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Transcription is a popular online job that is flexible and suits anyone looking for a part-time or full-time income from home.
 
As a transcriptionist, you can get started with no experience, but proper training is necessary to understand the job.
 
Transcribing is when you listen to a pre-recorded audio, and convert it into text.
 
As a transcriber you will need to be a fast and accurate typist, and be able to avoid grammatical errors while typing.
 
Language skills and the ability to multi-task will take you forward in this career.
 
You can work either as a freelancer or for a transcription company. Some job boards where you can find freelance transcription work are, People per Hour and Upwork.
 

How do I become an online transcriptionist?

Transcriptionists often work solo, so if you are a bit of an introvert and prefer working on your own, this can certainly be a good side hustle. Here are some skills required to become an online transcriptionist. 

 1. You will need to have a good command of English. The ability to produce an error-free transcript is essential. So if you have good proofreading skills, it comes as an added advantage.
 
2. Fast typing skills are needed as you will be paid by every audio minute. So the faster and accurate you are at typing, you better the chances of earning more. A typing speed of 60+ words is considered good. 
 
3. Good listening skills as you can receive a variety of difficult audios to transcript. Some might have strong accents, while others with a noisy background. But difficult audios like these mean, you get compensated with a higher pay rate.
 
 
How to promote yourself?
Social media is good place to start. Facebook and LinkedIn are best for professionals looking to make connections with other businesses that need transcriptionists.
 
I have particularly found Facebook groups very useful. Joining a few active Facebook groups will help you connect with other transcribers and also helps you stay updated.
 
Having your own website also helps in promoting your services. A simple website costs less than $100 a year. On your website, you can list the services you provide, some testimonials of people that have used your service and information about you.
 

Where can you find Transcription jobs

With the rapid growth of online entrepreneurs there is an increase in the number of bloggers and YouTubers, both of whom need transcribers to convert their videos into blog posts.

Here are some businesses that require your transcription services.

1. YouTubers require you to transcribe their videos for viewers that prefer a written transcript to read, rather than watching the entire video.

2. Similarly, entrepreneurs that have podcasts, would require their interviews to be transcribed into blog posts.

3. Corporate businesses need their board meetings and conference calls to be transcribed.

4. Legal professionals – hearings, police interviews and interrogations

5. Journalists and media professionals – for  TV interviews and biographies.

6. Government organisations require transcribing council meeting and interviews.

7. Health and fitness coaches who produce courses, webinars or seminars.

The list doesn’t stop here. Any organisation that conducts interviews, or does research will require their work to be transcribed.

From educational institutes to those who do market research, all need transcriptionists. Almost every online business owner, has a blog attached to their company. So there is a demand for transcribers to write out blog posts for them.

Apart from checking out online job directories like Indeed, here are 20 transcription companies that are regularly hiring.

To take a closer look at this in-demand online job, I have with me Janet Shaughnessy, who began her medical transcriptionist career in 2007. She then branched out, building a successful career in the general and legal transcription fields.
 
Janet is here with us today, to help you do the same.
 
She is also the founder of Transcribe Anywhere, an online transcription training program for aspiring transcriptionists. Janet has answered a few questions that will give you a better understanding about this flexible work at home job.
 

1. What is a transcriptionist?

Transcription is the art of turning audio and video files into text documents. We use special software and our computers with headphones to type what we hear.
 

2. How much can you make as a transcriptionist?

Transcribing can make you a full-time income from home.
 
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average for full-time general transcriptionists is $45K/year and $65K/year for legal transcriptionists.
 

3. What types of transcription jobs are there available?

There are three main categories: General, Legal, and Medical. There are specialities within each category that are too numerous to mention but encompass every type of industry.
 

4. How do I start to become a transcriptionist?

Preparation is the first pillar of success. A person must be willing to commit to study and practice before seeking work as a transcriptionist.
 
It involves much more than most people realize. We’re not simply typists. Training and practice is key. It’s impossible to pass a test as a transcriptionist without it.
 

5. How can you become a qualified transcriptionist?

We have courses that are designed to take you from complete newbie to fully-qualified, competent, and confident transcriptionist.
 

6. How long does it take to be a transcriptionist?

It takes students, on average, four months to complete one of our courses and begin working. Our courses are self-paced, however, so students can proceed according to their own schedules.
 

7. Where can you find transcription work?

The work is abundant and we help our students with resources and tools to find work, but only after they’ve completed training and passed the final exam.
 

