Working from home is slowly becoming the norm in many industries, one of them being transcription. There was a time when it required buying expensive equipment like printers, word processors and tape playback machines. Now only little is needed and it can be done very inexpensively.
The first thing you would need is a personal computer. Not a top class configuration but a basic desktop which costs no more than $800. It should be capable of running windows XP and word processing soft-wares such as MS Word and Word Perfect.
Speaking of word processing software, a transcriptionist needs be well versed in them. Knowing how to use MS Word is a basic essential whereas knowing Word Perfect and Open Office would greatly enhance your professional value.
Next you need a high speed internet connection, the cost of broadband and internet packages are getting cheaper every day. As a transcriptionist you might have to download heavy audio files from the web and may at times even have to convert them from one file format to another for the purpose of transcription.
To do quality transcription you would need a transcription playback software which allows control audio playback through a foot pedal or through keyboard shortcuts. Such software are available for free online, FTW Transcriber and the highly recommended Express Scribe can downloaded from http://www.theftwtranscriber.com/ and http://www.nch.com.au/scribe/index.html.
If you seriously want to make money from home doing transcription work, you must not hesitate in spending on sound. It would be wise if you invest in a pair of good headphones and maybe install a good sound card in your computer. Having a good sound can be that one difference which would set you apart from your competitors.
Working from home brings about its own set of hurdles; its easy to get distracted and hard not to watch TV, to sit around and while away time with family and friends. As transcription requires concentration and a quiet surrounding you need to absolutely segregate your work station from the rest of the house. Converting a spare room into a private office would be ideal but if limited by space, isolating a quite desk away from the all the activity of the living room and noisy television would do.
Even though you are working from home you must schedule specific office hours for yourself. It would only help you to keep up with your commitments and help you meet your deadlines.
Organize your office area; add the few specific stationary and cabinets which would let you keep a meticulous record of your clients, incoming work, completed work and bills. If you are aiming to specialize in a particular kind of transcription like Medical or Legal then stocking up a few reference books like a medical dictionary would be a good idea.
Maintaining quality as well as meeting deadlines are the only two parameters which counts in the world of a transcriptionist and simple things like maintaining a comfortable work space and staying organize would help any profession.
The first thing you would need is a personal computer. Not a top class configuration but a basic desktop which costs no more than $800. It should be capable of running windows XP and word processing soft-wares such as MS Word and Word Perfect.
Speaking of word processing software, a transcriptionist needs be well versed in them. Knowing how to use MS Word is a basic essential whereas knowing Word Perfect and Open Office would greatly enhance your professional value.
Next you need a high speed internet connection, the cost of broadband and internet packages are getting cheaper every day. As a transcriptionist you might have to download heavy audio files from the web and may at times even have to convert them from one file format to another for the purpose of transcription.
To do quality transcription you would need a transcription playback software which allows control audio playback through a foot pedal or through keyboard shortcuts. Such software are available for free online, FTW Transcriber and the highly recommended Express Scribe can downloaded from http://www.theftwtranscriber.com/ and http://www.nch.com.au/scribe/index.html.
If you seriously want to make money from home doing transcription work, you must not hesitate in spending on sound. It would be wise if you invest in a pair of good headphones and maybe install a good sound card in your computer. Having a good sound can be that one difference which would set you apart from your competitors.
Working from home brings about its own set of hurdles; its easy to get distracted and hard not to watch TV, to sit around and while away time with family and friends. As transcription requires concentration and a quiet surrounding you need to absolutely segregate your work station from the rest of the house. Converting a spare room into a private office would be ideal but if limited by space, isolating a quite desk away from the all the activity of the living room and noisy television would do.
Even though you are working from home you must schedule specific office hours for yourself. It would only help you to keep up with your commitments and help you meet your deadlines.
Organize your office area; add the few specific stationary and cabinets which would let you keep a meticulous record of your clients, incoming work, completed work and bills. If you are aiming to specialize in a particular kind of transcription like Medical or Legal then stocking up a few reference books like a medical dictionary would be a good idea.
Maintaining quality as well as meeting deadlines are the only two parameters which counts in the world of a transcriptionist and simple things like maintaining a comfortable work space and staying organize would help any profession.
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