A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

I'm preparing a brochure to try to get my own clients.. - TIA

Posted: Nov 28, 2012

This is the first time I've done this, and I'd like to offer a free trial.

However, I can't do too much as I'm still working for an MTSO.

Any suggestions on what would be a reasonable amount of work to do for free? Not sure if I should say something like maximum 10 letters, or maybe 1, 2, 3, days average work.

I think the trial would be of mutual benefit. I'd get an idea of how difficult their work is and they could see the quality of my work.

Would appreciate feedback from anyone who's done this before.

that' nice of you, but... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I would not give work away for free. And if I did, it would be no more than one hour. Perhaps you can do something else, like offer to transcribe one or two dictations so they can decide if they want to hire you. In my opinion, 10 letters or one day of work is too much to offer for free, and I believe you would be taken advantage of.

Obtaining new clients - me

[ In Reply To ..]
No need to offer a free trial, trust me. You would only be attracting the cheap ones. Do NOT sell yourself short. Also, you would have a lot better luck obtaining clients by building a website. No need for a fancy one. My website using Yahoo attracted a lot more clients (starting from the moment I posted it) than my professionally built one I paid a lot of money for--this despite pretty much doing all the work.

I only wasted time and money sending out brochures as well as cold calling with them, obtaining only 1 client from thousands of offices. The website was much more effective.

You will also have to set up a method of securely capturing and sending dictation/transcription and the cost involved with that, which can be expensive but worth it. A good dictation system is only about $5000 these days and will allow you to pick up small and large accounts and not drive everywhere picking up tapes or deal with digital recorders, both of which do not produce good sound quality.

Good luck!

Good luck!

To 'me' - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
You sound like you have a really good business head on you! Are your clients local? What dictation system to do you use? I have often thought of trying to obtain my own clients but just don't know that I have the business sense myself to carry it all through.

Info - Me

[ In Reply To ..]
My clients are mostly local, a plastic surgeon, general surgeon, numerous pain clinics, an orthopedic surgeon, and 2 surgery centers plus overflow for 2 others. Other accounts I did lose to EMR but now I specialize in either physicians too small or ones that have tried it and would rather use my services. I actually quit accepting new clients, as I am injured.

My first dictation system was really good, a DVI system, which they quit making. I now have a DigiScribe system using landlines (the sound is much better than VoIP) (but with external sound cards and audio-enhancing equipment). Unfortunately, they have to be replaced every few years.

It is much better than working for nationals from what I read on this board.

Good luck! I still get a lot of calls from physicians who now realize they can make more money by NOT doing their own transcription, which is what I have been thinking since I first heard of it.

Obtaining new clients - Susan

[ In Reply To ..]
How did you manage to get the doctors to notice your website? Did you place an ad somewhere with your website address? I have had a website now for sometime with not much success..

Website - me

[ In Reply To ..]
I hired a company to promote it, which they charge my card annually. Cannot remember their name, but there are a lot of them out there. However, as soon as I posted it, I got calls and clients, some for brief projects or vacation coverage and others I still have.

Thank you-NM - Susan

[ In Reply To ..]
NM

I did that years ago... - ZvilleMT

[ In Reply To ..]
and I offered the first 200 lines free since typically you'll get more than 200 lines even out of your first order. The main thing you'll want to emphasize is your line rate after that 200 lines so that when they get the bill they don't freak out :)

Good luck to you!!

Brochures - TIA

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks to all of you for your great input. I especially like the idea of the first 200 lines free. Will also consider doing a website (with some help from my tech friend!)

Clients - me

[ In Reply To ..]
By offering "free lines," you will only attract the wrong clientelle, ones that are always wanting things for free and jump around. Trust me. Sell you services and skills and esure them that they will be happy. Only offer a discount if they will for some reason not be satisfied with the end results.

I have never, ever offered to give a free trial. I still have every client I transcribed for with more work on my desk than you can imagine. Only one client I had to "test for," paid transcription though, and he is one of my most loyal clients to this day.

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