Online Transcription Services And Independent Contractors

By Susan Ross


Whether a freelancer or independent contractor, there are often a number of opportunities. One of these opportunities involves working for online transcription services. In fact, there are now a number of online services offering jobs to individuals whom have experience in transcription.

In most cases, transcriptionists are often good at converting information through live or recorded speech into a document. Most often, services work with medical professionals, legal entities and business organizations. Whereas, creative writers and poets have been known to hire individuals to transcribe a number of audio files or written pages into book form.

With the advancement of computers and technology, transcription has taken on an entire new identify. For example, it used to take a great deal of time for an individual to dictate a letter, proposal or other document, then have the material typed on a typewriter. After which, there were often a number of passes on the typewriter before a document could be finalized and delivered.

When it comes to using a service, most prefer that the information to be processed be submitted on a cassette, VHS or CD. Whereas, the most preferable is often a sound file transmitted to the service as at attachment to an email. While this is the case, different companies have different guidelines. As such, it is best to check with the company before preparing a recorded or electronic file to be transcribed.

Individuals working in this area can often make a great deal of money. For, whether working as a freelance, independent or part of a service team, pay is often higher than that of more basic clerical positions. In addition, individual freelancers and independent contractors often have the ability to set rates and charge by the hour, word, minute, page or project.

As rates can vary widely, it is important to know how a service will be charging. In most cases, private transcription houses often provide services to trade associates, nonprofits, meeting planners, courts, law firms and governmental agencies with billing based upon a contract and agreement.

In the early days, office workers often took dictation from superiors, then typed out the information on a standard typewriter. As there could be a number of revisions, individuals often spent a great deal of time retyping documents from the beginning. Then, in the late 1970s, jobs became easier with the introduction of recording devices. As such, superiors would then dictate into the equipment and transcriptionists would type the information into a typewritten document.

While mailing cassettes became part and parcel to the job of a number of transcriptionists in the late 1970s and early 1980s, others still preferred to use traditional equipment. Now, audio files have become quite popular. In most cases, a client will provide audio files of all documents needing to be typed. After which, there will be a review along with a number of edits, changes and revisions before the document is finalized.




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