What is general transcription? General transcription is taking recorded audio and transcribing what is said to text. It is a growing field that, unlike medical transcription, does not require any formal training. Additionally, while many traditional home-based business opportunities require significant cash to start, you can get started doing general transcription for a very minimal investment.

General transcriptionists can earn a competitive full-time income or work only part-time for spending money. The choice is up to each individual. While it’s a lot of hard work and definitely not a “get rich quick scheme,” it is a wonderful source of income that provides many moms with the opportunity to stay at home with their children, as well as providing the opportunity to work at home for people in other stages of life as well.

For the WAHM, staying home to raise your children is only one of a number of benefits that transcription can afford. Others include:

• The hours and workload are flexible.

• There is good – if not great – earnings potential.

• You're always learning something new.

• It is a growing field that is not showing signs of slowing down.

While the benefits are many, success in this career will require hard work and perseverance on your part. The most common misconception that a lot of people have about transcription is that the only skill you need is the ability to type. The truth is that there’s a lot more than that involved. In order to have a successful career as a transcriptionist, you need to be able to listen, think and type at the same time. Additionally, one of the most important skills needed is to be able to actually take the spoken word and transcribe it in a way that fits grammar rules for written language so that it actually makes sense to the person reading it.

If you’re just starting to consider transcription as a career, this may seem overwhelming to you, and that is not our intention. However, it’s important to know that while you can make a decent living doing this work, it is not “easy money.” It takes a lot of hard work to develop the skills needed to succeed, and you must be committed to developing those skills or you will most likely give up before you reach the point where you are happy with your earnings.

So how do you get started? If you are interested in pursuing transcription as a career, here are a few steps to get you headed in the right direction.

• Find a pair of quality headphones.

• Download Express Scribe and install Microsoft Word if it's not already on your computer.

• Brush up on your grammar rules.

• Learn how to research words, names and terms online.

• Download audio from a variety of sources and begin practicing.

• Create or brush up your résumé and cover letter.

• Begin applying as an independent contractor.

• Look for projects on Guru, Elance and/or Craigslist.

• Continue developing your skills and looking for ways to increase productivity.

Is transcription right for you? We can’t determine that for you. But the benefits of this career are plentiful, and with dedication and hard work, there’s a good chance it’s the opportunity you’re looking for.