How much should I charge? As a budding freelancer, you might that question and wonder how much you should ask for your services. Or yet, if you are an experienced transcriber, as you become more adept at what you do, you may begin to wonder on when you should increase your hourly rate and how much.

Setting rates can seem like it's one of the most complex parts of freelancing but it doesn't have to be like that. Whether you are a newbie in the world of freelancing or a pro, it's quite important to set reasonable rates that will allow you to attract clients and employers without undervaluing yourself.

The first thing that you must do is to determine the lowest equivalent hourly rate you are willing to work for. If you are just starting off as a part time freelancer, you can calculate this depending on how much you value your time. You need to work for an amount of money that puts you in the right mindset to deliver a commendable service. If you do anything less, you may deliver poor work and end up damaging your reputation. As you develop as a freelancer, this may increase based upon how much you want to earn.

Next is the value of your service. It's essential to view your work through the perspective of your clients and from a commercial perspective. You can ask questions like: How will my work benefit the client? How will it affect their bottom line? The answer to these questions will dictate a part of the amount that you can charge.

Aside from that, you should also consider the competition when calculating your rate. You should check on how others in the same level as you charge. If you find freelancers who charge cheaply while others charge more, you should always consider the average of it. Note that charging cheaply can mean a compromise of the quality of work they provide. So if you charge at a very low rate, clients and employers may think that the quality of your work is not excellent. Always take the quality of work that you can give into consideration. Not just on competition alone.

Finally, if you still have a hard time in calculating your hourly rate, you can check out the FreelanceSwitch Calculator to give you a guide based on your costs, number of billable hours and desired profit. It will only take you about 5-20 minutes to complete it depending on much you spend time as you give each calculation.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Dealing with Homophones: Words That Sound Alike But Have Different Spellings

In transcribing a recording, you may encounter words that can have different spellings and meanings. You may be wondering on what the correct spelling is and you may get confused as to what the word should be used. So how do you deal with these?

Words that sound alike but have different spellings and different meanings are called Homophones and to be a competent transcriber, one must carefully consider this group of words as this can make or break a transcription project.

To be able to distinguish one word from another, you must be knowledgeable in the English vocabulary and you must know the meanings of each word so that you can take it into context and find out which one is the best suited word.

Here are some of the words that one can get confused and are often misused when it comes to transcribing:

There, They're and Their

You can notice that these three words are simple to read, but are often the most misused. Especially when you are listening to a recording, one can mistake a "There" for a "Their" or a "They're" for a "There". The best way to deal with this is to understand first and foremost the meaning of these words by stopping first at transcribing and looking them up in the dictionary. Once you have gotten a good grasp of their differences, listen to the recording once again and take each word into the context of what is being said. Then compare which one makes sense the most.

Other homophones that are often misused include the following:

Right, Write
His, He's
To, Too, Two
Hear, Here
Weight, Wait

This are just a few of the many homophones that are commonly muddled. Be sure to improve your English vocabulary to decrease the chances of committing this mistake and consult your dictionary as a grammar or a spell checker may still accept a wrongly used homophone.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Hello, I'm Ruby with Bynes Transcript and Typing Services

New News

New Office Assistant

Hey everyone! It's quite an honor working with Bynes Transcript and Typing Services and although I'm still quite new to the company, I can say a lot of good things already about them.Working with them is such a great experience.

Bynes Transcript and Typing Services

My name is Ruby

By the way, I'm Ruby, the new clerical assistant and you'll be reading a lot from me from this blog. I'll make sure to bring you up-to-date and informative posts pertaining to everything you need to know about transcriptions and how to be an established and respected freelance transcribers.

As a clerical assistant of this wonderful company, I am in charge of delivering tasks and projects in a timely manner on a daily basis depending on the needs of the company.

It's quite an honor to be working with the Bynes Transcript and Typing Services Team and I am definitely looking forward to many more years with them.

Aside from that and from updating you with news and informative articles and helpful tips of being a freelance transcriber, I will also be the one to update you about the whereabouts of Bynes Transcript and Typing Services on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. This is to ensure that you get the information you need at the time you need them.

Well, these are just some of my responsibilities. I look forward to working with the Bynes Team and to give you read-worthy articles to help you with your Freelance Transcription career.

Say hello to Ruby

[In the comment box below, take this opportunity to welcome Ruby to the team!]

Friday, March 8, 2013

What's Been Happening Lately at Bynes Transcript and Typing Services

Follow ups and updates

Some time has passed since our last post. It's been about two months since our last post. And there is good reason for it. +Frann Bynes and her team are working on a couple of projects - projects with deadlines.

