Transcription is the process of transferring information from one medium to another, and generally refers to creating a text document from oral speech. The most common uses for a transcription company include: business conferences, interviews, focus groups, teleconferences, dictated material such as correspondence or reports, seminars, and meetings.
Your transcription needs or those of your clients will determine which company is best able to serve you. The importance of choosing the correct company can not be overemphasized. Some companies specialize and are, therefore, the most effective and efficient for clients needing their particular area of expertise. This is particularly true if your transcription needs involve the medical industry and it is highly recommended that you choose a specialty company in that case as medical terms are very challenging for people outside the medical community.
After you have identified a number of companies that meet your requirements it is important that you invest the time to thoroughly check each company's background. This will help you decide whether they are the proper choice for you. There are internet sites devoted to the review of transcription companies and you should definitely make use of them. You should read testimonials for previous clients but be sure they are credible. They may be suspect if they are hosted on the website of the company itself.
Once you have narrowed your list to companies that have stellar backgrounds, then you want to turn your attention to price. Again, specificity will play a role here. Traditionally, a do-it-all company will quote you less expensive rates than a specialized company. However, with the specialized company, you are paying for the experience and skill of their transcriptionists. You can find the rates on the companies' websites or you can place calls to the companies and request a quote. Other companies allow you to submit quote requests online. You should start to see a baseline price between non-specialized companies and a baseline price between specialized companies as well. If you have ongoing transcription work, you can use that as a bargaining chip to secure a discount.
Basing your search on cost alone could come back to bite you if you have not checked the credentials of the company you decide on - cheaper certainly does not mean better in this field. Bearing this in mind, As previously stated, spend a few hours on the internet, not only on the company websites but try to find review sites that have independent views of the services they have received and you will maximize your chances of finding a transcription company that is right for your needs.
Your transcription needs or those of your clients will determine which company is best able to serve you. The importance of choosing the correct company can not be overemphasized. Some companies specialize and are, therefore, the most effective and efficient for clients needing their particular area of expertise. This is particularly true if your transcription needs involve the medical industry and it is highly recommended that you choose a specialty company in that case as medical terms are very challenging for people outside the medical community.
After you have identified a number of companies that meet your requirements it is important that you invest the time to thoroughly check each company's background. This will help you decide whether they are the proper choice for you. There are internet sites devoted to the review of transcription companies and you should definitely make use of them. You should read testimonials for previous clients but be sure they are credible. They may be suspect if they are hosted on the website of the company itself.
Once you have narrowed your list to companies that have stellar backgrounds, then you want to turn your attention to price. Again, specificity will play a role here. Traditionally, a do-it-all company will quote you less expensive rates than a specialized company. However, with the specialized company, you are paying for the experience and skill of their transcriptionists. You can find the rates on the companies' websites or you can place calls to the companies and request a quote. Other companies allow you to submit quote requests online. You should start to see a baseline price between non-specialized companies and a baseline price between specialized companies as well. If you have ongoing transcription work, you can use that as a bargaining chip to secure a discount.
Basing your search on cost alone could come back to bite you if you have not checked the credentials of the company you decide on - cheaper certainly does not mean better in this field. Bearing this in mind, As previously stated, spend a few hours on the internet, not only on the company websites but try to find review sites that have independent views of the services they have received and you will maximize your chances of finding a transcription company that is right for your needs.
