Posts Tagged ‘Editing’

Spelling Tips & Video to Share

Monday, February 18th, 2013

Tallent Agency VA Services

I am in on a lot of discussions about spelling and grammar and the importance of paying attention to these details in your written correspondences and in your documents, web pages, blog posts, print books and ebooks and more.

I belong to several proofreading, editing and/or writing groups on LinkedIn as well as connecting with people in this niche on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and more.

My best friend, Sharon McPherson, who built this beautiful web site for me and has been my soul-mate running buddy, so to speak, for 13 years shared this video with me from her Google+ account and I wanted to pass it on to my readers.

I would love to hear your comments after you listen to and watch this video.

My main point with sharing this is to let you know that even if you THINK readers really do not care, a LOT of us DO. Fair or not, your credibility and professionalism can be hurt by bad grammar and spelling or using the wrong instance of a word and my goal is to help you concentrate on the wonderful message you have to share and you can let ME worry about the little details.

Some of the most common, as I shared in an earlier post, are: their / there / they’re, its and it’s, your and you’re and then and than.

Their belongs to them. An example is, “They took off their coats as they entered the room.”
There is a place, for example, “He is standing over there.”
They’re is a contraction for They are. “They’re all hanging up their coats over there.”

Its belongs to it. It’s is a contraction for it is. “It’s a well trained dog that can wipe its feet when it comes in the door.”

Your belongs to you. You’re is a contraction for you are. “You are going to learn to wipe your feet when you come in the door.”

Then is a time. Than is an option. I would rather read than do anything else. I force myself to do my chores so that then I get to have reading time.

I hope you enjoy the video and that these tips might help you avoid some of the most common, and to ME, annoying, errors in your writings.

Remember, I am a Virtual Assistant who LOVES to do editing and proofreading assignments along with research, blog posts, article submissions and social media maintenance!

Why not Schedule a Project now?

Learning from doing Transcriptions

Friday, February 8th, 2013

Tallent Agency VA Services
One of the greatest bonuses to doing transcription assignments is that I get to learn while I work.

I have transcribed seminars, teleseminars, BlogTalk Radio shows and interviews for some of the most savvy and smart business leaders on or off the net. This has allowed me to pick up a wealth of tips and knowledge from being able to get “first hand, front row seat access” to this information, and, as if that were not enough, I also get PAID to type up documents from the recordings. This is what I call a win – win situation!

Some of my satisfied clients are mentioned below, as well as on my testimonials page . With each one has come wonderful information that I just might not have gotten were it not for my transcribing their recordings.

I took a medical transcription course as part of the class I had at Rolla Technical Institute in ’98/’99, but had, honestly, not used the experience except as a means to speed up my typing skills. I had, however, been using my spelling and grammar advantages doing proofreading and editing and had done a couple of these assignments where I was asked to clean up botched or sloppy transcriptions. After I completed those, it seemed to me that as I had the training and love to type, adding this as one of the services I provide would make perfect sense.

Since that time, I have done several transcriptions and feel I get to know each client at least almost, if not AS well, as if I had sat down and had a conversation with her or him.

One of the advantages to having your recordings transcribed is that with a typed up document people can read and re-read what was said and even those who might have had a problem hearing the recording or show can then tell what was said. Also, with a recording, there is often back ground noise, people talking over each other or dropped words, mumbling, uhms and ers, etc. when the person or people lose train of thought or repeat something he, she or they have just said, etc. To me, phone ones can be the hardest to hear as one person may have a booming voice or clear speech and the other might mumble or have a teeny, tiny, quiet voice OR the caller might have a good close-to-the-phone type connection and the other person might sound like he or she is in a tunnel or muted or not talking plainly into the phone.

Below are some of my favorite clients who have had me do their transcriptions:

-Lynette Patterson of My Strategic Life Plan

“After completing my first solo webinar, I needed the content transcribed to re-purpose into additional products. After getting quotes from several, I learned of Jan and was amazed at her pricing. Then, I learned that several of my friends had utilized her services and that her accuracy and turn-around time were excellent and they were very complimentary of her high quality standards. With a wish and a prayer, I sent her my project. In less than 24 hours, I had a perfectly transcribed and edited version of my hour long webinar. I was so pleased that two days later, I asked her to edit a chapter of a book. On the same day, I received her edits and again, was very impressed with not only her accuracy, but the suggestions she offered to make the chapter perfect.

As you can imagine, Jan has won my business. I am so glad, and relieved, to know that I have someone I can count on.”

Lynette and her interviewees have given me priceless health related tips and information. Lynette’s friendly, girl next door, sweet and fun, YET brilliant business manner sets her apart from most of the experts I have heard and she makes you WANT to learn and WANT to be healthy!

