I Tried Typing Subtitles for $12 an Hour

Jon Holstead
10 Jul 202205:17

TLDRThe video transcript details the experience of attempting to earn money by typing subtitles for videos through rev.com. The speaker, aiming to escape debt and become a millionaire, tests the platform by working a standard 8-hour shift. After a two-month wait and a rigorous onboarding process, they find the work monotonous and time-consuming. Despite the claim that one can earn up to $110 per minute of audio, the reality is less lucrative. The speaker completes five jobs in a day, earning a total of $8.50, which they find significantly less than other side hustles they've tried, such as busking, which could earn around $25 per hour. The summary highlights the stark contrast between the potential earnings advertised by the platform and the actual earnings one might expect.

Takeaways

  • πŸ’» The author experimented with using rev.com to type captions for videos as a potential side hustle.
  • ⏱️ They aimed to see if it could be more profitable than a traditional 9-to-5 minimum wage job.
  • πŸ“ The process involved signing up on rev.com, passing a test, and then following a detailed style guide for caption writing.
  • πŸ“‰ After completing the onboarding and training jobs, the author found the pay to be quite low, with the first job paying under $1 for 30 minutes of work.
  • 🚫 The author experienced challenges with unclear audio and the need to unclaim jobs that were too difficult to caption accurately.
  • πŸ“‰ The pay rate was not consistent with minimum wage, leading the author to question the feasibility of this work as a primary income source.
  • πŸ“‹ The author emphasized the importance of choosing shorter videos to ensure completion within deadlines to maintain a good standing on the platform.
  • πŸ€” The experience was described as mind numbing and physically tiring due to the need for continuous focused attention on the screen.
  • ⏳ Despite the effort, the total earnings for the day after working on five jobs were only $8.50, which is significantly lower than expected.
  • 🌐 The author compared this side hustle unfavorably to other opportunities, such as busking, which could earn up to $25 an hour for a shorter period.
  • πŸ“Œ The conclusion was that while it's possible to make some money captioning on rev.com, it may not be as lucrative or practical as other side hustles for the time invested.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the transcript?

    -The main topic of the transcript is the experience of the speaker trying out a job of typing subtitles for videos on rev.com and comparing the earnings to a physical minimum wage job.

  • What platform does the speaker use for typing captions?

    -The speaker uses rev.com to type captions for videos.

  • What was the process like for the speaker to start working on rev.com?

    -The speaker had to sign up, take a half-hour long test by typing up sample audio captions, and then wait for acceptance. After being accepted, they went through an onboarding process which included reading an 18-page style guide.

  • How much time did the speaker spend on the training jobs and reading the style guide?

    -The speaker spent a total of 50 minutes on the training jobs and an additional 30 minutes reading the style guide.

  • What was the speaker's first impression of the earnings from the training jobs on rev.com?

    -The speaker's first impression was that the earnings were quite low, with the first job earning less than $1 for 30 minutes of work.

  • What was the shortest video the speaker initially found to claim for captioning?

    -The shortest video the speaker initially found to claim was 4 and 1/2 minutes long with a deadline in less than 2 hours.

  • How much did the speaker earn from the first non-training job of 1 and 1/2 minutes?

    -The speaker earned 55 cents for the first non-training job of 1 and 1/2 minutes.

  • What was the speaker's strategy for choosing the videos to caption?

    -The speaker's strategy was to start with shorter videos to ensure they could complete the work before the deadline and avoid getting a mark on their rev.com account.

  • How did the speaker find the experience of captioning a 7-minute video?

    -The speaker found the experience to be a slog, mind-numbingly boring, and tiring on the eyes due to the need for continuous focused attention.

  • What was the total earnings of the speaker after completing five jobs in a day?

    -The speaker's total earnings after completing five jobs in a day were $8.50.

  • How does the speaker compare the earnings from captioning to other side hustles?

    -The speaker compares the earnings from captioning unfavorably to other side hustles, mentioning a busking video where they made about $25 an hour.

  • What was the conclusion the speaker reached about the potential of making money from captioning on rev.com?

    -The speaker concluded that the potential earnings from captioning on rev.com were not as high as they had hoped, and it was more time-consuming and less lucrative than other side hustles they had tried.

Outlines

00:00

πŸ’» Freelance Caption Writing on Rev.com

The speaker explores the possibility of earning more money by working from home as a caption writer for videos on platforms like YouTube, compared to a traditional minimum wage job. They discuss signing up for rev.com, undergoing a test and a waiting period, and reading a comprehensive style guide before starting work. The speaker details their experience with the initial training jobs, which were time-consuming and paid very little. They express concerns about the low pay and the intensive work required to caption videos, especially when dealing with unclear audio or multiple speakers. Despite the challenges, they manage to complete several jobs throughout the day, earning a total of $8.5 for the entire shift, which they compare unfavorably to other side hustles they've tried, like busking, which paid significantly more per hour.

