What is Focus Group Transcription?

Although not the best paying type of transcription, you need to build up some credibility, experience and references from a couple of contracted companies to establish yourself. And focus groups are really the easiest way to do that.

What are focus groups?
Focus groups are mostly used by the marketing and market research industries. They're used to test new products by having a group of people in a certain marketing demographic answer questions about products, services, advertisements and ideas.

The audio quality for this type of transcription really depends on who does the recording and how experienced they are at it. For instance, I've done a few where the marketing rep didn't have the right equipment to clearly record everyone in the room. There was background hissing and crackling and even the questions were sometimes inaudible.

Unfortunately, that happens in this industry. We can't control the way things are recorded. We can make suggestions, but whether they're followed is out of our control. And you can only transcribe what you can hear and understand.

So to be on the safe side, make sure your contracted client knows that you can only do the best you can. Sometimes they'll scrap the audio if it's that bad. Other times they'll tell you to go with it and they'll pick out of the finished transcript what they can use.

To find companies that outsource or contract out focus group transcription, simply do a Google search for "focus groups" or "market research." Then check the company websites for any employment links where they may advertise how to apply for a home based transcription position with their company.

Corporate Transcription
The material 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.

Dictation Transcription
This is one speaker recording notes, a journal, instructions, chapters of a book, just about anything while alone.

Podcast transcription
Transcribe podcasts for smaller companies to help them build their businesses.

Academic Transcription
This type of transcription usually comes from students and teachers who have recorded seminars, lectures or classes.