Transcription Services: 3 key ways to get clients

On occasion I am asked for my advice on how to get clients by people starting a transcription services business and transcribers that need to boost their client base. I can only speak from my own experience of setting up and running King Audio Transcription & Typing Services, which I started in 2003.  

In the early days of King Audio Transcription & Typing Services, I found that no amount of direct marketing was fruitful in finding new clients and quite frankly, I have to admit, it was spammy. Nobody likes a spammer!

Why was this marketing approach unsuccessful? (Apart from the obvious). 

I wasn't getting my transcription services business in front of an audience who were specifically looking for that type of service at that specific moment in time - the target audience. 

Therefore, based on my experience my advice to someone who has just started in transcription services would be:  

1. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

Learn about Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). A good start would be learning how to optimise your website for search engines. Victoria Edwards wrote an article in 2013, which gives good overall advice: SEO Basics: 8 Essentials When Optimizing Your Site. 

Search engines can get your transcription services business in front of an audience who have specifically searched for this type of service when they need it. 

This is where the search engines hold the key to success.

Since 2003 millions of transcription services businesses have joined the World Wide Web, which is why it is so important to strive to feature on the first page of search engine results. 
Ask yourself, when you are searching for something online, how many pages of search results will you click through? Maybe the first three pages... less?

This is why learning SEO is so important, although I will warn you; SEO is not the easiest of subjects and is a long game. It may take up to a couple of years to get results.

Good sources of information about SEO can be found on forums and in articles on the net. Ensure any articles you choose to read are up to date as the search engines change their algorithms regularly and SEO has to be tweaked to accommodate these changes. The UKBusinessForum  has lots of useful information about SEO and other topical subjects. 

If you are not inclined to do your own SEO for your transcription services business, you may decide to hire a professional. However, I would still advise learning the basics so you have an understanding of the subject.

2. Pay per Click (PPC) Campaign

In the meantime you could try a Pay Per Click (PPC) campaign. Although again, this is something you will need to research to get your campaign right so you don't waste money. Google Adwords offer free help in setting up a campaign.

3. Social media

Social media is another way of reaching out and becoming known as a transcription services provider. Twitter and Facebook are great for this. If you want to follow me the links are over on the right. A LinkedIn account can also be very useful; ask your clients to recommend you for your transcription services. 

For more information about starting a business in the UK you may find the .gov page helpful: https://www.gov.uk/starting-up-a-business/start-with-an-idea.

I hope this information is useful. I know it's a lot to take onboard, but don't be put off. If you provide a great service to your clients and are determined to succeed you will. 

Alternatively, if you are looking for a transcription services provider visit the main King Audio Transcription & Typing Services website to get a quote.