05:01

🎢 Earning Potential Comparison: Caption Writing vs. Busking

In this paragraph, the speaker contrasts the earnings from a day of caption writing on rev.com with that of busking, which they had tried previously. They recall earning about $25 an hour while busking and compare it to the $8.5 made from a full day of caption writing. The paragraph highlights the stark difference in hourly earnings between the two activities, suggesting that for some, traditional street performance might be a more lucrative side hustle than online caption writing.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘rev.com

Rev.com is an online platform where individuals can work as freelancers to transcribe audio into written captions. In the video, the narrator uses rev.com to type up captions for various audio clips, aiming to compare the income potential of this work with that of a traditional minimum wage job. The platform is central to the video's theme, as it provides the opportunity for the narrator to explore the feasibility of making a living from home by typing captions.

πŸ’‘captions

Captions are written transcripts of the dialogue or commentary in audio and video content. In the context of this video, the narrator's job is to create captions for videos, which is a key part of the service offered by rev.com. The process of typing up captions is the main activity that the narrator engages in throughout the video, demonstrating the work involved in this type of online freelance job.

πŸ’‘YouTube

YouTube is a video-sharing platform where content creators often require captions for their videos to make them accessible to a wider audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The video script mentions YouTube as one of the platforms where captions are needed, highlighting the demand for this service and the potential market for caption typists.

πŸ’‘minimum wage

Minimum wage refers to the lowest hourly rate that employers are required to pay their workers, as mandated by law. The narrator compares the potential earnings from working on rev.com with that of a traditional minimum wage job, using it as a benchmark to evaluate the financial viability of caption typing as a side hustle.

πŸ’‘side hustle

A side hustle is an additional job or venture outside of one's primary occupation, often pursued to earn extra income. The narrator is exploring caption typing on rev.com as a potential side hustle to help get out of debt and achieve financial goals, which is a central theme of the video.

πŸ’‘style guide

A style guide is a set of rules or standards for the writing and design of documents, ensuring consistency and clarity. In the script, the narrator mentions a 'super long style guide' provided by rev.com, which they had to read and follow when writing captions. This illustrates the level of detail and precision required in the captioning job.

πŸ’‘onboarding process

The onboarding process refers to the steps a new employee or contractor goes through to become familiar with a company's policies, practices, and work environment. The narrator describes going through rev.com's onboarding process, which included reading the style guide and completing training jobs, to prepare for the captioning work.

πŸ’‘deadline

A deadline is a fixed time or date by which a task must be completed. The video script mentions deadlines for completing captioning jobs on rev.com, emphasizing the time-sensitive nature of the work and the pressure to deliver within specified timeframes.

πŸ’‘busking

Busking refers to the act of performing in public places for gratuities, often associated with street performers. The narrator compares the earnings from caption typing to a previous side hustle of busking, where they made about $25 an hour, to highlight the relative income potential of different side jobs.

πŸ’‘slog

A slog is a difficult or tedious task that requires a lot of effort. The narrator uses the term 'slog' to describe the experience of typing captions for a 7-minute video, indicating that the work can be laborious and time-consuming.

πŸ’‘earnings

Earnings refer to the money received for work or services rendered. The video script details the narrator's earnings from various captioning jobs on rev.com, which is a key metric in evaluating the financial viability of this side hustle. The narrator's total earnings for the day are compared to the potential earnings from a traditional job to draw conclusions about the value of this type of work.

Highlights

The author is using rev.com to type up captions for videos, aiming to earn more than a minimum wage job.

YouTube auto-generates captions, but they are often inaccurate, prompting the need for human transcription.

Rev.com allows users to earn up to $110 per minute of audio transcribed.

The author compares the potential earnings from captioning to a UK minimum wage job.

After a two-month wait, the author was accepted on rev.com and had to complete an onboarding process.

The style guide for writing captions on rev.com is extensive, spanning 18 pages.

The author's first job on rev.com took 30 minutes and earned less than $1.

The author finds the work on rev.com to be mind numbing and tiring on the eyes.

The author unclaimed a job due to unclear lyrics in a song, highlighting the challenges of the task.

The author prefers captioning videos with a single speaker to avoid confusion.

Earning a substantial hourly wage through captioning on rev.com proves to be difficult.

The author completed five jobs in a day, earning $8.50, questioning the feasibility of this side hustle.

Other side hustles, such as busking, can earn more in less time compared to captioning.

The author concludes that captioning for 10 hours is less lucrative than other side hustles.

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