Tag: process

Creating and Building Your Transcription Business

Posted on by earfuledits
I am a small business owner, and I can safely say that it is not easy! I haven’t owned a business for very long, but these are the steps I took to build what I have today:
1. Do your research and have a written plan.
Before I did anything to make my business official, I did some research and wrote out a plan. Here are the things I researched:
  • Who are my competitors?
  • What is trending in the transcription world?
  • What are my competitor’s rates?
  • How do I create a website?
  • What licenses will I need for my business?

After I researched these things, I wrote down a rough draft of my business plan and went from there. This will give you a better idea of what you’re getting in to.

2. Get the licenses needed for your business.
From your research, apply for and buy the necessary business licenses for your area. The licenses needed vary depending on your location and what kind of business you created. You will need this before you start anything because it is illegal to do business without a license.
3. Create a website.
I personally used Word Press for my website, and I made the mistake of buying my domain name from a site that was not supported by Entri. If you don’t know what Entri is, it is something that makes connecting your domain name to your website quick and easy. Since my domain site was not supported by Entri (I used WhoIs), it was a pain getting it connected because I had to use some coding and figure out where to put the coding in their designated spots. It took me several hours to get it connected and set up. So, if you are using Word Press to build your website, I would recommend buying your domain name from a site supported by Entri to make the connecting process easier. Some sites supported by Entri are GoDaddy and WordPress. I would also recommend going to the Word Press website or whatever site you choose to build your website on for more detailed instructions on how to build and personalize your website.
4. Pay for advertising.
This part has been the hardest part for me because I cannot afford even the cheapest paid advertising. I have heard that this helps a lot with gaining clients. So, if you can afford it, this is a must for quickly gaining clients.
5. If you can’t afford paid advertising, do free advertising.
This is harder and more time intensive, but it is free! This method is what I have been using since I started my small business. Create your own advertisements and post them on social media. Being active on social media is a great way to advertise your business for free. I am on Pinterest, Facebook, and LinkedIn and post regularly on all of those platforms. I will say that doing it this way takes quite a bit more time to gain clients. I have been doing my advertising this way for about two to three months and have not had any clients reach out yet. But persistence is key! If this is the way you choose to do your advertising, don’t give up and stick with it! I create my advertisements on Microsoft Designer. It’s easy and free.
6. Create a blog.
Creating a blog and posting on it regularly can also help you gain clients and is a good networking strategy. Who knows? Maybe your blog will reach someone and actually help them out. On my blogs, I used to use AI pictures, but I realized that they just don’t look authentic. There were always too many things wrong with the picture, so I started using free stock photos. This is the site I use for good quality free photos if you would like to check it out for yourself: Free Stock Photos
7. Do some networking.
Networking helps get you noticed by people. In other words… socialize! This was, and is, still a hard concept for me to master. I am an introvert, and socializing is the last thing I want to do. But it really does help. That’s why I got LinkedIn. Try commenting on other people’s posts and provide your input. This will help people get to know you a little and realize that you’re not just another faceless business in the sea of businesses. Be professional but be yourself as well.
8. Be patient.
Patience really is a virtue. Especially if you are a small business that is just beginning. I’m about three months into being a small business owner with no paid advertising and there have been many times already that I felt like I just wanted to give up. I’ve been creating advertisements and posting regularly on all of the social media platforms and on my blog and I have not had a single potential client show any interest. And it can be frustrating at times because I did put in so much work to become certified in general transcription and create this business from scratch on my own. But some things do take time. If you’re in the same boat as me, you’re not alone! Be patient and know that it will most likely pay off in the end.

Medical Transcription: Clarifying the Medical Jargon

Posted on by earfuledits

Have you ever wondered how a general transcriptionist transcribes medical jargon? No prior schooling in the medical field. No degree. Well, I can say that it’s not easy, but it does take a lot of research. Any time I run into a word that I don’t understand, I look it up. That helps with spelling and making sure it’s the correct word. Another thing to do is to listen very carefully.

To see some more detailed information and tips, take a look at this article on how to transcribe medical dictations: Medical Transcription

Transcribing Podcasts with NO AI

Posted on by earfuledits

Although I personally have not had any experience with transcribing podcasts, I do hope to transcribe one someday. I did a little research on how to transcribe podcasts and, surprisingly, nothing came up except for AI tools. AI is not always the best way to transcribe. It’s almost never accurate. At my small business, Earful Edits, I do all of my transcribing manually with no AI assistance. So, if I ever have the privilege of transcribing a podcast, here is how I would go about doing it with no AI:

 

1. Download the audio to Express Scribe

I use a transcription software called Express Scribe for all my transcripts. It’s an easy way to transcribe by using a foot pedal to play and pause the audio hands-free. To see more about this transcription software, click on the following link: Express Scribe

2. Transcribe the audio in my client’s preferred way.

There are a few different ways a transcript can be written:

 

  • Standard verbatim: Cleaned up — omitting all uh’s, um’s, and stutters
  • Strict verbatim: Everything is typed up as is, including the stutters
  • Time stamps: Add the time of the audio every 15 seconds in addition the verbatim that the client wants

After the preferred format is communicated, get started on your transcript!

