New to scoping and looking to get more clients? Or perhaps you’re a seasoned scopist just looking to increase profits and make some more money? Here at Stenovate, we are all about helping you be the best scopist you can be! We’ve put together our top 5 tips on how to grow your scoping business and become a #TranscriptBoss.
If you’re just starting out and don’t have many clients, offering to do the first (short) transcript for free or at a discounted rate is a great way to build that relationship. Who doesn’t love a bargain, especially in this economy?! Have a reporter who loves working with you? Consider offering deals to your current reporters who refer you to a new client.
Growing your scoping business is so much more than just getting new clients to work with. It’s also about becoming more efficient, increasing profit, and creating a better overall experience for the reporters you’re currently working with. Now that we’ve got that established, let’s get to that list!
1) Network, network, network!
One of the best ways to grow your business is by connecting with others, either online or in person, if possible! I’m sure it’s no surprise that you’re more likely to be referred to new clients if you are connected in the scoping community, but you’d be surprised at what other tips and tricks we can learn from our fellow scopists. Struggling with an editing feature in your software? Want to learn how to invoice clients more efficiently? Reach out to a fellow scopist and see what they do!
2) Be reliable.Â
At the end of the day, that’s what reporters want, right? They want someone they can count on and who won’t leave them hanging with their transcripts unfinished.Â
Life happens and we all understand things come up, but being upfront with your clients about tight deadlines or life circumstances makes all the difference in not only building a great relationship but keeping great clients!
3) Re-examine your rate sheet
How long has it been since you’ve updated your rates? Check out the latest survey of scopists and proofreaders to see how you compare to averages in the industry. This is also a good time to check out our previous article to see what your rate sheet says about you!Â
While you’re redoing your rate sheet, this is a great time to consider specializing. Do you have a strong background in medical terminology? Or maybe you’ve done a lot of patent or estate work? Tell your clients! If you have the credentials to back it up, consider an upcharge for expert testimony in that field.
4) Streamline your communication with Stenovate
Let’s face it, we’re constantly communicating in different formats with different clients. Does she prefer text or e-mail? Where is that e-mail with the Dropbox link? Is there enough file space in my Dropbox? Stop wasting your time scouring through your inbox hoping to find the right e-mail and start using Stenovate to keep track of everything work related!
Stenovate streamlines your messaging, file sharing, and keeps track of all the details of your jobs. It even has job boards to connect you to new clients who are looking for urgent help! #ByeFacebook 👋
And the best part about Stenovate is the first month is always FREE! Send this link to your reporters and see how much time and frustration you’ll save!
5) Add new services
Reporters LOVE scopists who can do it all! #BossBabe What other services can you add to make your clients’ lives easier? Consider learning how to add indexing, provide daily copies on Real-team or Connection Magic, or offer brief forms to add to their dictionary!Â
Learning extra tips and tricks for your software is a great way to not only decrease your editing time, but it is an asset to your reporters as well to be able to troubleshoot any formatting issues in the transcript. The more value you can add to your reporters, the better your business will be!
Phew, what a list! If you’ve made it this far, we have one final tip to help your scoping business: Communicate with your reporter! Keep track of the parentheticals that they frequently use, learn their style and grammar preferences using Stenovate’s Ultimate Preference Sheet builder, and even update them on your progress with an easy one-click feature in Stenovate. Reporters love knowing that you’re well on your way to completing their transcripts and didn’t forget about them!
Want to see what else Stenovate has to offer? The first month’s on us!Â
