Never do yourself what someone else can do better and faster. I record all interviews, and I used to transcribe them myself. Not any more. Having them professionally transcribed makes me more productive as a writer. Plus I can offer the transcriptions as an added value to my clients who may want to use them for other purposes — such as press releases, presentations, and web content. My preferred transcriber is voType, owned by Wendy Ledger. voType is fast and accurate.

If you use a transcription service, here are some tips to get the best results:

• Schedule in advance. Make sure the transcriber can deliver what you need when you need it. I can’t always schedule ahead, but when I can’t I try to allow extra time for turnaround.
• Provide a word list. If the content is specialized, give the transcriber a list of names, technical terms, acronyms, and arcane words used.
• Be clear about your expectations. The transcriber will likely ask if you need a verbatim transcription, with all the ums, ahs, and false starts. For my purposes, I like the transcriber to clean these up for me.
• Ask about acceptable formats. Does the transcriber prefer mp3 or some other format? Transcribers can usually convert formats for you, but it takes time and, as a result, may cost a little extra. I record in dma but convert to mp3 because file size is smaller. I  To convert, I use Switch Sound Converter software because it is very easy to use.

Is there anything you would like to add, Wendy?