This is the Ultimate Guide to Working From Home in General Transcription

Did you know that one of the best work-from-home jobs is working in general transcription and its companion, legal transcription? If you are suffering from corporate burnout, looking for a flexible career so you can spend time with family, or seeking another income stream in your retirement, you might be considering general transcription. But there is so much information out there, it can be hard to decide if making this career change is right for you. We have written this post just for you! 

We want you to know exactly what general transcription is, how to know if it is the right choice for you and your family, and how you can get started right away. Here’s to your next step toward financial freedom and flexibility as a general transcriptionist! Let’s dive right in!

What is General Transcription? 

Let’s answer this for you first. General Transcription is the practice of listening to audio or video files and converting the audio to text. The text document is often formatted for readability and punctuation as well. Transcription is needed across all different types of industries such as marketing, education, government, entertainment, insurance among others. Transcripts could be used for students who prefer to read lectures, for hearing-impaired individuals to engage with video files, or even for insurance adjusters processing information.

Some online platforms do offer transcription services powered by artificial intelligence but AI-powered transcripts often include many errors. Human-transcribed texts will always be superior in that regard because people can catch nuances of conversation, certain idioms, or turns of phrase better than an AI could.

What is Legal Transcription?

Legal Transcription involves many of the same skills as General Transcription except in a more specialized way. Legal Transcription might involve audio or video files from courts, trials, depositions, or even interviews, just to name a few. This is why Legal Transcription takes a higher degree of training and attention. It is important to know how to listen for certain phrases and terminology. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates this field growing 9% from 2019-2029, faster than average growth for this field. Now is a great time to transition to this field.

How are these different from Medical Transcription?

Because of the way healthcare is advancing with technology, there simply is not the demand for medical transcription that there once was. Many doctors use voice-to-text notes and have nurses clean up the notes. Consequently, the medical transcription jobs available do take highly specialized skills. Therefore, it has become a hard field to break into if you are a beginner.

Can you actually make money in this career of general or legal transcription?

Yes, indeed you can! In fact, many of our students have shared how building this freelance career was the way for them to finance their dreams to travel, spend more time with their family, or provide for their family. If you are curious about the actual salary you can expect, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the median wage for court reporters and legal transcribers was $61,660 in May 2020. 

I actually created this course because I had such tremendous success in general transcription myself! When my husband became disabled, I needed to find another stream of income that would allow me the flexibility to care for him and still make money. My job as an office manager was taking 50-60 hours a week, and it simply became too demanding for our family. That is when I founded Zoom Transcription, which I grew to a 6-figure company. I wanted other families to enjoy this same freedom and flexibility I was able to achieve.

Are there any other benefits to this career?

Yes! For many who are looking for an alternative to supporting their family where they can set their own hours, work flexibly, and still make a living wage, general transcription is a great career choice. Charly is financing her family’s traveling lifestyle in Europe through her transcription work. Allison was looking for work that could travel with her family as they moved for her husband’s job. Plus, she needed something that would fit with her responsibilities as a stay-at-home mom caring for her toddler and homeschooling her middle schooler. Marsha even used our general transcription course to generate another stream of income in her retirement with a job she actually enjoys.

You might be thinking at this point, “Can I actually succeed at this?”

Succeeding as a transcriber does take a certain skill set. A few other qualities that will help you achieve success in this field include being detail-oriented, organized, and attentive with good listening skills. Many times you may have to transcribe conversations with multiple speakers, and good listening skills will be key here. Plus, honing and practicing your skills to build up your speed will lead to more success as many jobs are paid hourly.

And what if I am a beginner? 

You can definitely start as a beginner! In fact, we have shared many times on this blog how to get started when you are just beginning. 

Some things to consider when you are starting out:

• You want to organize your home office for productivity and attention.
• Setting up a business email is a great way to keep communication clear with clients.
• If you really want to make a sustainable income in this career, investing in our courses is worth it. Aside from the skills training, you also receive support from Janet and other students working through the course.

Where can I find jobs?

Our students have found clients through many different avenues. Really, you have quite a few options available to you: finding your own clients (where you can set your own rates!), applying to transcription company jobs (with typically lower rates but great starter experience), or even setting up your own website and building a full marketing plan to attract your perfect clients. 

We actually include modules on marketing your business and finding clients in the tutorials of our paid courses. But just to give you an idea, check out our list of 19 clients who need transcription services. Many of our students also happily share job opportunities with each other. In fact, some of our graduates have found so much success that they end up actually hiring their fellow students and graduates. We also highlighted many potential job opportunities in our People Who Use Transcriptionists series.

Is this just another “work-from-home & make a million dollars overnight” scheme? 

No, it is not about falling into success overnight. Transcription is an exacting job that takes attention to detail, focus, listening skills, and quick turnaround. To be quite honest, it is not a good fit for everyone. Want to know what it takes to succeed in general transcription? 

• You must work hard with consistency and discipline. Dedicated effort will lead to sustainable income and business.
• The best transcriptionists earn more because they have invested in themselves and in their skill set. So they can charge premium prices. This can be you as you build up your skills and experience.
• Anyone in a work-from-home career needs support and community to succeed. That is why we provide lifetime support from Janet, our instructor, and other students in the course through our Facebook groups.

This is actually why we worked so hard to obtain certification from AAERT, the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers. We are very proud to be listed under their Approved Schools, the only online general transcription school to receive this designation.

This type of flexible career is exactly what I am looking for! How can I get started? 

We provide you all the skills training, practice tests, resource lists, community, and support in our general transcription and legal transcription courses. To make it as easy as possible for you to decide if transcription is right for you, we actually have a free mini-course you can check out first. This gives you a handle on what type of work transcription is, the sort of skill set it takes, and how to set yourself up for success.

If you are ready to

• Generate income from anywhere (home, abroad, traveling)
• Make more memories with your family
• Provide excellent service over and over again

You are ready to jump into general transcription, and we are here to help. Join our 7000+ students who are working toward financial freedom and flexibility with a career in general or legal transcription. Start TODAY with our free mini-course!