When is an Hour not an Hour?
When is an Hour not an Hour?
We always try to explain as best we can what is entailed in any job we take on for our clients, but on occasion that may fail because we haven’t asked you (the client) enough questions or perhaps the other way around.
In transcription work there is a vast difference between the audio hour (the recording) and the transcription hour (the typed manuscript) because the ratio between the two can be anywhere between 1:3 – 1:6, i.e. it could take up to 6 hours to type one hour of recording (worst scenario). The reasons for this are many and include:
*
Speed and clarity of speech
*
Background noise
*
More than one voice speaking
*
Terminologies
*
Accents
*
Poor quality recording.
Experienced transcriptionists who are also fast typists may charge somewhat more per transcription hour than another who types slower, but it usually works out much the same in cost to the client. If you (the client) get quotes for transcription work that vary vastly however, then it is worth asking questions why – the difference may well be that some transcriptionists charge by the audio hour (much higher rate) than by the transcription hour. The first gives you a guaranteed price; the second gives you an approximate price for the completed job, however if the work took fewer hours than more, you could end up with change in your pocket.
Perhaps in your own industry you find client understanding of what you do may also differ considerably and it is important that we all help to educate each other in our particular specialties. There have been times when I’ve spoken to people on the phone about something I didn’t understand and I’ve had to remind them that they know their own business, and I don’t and they need to explain it to me in a way that helps me to understand. Unfortunately often these people are new staff, or in a role that has vast turnovers of staff with hurried training, and therefore seem to be inexperienced or untrained in explaining properly how something works or worse, they assume the customer knows. The customer doesn’t always know and we should never assume they do. That doesn’t mean we treat them like they’re simple or an idiot, but rather we should take time to ask them do they understand that………..and quickly and clearly explain what is involved. It makes for a happier life all round for everyone involved.
When is an Hour not an Hour - To learn more about this author, visit Kathie Thomas's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
The team and I had an interesting discussion online the other day, which resulted from a client and team member having a different understanding about something. And that something was the time involved, and related costs, in transcribing a recording. What the client hadn’t understood was that there is a difference between an audio hour and a transcription hour, and therefore the fee he thought he’d accepted ended up being considerably more and he and the team member had to negotiate for something that was acceptable to both. After all she’d put in a lot of hours, but he wasn’t expecting to pay as much. Which brings me to the point of this article.
We always try to explain as best we can what is entailed in any job we take on for our clients, but on occasion that may fail because we haven’t asked you (the client) enough questions or perhaps the other way around.
In transcription work there is a vast difference between the audio hour (the recording) and the transcription hour (the typed manuscript) because the ratio between the two can be anywhere between 1:3 – 1:6, i.e. it could take up to 6 hours to type one hour of recording (worst scenario). The reasons for this are many and include:
*
Speed and clarity of speech
*
Background noise
*
More than one voice speaking
*
Terminologies
*
Accents
*
Poor quality recording.
Experienced transcriptionists who are also fast typists may charge somewhat more per transcription hour than another who types slower, but it usually works out much the same in cost to the client. If you (the client) get quotes for transcription work that vary vastly however, then it is worth asking questions why – the difference may well be that some transcriptionists charge by the audio hour (much higher rate) than by the transcription hour. The first gives you a guaranteed price; the second gives you an approximate price for the completed job, however if the work took fewer hours than more, you could end up with change in your pocket.
Perhaps in your own industry you find client understanding of what you do may also differ considerably and it is important that we all help to educate each other in our particular specialties. There have been times when I’ve spoken to people on the phone about something I didn’t understand and I’ve had to remind them that they know their own business, and I don’t and they need to explain it to me in a way that helps me to understand. Unfortunately often these people are new staff, or in a role that has vast turnovers of staff with hurried training, and therefore seem to be inexperienced or untrained in explaining properly how something works or worse, they assume the customer knows. The customer doesn’t always know and we should never assume they do. That doesn’t mean we treat them like they’re simple or an idiot, but rather we should take time to ask them do they understand that………..and quickly and clearly explain what is involved. It makes for a happier life all round for everyone involved.
When is an Hour not an Hour - To learn more about this author, visit Kathie Thomas's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
| |||
 |
No article feedback found. | ||
|
Leave Your Feedback | ||
|
|||
 Managing Time - Try a Power Hour
| |||
| Have you ever tried a "Power Hour?" It is a great technique for your business or office. Pick 4 areas of your business that really need some focus. (for example, marketing, book keeping, recruiting, office adminis... |
|||
|
Sales Training Can the Introvert Salespeople Find Happy Hour Bliss?
| |||
| The history differs about the origins of Happy Hour. Happy Hour would also be planned differently whether it was salespeople who are introverts or extroverts. |
|||
|
Save Yourself A Lot Of Money With An Article Writing Service
| |||
| Using an Article Writing Service is not something that would make you think great savings. You would be more inclined to think that it would cost you money as you would need to pay a monthly subscription for your ar... |
|||
|
Working For Money
| |||
| What do you really work for? Discover in this short inspiring Insight from david Oliver how most of the highest paid executives earn less per hour than a clerk in a grocery store. It's a shock read more... |
|||
|
What Do You Work For?
| |||
| What do you really work for? Discover in this short inspiring Insight from david Oliver how most of the highest paid executives earn less per hour than a clerk in a grocery store. It's a shock read more... |
|||
| |||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
 Kathie Thomas (Visit Kathie's Website) Kathie M. Thomas is an Author, Blogger, Speaker and Virtual Assistant Coach & Trainer. She began her business ‘A Clayton’s Secretary’ in 1994 to be home fulltime for her 5 daughters. Today she runs a global business via the internet and is an avid blogger. She also contributes to printed and online publications and has published several books. Her passion is about helping women return home to work, using skills they developed in the workforce, so they can be home fulltime for their families. Her latest book “Worth More Than Rubies: The Value of a Work At Home Mom” was recently made available at Amazon.com.
|  |
 |
|
|
 |
| Kathie Thomas Video - About the book Worth More Than Rubies and being a Work At Home Mum by Kathie Thomas - every mother's dream! Based on the Proverbs 31 Woman. |
|
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
 |
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 |
 Maslow For Entrepreneurs Make It Happen Choice of Forum Dazzling Presentaion Steps Testing and Measuring |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Business Plans
Top Business Plan Blogs | |
 |
Top 50 Niche Blogs 2009
Top 50 Niche Blogs 2009 | |
| ||
 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||||||
