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I wrote articles on a weekly basis for an online publication, www.momz.co.za, and www.g21.net I have written an Ebook, "Working from Home as a Transcriptionist in South Africa" - it's on sale for R90. Contact me in regards to this and if you would like me to write for you. Below is some of my work. Typewrite Transcription and Typing Services - The Story So FarBy Gaynor Paynter http://typewritetranscription.co.za / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Contact me to buy my E-book “Working From Home as a Transcriptionist in South Africa”. In December of 2004, I decided that I was going to quit my job as a resume writer at a recruitment company and work from home. I’d initially tried to be a transcriptionist in 2000 during a period of unemployment, but I realised that my idea was just slightly ahead of what technology offered in South Africa at that time.
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Industries which can make use of Transcription - Damaria SenneDamaria Senne is a writer based in Johannesburg. Learn more about her and her writing career at http://damariasenne.blogspot.comI was chatting by email to Gaynor Paynter (Typewrite Transcription and Typing Servicestoday, asking her a question about the capabilities of a voice-recording software when she reminded me that she was available to do transcription for me if I did end up recording interviews on audio. Essentially, she was evaluating my business to see if there was opportunity for her to provide a service. Later, this got me thinking about the kind of businesses I know which might require transcription services. Here are four that came to mind:
ResearchersI know I’m not telling you anything new when I say that a lot of researchers could use the services of a transcriptionist. But I’m not just thinking about university-based researchers. You must also look at consultants who provide services for government departments. A lot of the work that they do is based on an initial evaluation of current services, before making recommendations. This may also include determining customer satisfaction levels, which means that a researcher may have to interview over 50 identified targets. The good news about these consultants is that they want to do the report as soon as possible, so they can move onto another project. So I suspect if they can outsource the transcription work to someone else who works much faster, they’d be ever so much happier. Where to find these kind of researchers – government bulletins.Look at tenders for research issued by government departments (www.info.gov.za) and then track to see who the tender was awarded to. You may not get the business of that project, but it would be useful for you to introduce yourself to the company and inform them that your services are available. Emphasise that you will save them time, as you can transcribe faster, helping with their delivery process.Another type of firm that uses research extensively is the analyst firm. These guys are constantly researching their markets, and sell the reports to their clients. In role as a telecommunications journalist, I was constantly going to these guys to look for new research data. It strikes me that the analyst firms are small, and that some of their capacity could be wasted with the researcher/analyst transcribing the interviews over time, rather than letting a professional do them. To find these firms, read business articles - journalists love quoting these guys, so you should collect a few names of individuals and companies. The NGOThe NGO sector usually require a consolidated report of proceedings after a major conference. Make the life of the organisers easier by transcribing the event proceedings for them, so that they can start working on paper. The NGO may hire you directly, or they may contract your services through an event management company.
Check out www.sangonet.org.za to see what NGOs are up to ( and who is hosting a conference) and www.prodder.org.za for a database of South African NGOs, with contact details.
PR firms and event management companiesThese companies like to offer their clients a consolidated service, and if the client wants a report of the proceedings after an event, they will want to be able to deliver painlessly. Get yourself into their books.
Market research companiesYears ago I used to make extra dosh by taking part in focus groups on products that I use. I knew a couple of market research consultants, and they had a full profile of me – where I shop, what I buy, the brands I favour etc. So, for a two-hour chat with a nice group of people, I’d get dinner (usually pizza and lots of drinks) and R150 bucks. Not a bad evening’s work.The other side of the coin is that these focus groups were recorded, and I am aware that some people on TAVASA already do transcription work in that industry. Still, it bears looking into.
Check out www.biz-community.co.za and www.marketingweb.co.za , where a lot of event management, PR firms and market research companies are mentioned. Some advertise on those publications which means that their contact details are on record. Anyway, I’m sure there are many other types of companies that use the services of transcriptionists, but it’s late and my brain is fried. I hope you find this useful.
Till next time,
Damaria
Read more of my work on my blog:
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