• First,  you need to know that you will be a business owner and not an employee. You will be the person to create the transcription job, you will need the mindset of a business owner.
• Second, you will need a high typing speed.
• Third, accuracy!

Helpful Skills to be a Transcriptionist:

- Ability to apply common sense. Often times you won’t understand what the dictation is saying and you’ll need to try to put the phrase into context to figure out what the speaker means.

- A keen eye for detail. This will help in proofreading and editing to ensure you turn in the highest quality work.This will help in proofreading and editing to ensure you turn in the highest quality work.

- Strong work ethics. You’ll have to meet deadlines and be extremely reliable.

- Good organizational skills. If you have a lot of clients it’s important to stay organized.

- Good communication skills. For marketing your business and dealing with clients.

- Professionalism and discreetness (often times you’ll be transcribing very sensitive documents which require full confidentiality).

- Basic computer skills and the ability to get around a word processing program

- A good grasp of the English language, good spelling and grammar skills

Grab your
Moms Talk Biz Guide to Starting a Transcription Business – Step-by-step instructions, resources and inside information to start your own transcription business from home.

##

Stephanie Fish, owner of Buckeye V.A. enjoys assisting online business owners with their social media and article marketing business tasks. If you’re looking for a virtual marketing assistant, please contact Stephanie at Buckeye V.A.

Target Market?

Are you stuck for new marketing ideas for your handmade product? Let’s go back to the basics of your target market:

• When you’re crafting your product, who do you envision using it?
• What age is your product geared towards?
• Is it for men, women, children, teens, tweens, sports fan, casual dresser, professional, traveler, photographer?
• Is your product for the frugally minded or the no-budget necessary, type of person?

Let’s say your product is a handmade, custom designed watch. You might think that “all mom’s” could use this fantastic watch, but that may not be the case at all. Even though your custom made watch is beautiful and useful to women, a mom that stays home with kids all day and works in the garden, may not want to or care to have, a custom watch. However, a mom that runs a business from home and networks locally with other businesses may indeed want that custom made watch.

One thing I do on a regular basis is envision my target market and picture them actually outsourcing their small business tasks to me. I go as far as including their age, their customers, and what hobbies they enjoy! Just remember, you may have a great product, but it can’t be everything to everyone (this rings true to service providers as well).

Stephanie Fish, owner of Buckeye V.A. enjoys working with authors, life and business coaches, and small business owners at all stages of their business. You’re invited to schedule a free 30 minute consult with me today!

Here’s some suggestions on getting to know your locals’ this year:

• Join your Chamber of Commerce
• Seek out networking groups (a.k.a meet ups, coffee talks, mom’s group, etc.)
• What local mailings does your target market read?
• Post a professional poster at your target markets shopping area
• Can you place an ad in the local restaurants menu?
• Check out that cafe’, everyone stops there for a drink!
• Join a fundraiser, such as a walk-a-thon or bowling for kids sake. This will show you care for those in need and provides for that much needed person-to-person social drought that work from home persons feel!

Just because you (me too!) work from home doesn’t mean we should ‘become’ part of our home! Get up, Get out and Reach out to those in your community. It will do you and them good.

Good Luck!

Steph