 

3. Proofread.

Once I have finished a transcript and am at the proofreading stage, I usually proofread to double speed audio. This makes the process a little faster. After that, I proofread with no audio. Sometimes just reading over a transcript with no audio can make mistakes a little clearer because you don’t have any distractions.

Although AI can be good for a faster turnaround time, I prefer to transcribe with no AI assistance. AI just can’t replace the quality human touch.

 

One thing to remember: If you are like me and manually transcribe your audio and dictation files, remember to take breaks! I am guilty of going into hyper focus mode and working for several hours straight on some transcripts. It’s good to take breaks every 30 minutes to an hour to avoid burnout. Take care of yourself!

Overcoming the Barriers: Transcription for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Posted on by earfuledits

When we watch movies or tv shows, we often see audio indicators such as [laughs], [distant crashing], [gasps], etc. Have you ever wondered how transcriptionists know how to add these indicators and when? Or how they do it without obstructing the actual words being said?

Check out this article to learn more about breaking down the barriers for the deaf and hard of hearing: Meeting the Needs of Deaf Clients

From Audio to Text: The Transcription Process

Posted on by earfuledits

When I started learning to transcribe, I thought it would be very easy. In some ways, it is. But there were also some very challenging aspects of transcription. My biggest struggle while learning was mastering grammar and punctuation. Grammar has never been my strong suit, but I had to master it to become a transcriptionist! So, I studied hard and worked through it. Besides having to have a strong grasp of the English language and all of its intricate grammar rules, the transcribing process is actually quite simple.

When I get an audio file, I download it into my “dictation files” folder then upload it to Express Scribe. Express Scribe is a transcription software that you can download to your laptop or computer to make transcribing easier. Through this software, you can plug a pedal into your laptop and use it to easily pause, play, fast forward, or rewind the audio. To learn more about Express Scribe, click here: Express Scribe Transcription Software

After I upload it to the Express Scribe software, I open up a Word Document and start typing what I hear. There are a few different formats in which you can go about typing your transcript:

 

  1. Simple
The simple format is primarily used for when there is only one speaker. When typing in any format, it’s important to break up the typing into paragraphs. I generally make sure there’s at least five sentences to a paragraph.
      2. Hanging Indent
 
This format is used for two or more speakers. This helps organize the names of the speakers. In this format, the name of the speaker is all the way to the left with a colon in front of the name, then you hit tab and begin typing.
     3. Time Code Master
In this format, you put the amount of time that has gone by in the audio all the way to the left, the name of the speaker, and then what is being said. Generally, I put a time stamp in every 20 seconds or as close to 20 seconds as I can get.
Once I have chosen the appropriate format for that particular dictation file, I type in whatever verbatim my client prefers. There are two types: strict verbatim and standard verbatim. Strict verbatim is when you type everything you hear. This is including all uh’s, um’s, and stutters. Basically, every non-essential utterance. This type of verbatim can be particularly painful to type if the speaker stutters a lot. Standard verbatim is when you omit all stutters or non-essential words. You clean it up a bit for the client.
I would say that the other thing I find challenging about transcription is the fact that you have to type everything exactly as you hear it. Sometimes, if the person has an accent or the quality of the audio is poor, it can be particularly difficult to type accurately. I have had to rewind audio a dozen times to listen again and again to one word and it ends up sounding like gibberish and I can’t tell at all what is being said. In this case, I will put in a [indiscernible] and move on. I have heard that being able to discern what is being said may just take practice.
After I finish typing the audio, I go back to the beginning and proofread my typing while re-listening to the audio again on double speed to make the process a little faster. After I proofread to audio, I go back and proofread again without audio. Then the transcript is done!
To view this post on Blogger, click here.

About

Earful Edits offers fast, accurate, and affordable transcription of interviews, seminars, meetings, videos, lectures, sermons, focus groups, medical, legal, or any other recorded event.

Contact

Jamie Hendricks

Email: earfuledits@gmail.com

QUOTE

"In the transcribing and the editing, you want some retention of how the person speaks - you don't want to edit out all of the hesitations and idiosyncrasies. And to get people to say something they've never said before. That's big." ~ Sheila Heti