| So you've decided to leverage the content you've | | | | and content as part of the overall service they |
| previously recorded in your teleseminar, webinar, | | | | offer, while others may just do a literal translation |
| audio or video podcast, speech, coaching or | | | | of your recording. If they don't, you may very |
| training sessions by having it transcribed. Good for | | | | well need to hire a second professional to handle |
| you! Creating transcripts, articles, e-books or | | | | the editing of your transcript, which will add more |
| more from this golden content is a great way to | | | | time and expense to give your project the |
| build your opt-in list and grow your bank account. | | | | professional polish it deserves. |
| You might think that evaluating the quote you | | | | 5. Does The Transcription Firm Ask For Details |
| receive from a transcript service provider for | | | | About Your Project Upfront Prior To Quoting? |
| your project would be pretty easy, but because | | | | A professional service should require certain |
| each company has its own method of charging | | | | information, like the number of speakers, and any |
| for its services, you can end up trying to | | | | speakers who might be challenging to understand, |
| compare apples to oranges. Many services also | | | | at the time of your request for a quote so that it |
| don't always clearly explain ahead of time how | | | | is as accurate as possible. |
| they determine their charges, so if you don't ask | | | | 6. What Will The Finished Product Look Like? |
| the right questions, you just might get an | | | | Most transcription services will just provide you |
| unpleasant surprise when invoice time comes | | | | with a plain, boring transcript. If you like to take |
| around. | | | | every opportunity to promote your brand and |
| Here are some questions to ask that will help you | | | | image, find out if the company you're considering |
| make sure your transcript project quote | | | | offers a finished transcript that will include your |
| accurately reflects your understanding of the | | | | logo. A more comprehensive services provider will |
| service fees involved: | | | | specialize in creating a unique branding layout, and |
| 1. How Are The Transcript Service Fees | | | | can also handle more advanced finished products |
| Structured? | | | | such as creating e-books from your recorded |
| Transcription services may charge an hourly rate, | | | | content. Of course, find out what the charge is |
| a per minute rate, or even a minimum monthly | | | | for this added value. |
| charge that you draw against. Plus, some charge | | | | 7. Did You Provide The Transcriptionist With All |
| a minimum fee, or a fee for extras. | | | | The Information Needed To Accurately Provide |
| 2. Are You Being Charged By The Length Of | | | | You With A Quote? |
| Your Content, Or The Amount Of Time It Takes | | | | Whether or not the transcript company asked all |
| To Transcribe Your Content? | | | | the right questions upfront or not, you should |
| For example, if your teleseminar recording is one | | | | take the initiative to provide full disclosure about |
| hour, are you being charged for one hour, or the | | | | your project, so the service provider is not |
| four or five hours it may take a particular worker | | | | surprised by extra requirements or work that |
| to complete the assignment? | | | | was unanticipated at the time of the quote. |
| 3. Is A Skilled Human Familiar With The Speaker's | | | | The Most Accurate Transcript Project Quote |
| Language Doing The Transcription, Or Is It Voice | | | | Overall, the most accurate quotes are those |
| Recognition Software? | | | | where you are charged by minute of recorded |
| Some transcript services use voice recognition | | | | time. This way, it doesn't matter how fast the |
| software to put your recorded words into printed | | | | transcriptionist is (and quickness and accuracy |
| form, so synonyms, names and other words | | | | certainly do vary); your charge is for the content |
| may be incorrect. Some will check the final | | | | of your file. For example, if you have a 30 minute |
| product for these errors, and others just use the | | | | mp3 file and the charge is $2.00 per minute, you |
| software and that is that! | | | | know upfront that the cost will be $60.00, |
| It is also possible that, like so many jobs these | | | | excluding any other charges for special services |
| days, the transcription of your recording may be | | | | such as a rush job, or for any of the items of |
| "offshored", and it may be challenging for workers | | | | information mentioned above. And all of these |
| who do not use English as their primary language | | | | should have been part of the initial quote unless |
| to handle your work as accurately as someone | | | | added on, based upon your request, after the |
| for whom it is their native language. | | | | work began. |
| 4. Does The Transcript Company Offer Any | | | | So take all information you obtain from asking |
| Editing Or Correction Of Your Content? Is It An | | | | these 7 questions into account when choosing |
| Included Service Or Does It Cost Extra? | | | | your transcription company, and you'll be able to |
| Some transcript service providers may offer | | | | forge a long-lasting, win-win relationship for both |
| editing and correction of grammar, spelling, tenses | | | | you and the transcript services provider. |