Useful Tips
THINKING OF STARTING
AN ONLINE TYPING SERVICE .........?
As a result of numerous enquiries
since I put my website on the Web two years ago, I have
decided to share my experiences with you. You may think I'm
crazy, but I feel it is important to help one another,
especially with the high unemployment rate as it is today. We
need to create our own opportunities. So here goes.......
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As with any business, the most
important thing to have is PASSION for whatever business
venture or activity you are wanting to start. This,
naturally, goes for audio typing too. If you are ONLY
wanting to do it for the money, but you don't have the
passion, forget it. Find something else to do.
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The other most obvious aspect is,
of course, you must have dictaphone and audio typing
experience, have a good typing speed and spelling ability.
Audio typing / transcription is not an easy job and can
sometimes be frustrating and time consuming, even with
experience, especially when the audio recording is not clear
or of a good quality.
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Should you not have enough typing
/ audio transcription experience, I suggest you go on a
course and practice, practice, practice.
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Also, know your software
programmes / applications, i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, how
to do mail merges, etc.
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Have a good document filing
system. I create a new folder for each individual client I
type for, e.g. Joe Public, and in his folder I in turn
create a new folder at the beginning of each month, e.g.
March 2009, April 2009 etc. The documents I type for each
client during a particular month I then save in the relevant
month's folder. This helps me to set up my statement for
each client at the end of the month, because I can exactly
see for who I typed what. I then also save the relevant
statements in the relevant month's folder related to
that client. This also helps with finding documents easily
when a client requests a back copy of a particular
document which he / she might have mislaid, etc.
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A freelance audio typist / online
typist / work at home typist obviously needs to be equipped
to enable him / her to execute the work before advertising
the services.
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So, clearly, you will need a
computer, keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer (preferably
colour), application software (Microsoft Office etc.),
internet and e-mail facilities, perhaps a fax machine (or
fax2email), ADSL installation (or other) for 24-hour
connection, transcription software (free
software) and hardware (you must have
the relevant foot pedal and earphones). If you wish to
buy your transcription software, click
here. However, feel free to
do your own research on what and where to buy.
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You may also wish to get a
conventional dictaphone transcriber (with a foot pedal only,
as the same set of earphones for the transcription software
may be used on this type of transcription equipment - just
check the cable connection from the transcription machine to
the earphones) - click here for more information.
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Keep up to date with, and
informed about new software.
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Once you have set yourself up,
you are ready to start advertising your services. There are
various ways in which to advertise your services:
-
advertise in your local
newspaper;
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inform your previous
employer/s;
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tell your friends and whoever
you come into contact with;
-
advertise free on the web (one
example is www.gumtree.co.za); you
will need to register (free). This
site also has various options for you to keep your ad
at the top of the listings;
-
design and print pamphlets or
business cards and ask your local chemist, doctor,
dentist, library or shop whether you may leave
pamphlets / business cards with them;
-
do some Web research on
outsource companies and contact them (ensure that they
are legit, they should not require any fees from
you "upfront");
-
or, if you feel adventurous,
why not build your own website. I found a
wonderful book, titled "Step-by-Step Guide to
Building Your Own Website". Click here for more
information.
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Hopefully, by now you have also
got enough printing paper and ink in your cartridges,
and all your hardware / software function
properly.
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Always remember small jobs could
bring in bigger jobs. It makes me think of the times when I
needed a plumber, for instance, just to look at a leak from
a toilet and to fix the problem. But, do you think they
would come? We agreed on a time and day, but then he never
turned up or made excuses for not having been able to get to
me. Some of them only seem to want the big jobs. This
results in not recommending the plumber who was not
interested in the small job. Service should always
be your motto. That also means that you should not take on
too much. Be honest and give clients a reasonable time frame
when the work should be ready. Don't be unrealistic. If
they cannot wait until you are able to do their work, then
that is fine...they will find someone else and you will be
able to produce quality work and excellent service. Do
not put yourself under pressure because the quality of your
work should be of a high standard and you do not want to
disappoint the client. So do not make promises you cannot
keep.
- Rates: One could charge
per hour for transcription time, i.e. the time it takes you
to type the audio recordings. Note: one
hour of audio recording may take 4 to 6 hours to transcribe
/ type, depending on audio quality and whether it is more
than one person speaking. This means, 10-15 minutes of audio
recording takes about 1 hour to transcribe / type. On
the other hand, one could charge per minute of audio
recording. After some research into rate structures, I have
established that rates vary anywhere from R5,00 to R12,00
per audio minute, i.e. if the audio is 60 minutes long, your
earnings could be (if you charge R5 per audio minute) X 60
minutes audio = R300 for the typed product. Rates
should not be too low. This is not an easy job and you
should not sell yourself short. But you should also not
charge too much, because then you will chase away
potential clients. Try to find a happy medium.
Now you need to be patient and be
ready for your first client!
I HOPE YOU FIND THIS INFORMATION
USEFUL
(Should you have any further
queries, you are welcome to email me)
I WISH YOU EVERY
SUCCESS!
PLEASE NOTE: I DO NOT OFFER
EMPLOYMENT
Copyright (c) 2005-2010 Annelene
Barle - Digital Audio and Dictaphone Typing
Services
All rights
reserved |