Transcribing Things

Are you a fast typer? Do you have a good ear and pick up on different tones and intonations when listening to a speech?

Then, why not consider transcribing things as a side hustle?

By transcribing, your only responsibility will be to turn video and audio recordings into accurate written versions. Transcriptions are needed in a wide range of industries, which means you’ll find many online jobs available. Plus, it pays quite well even for beginner transcriptionists.

If you’ve been looking for a remote job like transcription as something you can do on the side to bring in a little bit of extra cash, then this article is for you.

An Overview of Transcribing Things: A Primer

If you enjoy typing, then transcribing should be right up your alley. It’s a profession that requires minimal training with a payout that’s quite lucrative.

Transcribers are responsible for turning a live or recorded speech into text. In other words, they create written versions of the audio they just heard exactly how they heard it.

However, they can’t add, modify, or edit the speech in any way. They even have to write down every ‘ummm,’ ‘ahhh,’ and sigh they hear.

While getting paid to type may sound simple enough, things can sometimes get a bit complicated.

For instance, some sectors require detailed audio and video transcriptions of technical jargon that may not be easy for everyone to follow. In addition, there may be projects that are long and tedious, or the audio may not be that clear.

That said, this job comes with a lot of benefits to working online as a transcriber. For starters, you get to pick the projects you want to work on. You also have the freedom to set when and where you want to work.

Finally, there’s the chance to learn valuable skills and help those who may have a hearing disability gain access to numerous audio files.

Transcribing can also boost search rankings, improve market research, and increase overall engagement.

How Much Can Transcribing Things Earn You?

According to the Transcription Certification Institute, the average starting salary of remote transcriptionists is around $19 an hour. More experienced transcribers can earn between $25 and $30 an hour.

This means that, as a beginner, you can easily earn over $1,000 if you only work a couple of hours each day for a month.

Then, as your transcription experience grows and you take on more clients, you can increase your pay rate.

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Side Hustle Transcribing Things?

The start-up cost of transcribing as a side gig is pretty low. All you need to get started is a computer, a good-quality pair of headphones, and a high-speed internet connection.

If you wish to become a professional transcriber in a specific industry, you’ll find that many organizations offer certifications at a fee. You may also want to pay to set up a website or advertise your services on Google or other marketing platforms.

Where Can You Find Transcribing Things Gigs?

Check out the different places where you can search for audio transcription jobs and get started on this lucrative side hustle today.

Where to Independently Find Transcribing Things Work

The internet is packed with freelance websites that offer a huge collection of jobs for beginners and experienced transcribers alike.

To get the most traction, make sure you create an account on several of these sites at once. Upload your resume, take some tests to help you stand out from the crowd, and set your pay rate. Then, check out their job boards daily for new possible leads.

The five more common of these sites are:

• Rev
• FlexJobs Corporation
• MTurk
• Daily Transcription
• Castingwords

Gig Economy Companies That Offer Transcribing Things Work

For many specialized niches, having certification in that field goes a long way in helping you land potential clients. To get started on the right path, you need someone to guide you and teach you the ins and outs of being a professional transcriber.

This is where Transcribe Anywhere can help. The site offers an impressive list of paid and free transcription training courses.

Once you have the right training, it’s time to find work. One of the more formidable transcription companies offering top-rated transcription services is TranscribeMe. This highly acclaimed work-from-home site offers a large selection of jobs covering a broad array of transcription industries.

Other transcription service companies you should check out include:

• Quicktate
• SpeakWrite
• Babbletype
• Scribie
• GoTranscript

Why You Should Consider Transcribing Things As a Side Hustle

Transcribing as a side hustle comes with multiple benefits, including:

• Flexible work schedule: Like many of today’s remote jobs, transcribing allows you to set your own hours and create a real work-life balance.
• A well-paying side hustle: Even if your transcription job is only a side hustle, you’ll still be able to make a decent monthly income.
• Helping people: Turning spoken words into text makes the content available to a wider audience, including those who may have difficulty understanding or hearing the audio.

Problems With Transcribing Things

Take a look at these potential problems you can face as a transcriber.

• Inaudible sound: Sometimes, you might have to deal with poor sound, background noise, or unfamiliar accents. It could also be a spotty internet connection causing the problem. These factors can compromise the quality of your output.
• Meeting deadlines: Transcribers are constantly under pressure to meet deadlines and turn in quality work with a high level of accuracy.
• Having to deal with long, monotonous audio clips: When working with certain technical specializations, you often have to deal with long, boring audio or video files that seem to take forever to transcribe.

Frequently Asked Questions