Summary

The website content provides an overview of five platforms where individuals can earn money by transcribing audio, detailing rates, registration processes, competence tests, and personal experiences.

Abstract

The article "5 Platforms Where You Can Earn Money by Transcribing Audio" discusses the opportunity to make money online through transcription work. It outlines the basic requirements for the job, which include good English skills, listening abilities, and typing proficiency. The platforms mentioned are QA World, Rev, TranscribeMe, GoTranscript, and Upwork, each offering different rates and contract terms. The article also covers the necessary equipment, such as headphones and a high-speed internet connection, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining customer privacy. Personal anecdotes from the author provide insight into the application process, the nature of the work, and the potential earnings, with average monthly incomes ranging from $150 to$ 250, and top earners making significantly more. The article serves as a guide for those interested in transcribing as a flexible work-from-home job, highlighting the pros and cons, and the freedom to choose workload.

Opinions

The author views audio transcription as a viable way to earn money, especially during times when traditional employment opportunities are limited.
Transcribing is presented as an accessible job that doesn't require specialized experience or skills, aside from good English and typing abilities.
The article suggests that having competence in different foreign languages can be advantageous for transcribers.
The author notes that while the job offers flexibility, it also comes with challenges such as dealing with poor audio quality and strong accents.
The author's personal experience with QA World highlights the platform's supportive community but also mentions the issue of low work availability due to a large number of analysts.
The author's experience with Rev is positive, citing a user-friendly typing platform and no strict workload requirements.
TranscribeMe is noted for its high payment rates but also for its challenging testing method, which the author has yet to pass.
GoTranscript is recognized for its global acceptance of transcribers and its requirement for identity verification.
Upwork is described as the largest freelance market, offering a more direct approach to finding transcription clients without predetermined rates.

MAKE MONEY ONLINE

5 Platforms Where You Can Earn Money by Transcribing Audio

Rates, test systems, and my experiences with listening to people talk and writing it down.

One day, I went to visit a friend of mine — when visiting people was a thing — and she was sitting in front of her computer with headphones covering her ears and vigorously typing something. I thought she would be happy to see me. But apparently, she was too busy and kept shushing me.

After about 15 minutes, she got up to greet me and told me that she was working on a transcription. That was the first time I even heard about audio transcription. Later, when the pandemic hit and my graduation got delayed, I was stuck at home, feeling pathetic. Then I contacted that friend of mine and saw that she was making good money transcribing audio clips. I asked my brother and started applying at platforms to see which one suited me the best.

What Is Transcribing

There are a lot of platforms where you can sign up as a transcriber. This job provides payment per hour and skill development means higher pay. It is basically listening to audio clips and writing down what they are saying.

The only skills required in this job are typing and listening, with a good grasp of the English language and accents. If you have competence in different foreign languages, then you can have a serious advantage here.

After being accepted as a transcriber, most platforms will sign contracts saying none of the conversations you hear can be disclosed to anyone. Keeping customer privacy is a mandatory rule.

Skills and Equipment Needed

Anyone with a computer can start transcribing. But aside from a computer, some equipment are listed by these websites to have a better output, even though these are not absolutely necessary for beginners.

Headphones
High-speed internet connection
Listening skills
Good typing skills
Research skills to find the context of the audio clip

1. QA World

In this platform, transcribers are hired as analysts. This is the best one to join as getting in as an analyst is the easiest here. They look for anyone with good English skills and regular access to a computer.

Rates

The payments are done weekly via PayPal at $0.20 per audio minute with an extra bonus for completing 100 audio minutes in one week.

Registration

To register, you only need to fill out the form on their website to sign in.

Competence Test

As a test, a simple 60-second audio clip is played. After successfully completing the test, the results are published right away, offering the job as an analyst. The guidelines come later to help create a good quality transcription.

My Experience

I joined the QA World in May. They have a very helpful Slack group where any and all type of help can be found. But the availability of work is low due to a huge amount of analysts present worldwide.

2. Rev

Rev is a very good platform for beginner transcribers with no prior experience. It has over 60,000 freelance transcribers worldwide and many clients such as Amazon, Facebook, and Google. They show the possibility of a $245 average monthly earning with a top monthly earning of $1495.

Rates

The rates at Rev start at $0.30 to $1.10 per audio minute. The payments are done weekly via PayPal.

Registration

Rev promises the chances of choosing their own paces and workloads for the freelancers. The registration process is done by their website and after registration, the applicant needs to be accepted via a test.

Rev is currently taking applications from some select countries.

Competence Test

The test includes a transcription of an audio clip to check the applicant’s competency. There is also a portion with multiple-choice questions to make sure that the applicant has read the guidelines. Before attempting the test, the Rev style guidelines need to be studied thoroughly to avoid any mistakes. The test results can be received within 48 hours.

My Experience

I joined the Rev freelancing community a few months ago and have been working on audio clips for some time now. The on-site typing platform is very user-friendly and there is no strict workload to follow.

3. TranscribeMe

Claiming to pay more than anyone, TranscribeMe is a great work from home site. To work as a transcriptionist here, no experience is required except having a good grasp at typing exactly what can be heard, as per their guidelines.

Rates

The expected payment is $15-$22 per audio hour and top monthly earnings at $2,200. The average monthly earnings are said to be $250. Payments are done anytime via PayPal.

Registration

To register as an applicant, you need to create an account with a user name and password. After that, they take you to a page with sample audio clips and guidelines for grammar and style.

Competence Test

They have the most grueling testing method. There are multiple-choice questions straight from the style guides. Then, there are three different 4-minute audio clips that need to be transcribed. Any or of them failing to get the acceptable points can cause the whole test to fail. After successfully passing the exam, wait for their reply for about 12 days.

My Experience

I have gone through the tests once but failed in getting acceptable points for one of the clips. But I have not lost hope. After failing, I can attempt the test again once more, this time only retaking the portion I’ve failed in.

4. GoTranscript

GoTranscript accepts applications from all over the world with no required experience. But as proof of identity, a real-time photo with an SMS code needs to be sent. The transcriber can do as much or as little work as they want.

Rates

They pay up to $0.6 per audio minute via PayPal, with $150 average earnings per month.

Registration

To register, sign up with an account on their website to be eligible to take the exam.

Competence Test

After signing up, you can get access to their elaborate guidelines to check how to style the transcription and the grammar rules that are acceptable by them. There is an old test sample that can be tried as a practice. After submitting the 3-minute audio transcription test, you need to wait up to 60 days for a reply.

5. Upwork

Upwork is the largest freelance market in the world and not including this would be a crime. There’s no straight-cut rules or regulations for getting clients on Upwork with transcription jobs.

Rates

The rates are not predetermined. It can vary as there the client, job, and the experience of the freelancer.

Registration

Just create an account on Upwork and start applying for transcription jobs. There are no tests to go through and you can work with the client personally. It is a great place for beginners to try their hands at this job and make long-term relationships in the industry.

Cons of Taking Transcribing as a Job

The calls are not always comprehensible. The voices can be hard to decipher over background noises and static.
Sometimes finding the context of the conversation can be hard.
You need to be ready to do extensive research to understand what they are talking about.
You need to understand deep accents that can be difficult.
You will be paid by audio minutes, but the actual time needed will be longer and will depend on your listening ad typing skills.

I have never tried freelancing work before the lockdown. But transcription is such a job that doesn't require any extra experience or skills. With normal, everyday knowledge, we can easily earn some extra money. Choosing as little or as much job as I want, this job gives a certain type of freedom to also go on with the ordinary social life.