How would you like to make a difference for people who struggle to access video files?
You can make a difference for those who are deaf or hard of hearing by transcribing video files.
Crowdsurf is one place that will help you do this.
At Crowdsurf, you will transcribe video files.
That’s different from many other sites that focus on audio files.
But it’s all about creating captions for the deaf and hard of hearing.
You’ll even help those who are learning the English language.
By creating captions, you will show people who are new to the language how it works.
About the Site
I haven’t seen anything on Crowdsurf’s website or from other websites about when this place was formed and where it is based out of.
The Twitter feed for the place says that it’s based out of the United States and that they’ve been around since at least 2013 but that’s pretty vague information to me.
The site is pretty active in terms of reaching out to people.
It does update its social media sites often so at least I know that talk about what they do regularly.
How to Apply
Applying to work for Crowdsurf is easy to do.
Go to the main Crowdsurf website and use the link there to sign up for Work Market.
I’ll talk about that in a moment.
You then have to submit your proper profile and tax information.
It only takes about 24 hours for them to review it.
You then choose your payment method and then you’re ready to go.
I’ll talk about payment methods later too.
As you get onto Work Market, you will join the Crowdsurf group.
You will then complete a short assessment to analyze your skills.
It’s a small task that gives you a clear idea of how well you can handle the job at hand.
You will get a profile for the site to work with after about three to five business days after passing the assessment.
How to Find Jobs
When you look for jobs with Crowdsurf, you’ll be doing so with a special platform.
Specifically, Crowdsurf uses the Work Market system.
It’s an alternative to the Amazon Mturk system you might have heard about before.
In fact, Crowdsurf used to use the Mturk system but now uses the Work Market instead.
The Work Market system is designed to provide you with simple access to various jobs.
You’ll just click around the site, search for jobs and then accept and submit your work through the platform.
Crowdsurf will take everything you send it. It’s really easy to get it all to work for you.
The best part is that Crowdsurf has an extensive training video library.
Don’t think that you’re going to be lost.
Crowdsurf gives information on every aspect of writing to all its members from how to transcribe properly to how to submit work and so forth.
What is the Work Like?
The work you will complete is rather easy to understand.
You will transcribe video files and create captions for them.
You’ll just watch the video, transcribe what is said and submit it.
Most of these files are not too long so you can always complete lots of them in a day.
I could not find details on what types of videos you would be transcribing though.
You’ll need a computer that can handle media playback features.
Don’t bother with traditional speakers; use headphones so you can clearly head what people are saying.
How Are You Graded?
You will be graded based on how well you meet QC standards.
The Quality Control system entails how well you are able to accurately transcribe content.
Editors on the site are going to review what you do and give you a grade based on how you perform.
You need to have a score of 3.5 or higher out of 5 in order to stay employed by Crowdsurf.
Make sure you work carefully and be detailed if you want to stick around.
When Can You Work?
You can complete tasks at any time.
Just make sure they are completed within a certain deadline.
Try and complete enough tasks in a typical week so you don’t get kicked out for being idle either.
I read that you could be booted if you don’t do enough but the amount of work needed isn’t clear based on what I have found.
What Are You Paid?
I read through most places that you’d be paid 10 cents for every 25 seconds of audio you transcribe.
I also found that there are quality and time bonuses for work that is done right and quickly but I haven’t found any specifics about those bonuses anywhere.
You can get paid through a direct deposit system or through PayPal.
You can choose either option but you should make sure whatever you use is something you are comfortable with.
Is This a Worthwhile Site?
Crowdsurf is worth considering if you’re looking for a transcription job from home.
The site is easy to sign up for and provides a great service to people.
You could make plenty of money off of the site depending on how often you work for it and how well you can complete tasks.
Conclusion
The excitement of working for Crowdsurf is certainly something worth checking out.
At Crowdsurf, you can create captions for a variety of files with a specific system.
It’s a fun and appealing way to enjoy helping people.