8. Is this job flexible for stay at home moms?

Yes, it’s an ideal gig for stay-at-home moms and others who need or want to work outside of the traditional workplace.
 
Transcriptionists work freelance and our schedules are completely up to us to determine when, where, and how often we work.
 

9. Any last words of advice for those willing to get started?

TranscribeAnywhere is designed to provide folks with all of the information needed to make a decision as to whether or not transcription is the right fit for them.
 

Enroll in TranscribeAnywhere’s Free mini transcription training

 
 Here is what is included in the free transcribing mini course:

Lesson 1: Learn about Janet (your instructor), plus exactly what transcription is and why it’s an invaluable skill in today’s digital world.

Lesson 2: Learn who uses transcriptionists, what it takes to become one, and the two keys to success as a transcriptionist.

Lesson 3: We’re busting the biggest myth out there about transcription.

Lesson 4: Learn 10 signs you’re not a good fit for transcription

Lesson 5: How much can you earn as a transcriptionist? It’s not going to make you rich, but you can earn great money if you take the time to learn and develop your skills. This lesson details what affects your earnings as a transcriptionist.

Lesson 6: Where does transcription work come from?

Lesson 7:  What do you need to get started? We include a recommended list of equipment and an invitation to hop on board with TA as a student

 

Online Transcribing Course

Once you have found yourself to be a good fit to become a transcriptionist with the online free transcription course mentioned above, you can considered taking either the full general transcribing course or the legal transcription course.

1. Certified General Transcription Course:

Here are the modules included in the certified general transcription course from Transcribe Anywhere.

Total cost of General transcription course: $797 (or 4 monthly payments of $227).

  • Transcription equipment and where to get the best deal
  • Software and hardware — links + FREE downloads
  • Text expanders and shortcut keys
  • Transcription style guide
  • Time coding instruction
  • Establishing and calculating rates
  • Easy-to-use transcription templates
  • Step-by-step guide to finding work
  • Sample client contracts
  • TONS OF PRACTICE! Seven practice levels containing 60+ audio/video files with answer keys
  • Lifetime access to course material and ALL future updates
  • Lifetime access to our student support community on Facebook

2. Certified Legal Transcription Course:

Listed are the modules included in the complete certified legal transcription course.

Total cost of legal transcription training: $897 (or 4 monthly payments of $247)

  • 14 full-length training modules
  • Where to get the best deal on transcription equipment 
  • Typing drills for speed and accuracy
  • How to use text expanders and shortcut keys (includes printable cheatsheets)
  • Legal transcription style guide plus downloadable templates of legal forms and documents
  • Over 100 pages of legal terminology (both English and Latin in a downloadable format)
  • Screencast tutorial videos on transcription software, features of Microsoft Word, and more
  • Abbreviations, capitalization, and punctuation for the legal transcriptionist
  • Definitions and descriptions of types of law and the legal process
  • How to find work as an employee
  • How to find higher-paying work as an independent contractor
  • Get your hands dirty with TEN LEVELS of practice dictations (and answer keys for each)
  • Lifetime access to all course material and future updates
  • Lifetime access to our student support forum on Facebook
  • Our “100% thorough” guarantee. We’re confident you’ll have everything you need to succeed. However, if you feel there’s anything missing from the course — even the tiniest detail — just let us know and we’ll add it in so you’ll have it as part of your lifetime access.

You also have the option of taking both the general and legal transcription courses and another all inclusive bundle that includes:

  • Equipment (Transcription Bundle including software, headset, and foot pedal)
  • Lifetime access to monthly live Q&A sessions with our team
  • Priority email support
  • A done-for-you professionally designed website (using the Transcriptionist Pro theme) and email support from our developer (upon passing the final)

Check out all the courses offered by Transcribe Anywhere on this page.

Final thoughts on online transcribing courses

A fully flexible work at home job that suits anyone with a busy lifestyle. The courses offered by Transcribe Anywhere is one of the best transcription courses online, and you can take the free mini-course before deciding which of the two fields of transcription is the right fit for you.

 
This online job can be quite rewarding for those looking to make a full time income from home. Earn upto $45k a year as transcribing audio files working from home. Side hustles ideas. #workfromhome #makemoneyonline #makemoney #sidehustles
Free Transcription Training with Transcribe Anywhere’s transcription mini-course.