Income Taxes
End of Fiscal Year approaching
8th Business Anniversary
Training
Marketing and Anniversary promotion.

It seems like all of these events are due in March, no later than April. Nevertheless, we are making it happen.

I was talking to a colleague about a product she is selling that was made specifically with transcribers in mind. 'Transcription Boot-Camp'. This is a program that will walk you through step by step in every area of the transcription industry from developing your skills, learning how to listen, marketing and so much more.
This program is perfect for the freelancer transcriber that wants to leap into this industry as a career.

Work with me. I will be uploading 'boot-camp' information soon. This product is really worth it and a smart investment. Invest in you, your business-your life.

Stop by our facebook page to wish us an 8th Anniversary. Yes, we've been taking care of you and your business for years.

To show our appreciation, we are taking off 15% on all transcription orders. To get started, click here.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Is General Transcription a Career Move for You?

Let's get this New Year started!

Hooray! You've made it past the proverbial 'end of the world' scare featured on December 21 2012 and a few hours ago, wished and prayed a new year in. Like we said, you made it. Now what? January 1st is here already knocking on the door of tomorrow. Time to start thinking goals, objectives and career.

Why we created this blog

Goals, dreams, minor pursuits, success, stability. Whatever your aspirations are, we want you to know that we know exactly what you're thinking and your thoughts are probably up in the air about what you want to do. Okay, so our industry is transcribing and if you've subscribed to this blog, chances are, transcribing is your industry too.

This blog was designed with you in mind, the freelancing transcriptionist, the freelance worker who transcribes for a living. If you're just starting out, you'll soon realize that this industry can be a scary place simply because there is a tremendous amount of competition. There are several niches to choose from and loads of do's and don'ts to follow. If you've been in the business for a while, then you know exactly what I am talking about. New or not, we want you to take a look around here, feel comfortable and grab all of the information we have to share with you.

Why we consider our freelancers to be a part of our team

Freelancers are considered team members with Bynes Transcript & Typing Services because they are just that - a team. I have to tell you most of the time, if it wasn't for our team, we'd still be back there purchasing 'liquid' white out from Office Depot to correct type writer errors! Funny, huh? Our members are diligent in providing the best work on the planet - yes, the planet! They're dedicated, they communicate, they improvise if need to. These are traits worth fighting for when you're working with people.

How are we able to pick such pristine workers?

Passion for what you love to do

It's all a part of our interview process. No, we do not grill our candidates. We simply ask them a series of questions about themselves, past experiences working online and to give a detailed description of the most challenging project they've worked on. We do this to be able to learn more about each person that will be potentially working with us. I observe how they answer just as well as what their responses are. Believe it or not, you can learn great things about people this way. In my organization, I look for compassionate, patient, well-mannered, leader-ship type candidates to become a part of our team.

More to come

There is more information to share with you, which will be distributed on a weekly basis. Please feel free to comment in the boxes below in each post.

Take our poll!
Take a minute and take our poll, thanks.
http://polldaddy.com/poll/6802167

Senior team member and captain,
Frann

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Goals in 2013 for Freelancers

Company's goals for this blog

We at Bynes Transcript & Typing Services have a lot of wonderful ideas and ventures in store for this blog and the members of this blog. One of our main goals and the main reason why this blog was created in the first place, is to keep freelancers informed and encouraged. This will be the hub for news pertaining to the transcription industry.

Here are some other goals

Advertising opening projects/jobs
Setting up a mailing list for e-courses
Creating a database for clients requesting service
Opening spots for guest posting

Send an email to us if you have ideas you feel will help this blog. Teammembers@bynestranscriptions.

Time to Wake up

Yes, it's time to wake up and get the new year 2013 started. If you're serious about being a transcriptionist [or transcriber], then you've come to the right place.

Bynes Transcript & Typing Services
BynesTranscriptions.com

Monday, December 17, 2012

Jump-start Your Transcription Career

The Perfect Transcriptionist

We created this blog for contractors, freelancers, newbies or anyone in the transcription business that want to learn more. Being apart of this industry, I've learned a lot. I've also seen a lot of great work and met a lot of great people. At the same time, I've seen some of the worst of the worst in terms of working as a transcriptionist or transcriber. I believe the worst of the worst is derived from a myth that anyone can transcribe. The truth of the matter is, anyone can 'type' but not everyone can transcribe.

So, I created this blog for express and share my areas of expertise, by giving pointers. This blog will also be the hot spot for what's going on in the world of transcription.

Transcribing is a learned skill