What Are the Main Types of General Transcription?

There are primarily six main types of general transcription. Some transcriptionists concentrate or specialize in just one or two of these specific areas and others take on transcripts in all areas:

1. Focus Groups are usually found in marketing companies. If you're new to general transcription, it's good to build up some credentials with a couple of contracted companies doing focus groups.
2. Interviews can take place in person or over the phone and can be an interview of one or more people so this type of work can come from a variety of clients from authors to seminar speakers.
3. Corporate can be from corporate presentations, quarterly earnings release calls when companies announce their financials for the quarter and year end; teleconferences, seminars, lectures, and conference presentations.
4. Dictations are normally one speaker recording notes, a journal, instructions, chapters of a book, just about anything while alone.
5. Podcast are used by smaller companies to help them build their businesses. Generally these little audio files are extremely clear, high quality and there's usually not a lot of research involved to complete the transcript.
6. Academic transcription projects can be transcribing recordings from class lectures, academic seminars, classroom meetings, etc.

You may find in just a few months of practice alone which types of general transcription you like best, worst or flat out just won't do. Again, this is a personal choice, not something that a boss is going to tell you that you have to do.
Keep in mind, however, that one of the best marketing tips is to find your "niche." What do you have the most experience in? What do you do best, better than anything else? What is your educational background and work history relative to the specialized service you will be offering your clients?
Once you find that niche, then start advertising for clients in that field.

About the Author: After several years in the transcription industry, Karen Musselman recently closed her own transcription company and now designs custom laminated wedding favor bookmarks and offers wedding planning ideas for couples planning their fairy tale weddings on a low budget.

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