-Ann Evanston of Warrior-Preneur.com

“I was thrilled that Jan was able to take a complex audio interview and effectively transcribe it for me. She did a great job so we could pull what we needed for the eBook! She is friendly and easy to work with too! Thank you Jan for jumping in and becoming an important part of my team!”

Ann is another super savvy business woman that it is my pleasure to work with. She is a great business coach and the interview I transcribed for her was about one of my own loves, social networking! She and the lady she interviewed had wonderful tips and useful, doable information and I learned A LOT from doing this transcription as I was pretty new on Twitter at that time and I got the inside scoop on what to do and what NOT to do! Both Ann and the lady she interviewed have really feminine voices and as I had a few instances of not being sure which one was speaking until in the gist of the sentence or paragraph, I know that people listening in might have had the same problem occasionally, which is a really good reason TO get an interview transcribed as well as offering a recording.

-Jennifer Davey of JJS Coaching – Getting Clients, Building Business, and Making More Income

“Before working with Jan, my website, articles and marketing materials were on target, but lost effectiveness because of errors with typos and grammar. I needed another pair of eyes to review my writing.

Working with Jan has improved my business by allowing my clients to focus on getting clients, building business and making more income, rather than my typos.

The best thing you can do for your business is to work with Jan.

She will keep your image perfect, by providing top-notch proofreading and editing services. If you have any questions about working with Jan, I would be happy to speak with you via email or phone.”

The reason I am using Jennifer’s proofreading & editing reference while talking about transcriptions is that I have done both for Jennifer. I attended her teleclass “How to Make Your Website Earn its Salary and Get Clients” both on the phone and on the net and then transcribed it once I received the mp3 for the class.

She had the most awesome tips or blueprint for building your web site, what to have it entail and how to make it work for you! This was an enlightening and informative session and not only did I learn while I listened but I will also have all of her wisdom and knowledge right at my fingertips whenever I need to refresh my memory or be sure of strategies that she so generously shared with her attendees.

If you are undecided on whether or not to get YOUR next audio session transcribed for your visitors, hopefully these ladies and I have helped with your decision. I know that some are thrown a bit by the rates I quote for this service and I want to assure you that this is not as daunting as it might sound. A ONE hour audio takes even the fastest typists I know HOURS to type up, proofread and edit. This is a lot more work than it seems until you done one for yourself. I love doing transcriptions because I love to type plus do my own proofreading and editing, which is my REAL love BUT it is also the most time consuming, constantly working assignment I take on.

If you decide you want to have your next audio gem transcribed to a word document from reading this blog post, mention this post in the schedule a product form, allow up to 7 days instead of my usual quote of 5 days per one hour audio and I will do your “new client” transcription for 20% off! (paid in advance only)

Remember, I am a Virtual Assistant who LOVES to do editing and proofreading
assignments along with research, blog posts, article submissions
and social media maintenance!

Remember, I am a Virtual Assistant who LOVES to do editing and proofreading assignments along with research, blog posts, article submissions and social media maintenance!

Why not Schedule a Project now?

When you are ready to hire an editor …

Saturday, August 20th, 2011

Tallent Agency VA Services

As a Virtual Assistant, I perform many duties for busy entrepreneurs and small business owners, but quite honestly, my most favorite task is when I am called upon for my proofreading and editing services.

I love reading and also love working with spelling and grammar, so this is the perfect “career” for me. I have gotten to work with some fun, interesting and super smart authors, plus get paid to do what I love.

I also subscribe to some of the best writing and editing newsletters and blogs I could find. A lot of the rules have actually changed since I was an Honor Roll spelling and English student in the 70′s and I like to keep current on the latest rules of grammar, word usage and spelling.

One of my very favorite sites to get tips from is Daily Writing Tips and quite a few of their articles coax me in the direction to take for my blog posts.

Today’s article is called “How to Hire an Editor”. If you are ready to move onto that stage for your creation, you cannot go wrong by reading this interesting and informative gem. Go read it now – How to Hire an Editor and then feel free to let me know what you think in a comment below. I personally got a lot from the article and could barely wait to share it with you!

Spelling & Grammar Errors Are Costing You Business! Sadly, I have heard from some “business” people, webmasters and even authors that they do not actually care BUT, believe me, more of your customers and readers DO care than you might think :-)

Remember, I am a Virtual Assistant who LOVES to do editing, proofreading
and transcription assignments along with research, blog posts, article submissions
and social media maintenance!

Why not Schedule a Project now?

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Welcome

Over the past 14 years, Jan Tallent has spent countless hours providing writers and webmasters with free friendly tips on how to correct spelling and grammar errors in their written material.

From the feedback received she decided that since proofreading and editing help was so desperately needed she should build a business around something she enjoys doing, while at the same time providing a valuable service to business owners and writers.

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Jan Tallent
Tallent Agency
Phone: (636) 451-6213
Email: jantallent@gmail.com
Twitter: @jantallent
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