Originally Posted by TeeNee

Alphablue and sahi...thank you for your inquiries. My rate information is on its way via PM!

I have lowered my prices for Warriors. The "bad economy" has affected so many people, including me, but I would really like to help fellow Warriors to improve their products with transcripts and give their subscribers another method by which to receive their valuable information.

Originally Posted by nosweatnobrainer

I would love to see your rates and turnaround time too. Please PM me.

Originally Posted by TeeNee

**9/23/08** Update on What You Get** I neglected to add what
is included in the rate for transcription:

1. Proofreading for accuracy
2. Research of terms for proper use and spelling
3. Formatting to your specifications in a Word document

No one is 100% perfect or accurate, but the transcripts that leave
my outbox are ready to send to your readers, as long as your audio
was clear and understandable. We will add header and footer information
if you wish as well. Just wanted to clear this up--little or no extra work
will need to be done on your end when you get a transcript from me and
my team.

But we can also do verbatim and include everything! This is helpful if you're
editing a video and using the transcript to navigate the content.**

************************************************** **

Offering your information in many different formats is very valuable.
People all learn and prefer to take in information in various ways, so
it's important, to keep your list members/clients satisfied, to give them
what they want.

My specialty is turning any recording into a typed document that is
readable or printable. For example, if you did an interview with someone
and recorded it, you can send the recording to me and I will type it into
a script.

Think about your clients who may be hearing impaired and won't be
able to listen to a recording. They will be able to gain the same knowledge
as those who can hear the recording; only they will be reading it instead.

I can accept many different digital and analog formats, including mp3, wav,
videos, CDs, DVDs, and more. Your recording will be transcribed and a Word
document returned to you that has been proofread for accuracy, terms have
been checked for proper use and spelling, and it can be formatted to
your specifications.

I have been working with Internet marketers and fellow Warriors for almost
5 years, so I definitely know the "lingo"! You won't get the words "paper clip"
and "pay-per-click" confused in your transcript. I don't use any voice recognition
software--your recordings are transcribed by actual humans typing away on
a keyboard.

My transcripts are the best in the business, guaranteed. I really enjoy working
with Warriors, so if you need anything transcribed, please contact me for a quote.
I do have a special Warrior-Only rate.

If you ever have questions about transcripts or even how to make the best
recordings, please send me an e-mail or PM. I look forward to hearing from you!

~ Tara Needham
(TeeNee)

Originally Posted by TeeNee

Wow--I didn't realize that not posting my rates publicly was going to be so controversial! I just wanted to reply and clear a few things up...

First, Janet hit the nail on the head, so thank you, Janet! Someone who understands the business...and who understands how some people think.

LIST: While it is true that building a list would be a great idea, I don't have a list for the purposes of marketing to anyone, at least for transcription services. The list I keep is of my current clients only. If someone never contacts me to do any work for them, I don't save their information. I'm easy to find if and when they need me.

PUBLIC RATES: As for not posting my rates publicly, first see what Janet said above...very nicely explained. Also, by posting my rates, it would not be for the purpose of trying to screen potential clients, as someone may be trying to screen potential customers for a higher-priced product.

In fact, by posting my rates, it might not allow me the flexibility of offering discounts to those who truly need them, like non-profit organizations or students. I've worked with several students and non-profits who had a set budget and could only pay so much. I'm happy to do the work for them for less if necessary.

I also offer Warrior-only special rates for fellow Warriors. If these were posted to the forum, anyone would be able to see them and might be sneaky enough to e-mail me saying, "I'm a Warrior" without actually being a member of the forum.

On the other hand, I also have control as to setting a higher rate if necessary, in certain situations. I'm sure others who offer freelance services would concur.

I also like communicating with people before a project is accepted. I like getting to know my clients, and the few e-mails we send back and forth before putting the project on the schedule allows me to get a feel for the person I'm working with. If he/she was referred by a current client, not as much communication is necessary since there's someone to vouch for them, but if I get an e-mail from someone just surfing the Web--a complete stranger--that bit of correspondence is quite valuable.

Lastly, I don't consider not posting my rates to be a "tactic" of any kind. I'm not a public company; just a sole proprietor working as an independent contractor. It's really up to me who I share that information with, and it has saved me some grief in the past.

A LITTLE STORY: Someone had asked me to do a small bit of transcription about a year ago. A while later, I saw that she had posted to the Warrior Forum, offering transcription services quite cheaply. She sent me an e-mail, probably not knowing that I had read the post, asking what my current rates were and asking how to get started and set up her own transcription services. I'm sorry, but no way! I'm happy to help others, but this was way out of line.

NO COMPETITION: Let me be clear about me and my services: There is no competition. I am very proud to say that I offer the highest quality product you'll ever find, and I treat my clients like gold.

I've had people come to me who have used other services in the past and I hear things like, "They flaked out on me. The transcripts were horrible. Can you fix these transcripts? The job was started but never finished. They completely screwed up my project." Those things don't happen with me, so I'm not competing with the ones they left before they found me.

I really appreciate the feedback and activity that everyone is sending my way! As I mentioned before, I'm happy to provide my rates privately to anyone who inquires, and to those of you who have asked up to this point, I am sending PMs out today with that information.

~ Tara

Originally Posted by DennisM

Hi Tara,

I'm interested in your services too but I have to be blunt here.

It's just ridiculous that everyone has to ask for a rate card. Why not publish your prices right on your website? Nothing is MORE AGGRAVATING for me personally when I shop for products or services online and I have "call" or "e-mail us" or the dreaded "please fill out the form below and someone will contact you".

I don't know how anyone makes any money with this business model.

I'd appreciate a rate card too. Forgive me for the rant here

Thanks in advance,
Dennis