Gaynor Paynter — Virtual Assistants In South Africa
With Gaynor Paynter — Virtual Assistants In South Africa
In short
Gaynor Paynter runs Typewrite Transcription, a South African virtual assistant business she started in 2005, and co-founded TIVASA with Alison Farie in 2008 to support others in the field. She covers what the work involves, what equipment and skills are needed, how transcription is priced per audio hour, and why local clients matter. The one takeaway: South African virtual assistants can serve local and international clients equally easily, since distance is only a click of a button.
How did Gaynor end up running a virtual assistant business?
She did a secretarial diploma in the late 1990s, worked for a few years, and once South African internet had improved by around 2005 she started her own virtual assistant business. She had always wanted to run something of her own but the internet capability had not existed earlier.
What does Typewrite Transcription actually do?
Transcription is the bulk of the work, though Gaynor began with a broad spectrum of services. She also does typing, proofreading and editing, and any virtual admin work. Most jobs come from students, small businesses and companies wanting recorded corporate meetings transcribed.
Is there really enough virtual assistant work in South Africa?
Yes, and more people entered the field during the pandemic. Student work is steady because students are too busy to type their own material, and there is small business work, corporate meeting recordings and bookkeeping. Anything that does not have to be done in an office can be done virtually.
What is TIVASA and does it cost anything to join?
TIVASA is the transcriptionists and virtual assistants of South Africa, started around 2008 by Gaynor and Alison Farie because there was no support when they began. There is no fee. It runs on WhatsApp, having moved from a Yahoo forum and then email, and anyone can send their number to be added.
What do I need to set myself up as a virtual assistant?
A computer or laptop, decent internet and a quiet dedicated space rather than a lounge or bedroom. Gaynor also recommends a website to direct people to, plus Facebook and Twitter accounts, and daily marketing. The capital outlay is small, which is part of the appeal.
Do I need to be able to type properly?
Gaynor recommends learning to type properly rather than the two-finger method most people use, ideally through a secretarial course that includes typing. She did an N5 secretarial diploma. A traditional qwerty typing background gives a solid grounding for the work.
How do you handle working hours across different time zones?
It comes down to self-discipline. Most of Gaynor's work is not overnight, so even American clients allow a couple of days' turnaround. Some people working for American companies shift to what amounts to a night shift. She admits to losing track of time and is now trying to limit herself to an eight-hour day.
How should transcription work be priced?
Gaynor charges per audio hour so she can quote an exact amount before starting. There is no set standard: others charge per page or per audio minute. She suggests working out an hourly target, such as one or two hundred rand, then quoting based on how long the job will take so you neither shortchange nor overcharge.
What is Tweak the Golden Thread?
It is Gaynor's passion project website celebrating the entertainment industry, born from leaning on movies, TV and music through a difficult past. The name comes from John Ritter, who said he wanted to be remembered as someone who tweaked the golden thread, touching people across races and generations.
In their words
I like to say, we worked from home before it was cool for everybody to work from home
It was basically started just to let other people have a less lonely frustrating road than we had starting out
I've got American, British clients, Australian, but they're almost as close to me as anybody in Cape Town or Santin is, you know, because there's just a click of a button
I would sort of almost like to say to South African companies, be aware of us in South Africa, rather than maybe automatically going to international providers
It was John Ritter, the TV actor, who said that he would like to be remembered as someone who tweaked the golden thread
Key takeaways
- South African virtual assistants can serve local and international clients equally easily, since distance is only a click of a button.
- TIVASA was created to make the start-up road less lonely and frustrating, and charges nothing for membership.
- The low overhead is the mutual benefit: clients pay for the job while the VA covers their own electricity, coffee and equipment.
- Quoting a fixed price per audio hour before starting gives clients clarity and protects the transcriber from undercharging.
- Gaynor would rather South African companies looked locally before automatically going to international providers.
- COVID's one upside for the industry is that many more companies have now discovered remote work is viable.
Show notes
On this episode I chat with Gaynor about her business and we find out more about the world of virtual assistants.
Gaynor has a wealth of knowledge and is happy to help and assist those wanting to become part of this lucrative industry.
ABOUT GAYNOR:
Who is the person behind Typewrite Transcription and Typing Services CC?
I was born on the 21st of March 1975 in Kensington, South Africa, and, with the exception of a few years after I was married in 1996, I’ve lived here my whole life.
I went to school at Leicester Road Primary School and Jeppe Girls High where I matriculated in 1992 with a university exemption and half colours for chess (I was the captain of the chess team and was on the tennis team too).
After studying graphic design for a year, I decided it wasn’t for me and did a secretarial diploma at the then Germiston Technical College (in which I obtained a distinction in Information Processing, a fancy name for typing).
I always had an entrepreneurial flair. During school I sold artwork through advertising in the Top 40 Music Magazine, for R5 a piece! (Lots of drawings of Michael Jackson were done at the time!) I also worked part time in the local Checkers.
https://typewritetranscription.co.za/
Frequently asked questions
How much do the ebooks cost?
Gaynor's is a paid book but was marked down during COVID to what she first charged in 2009, around ninety rand. It is on her website, and Alison Farie's book, focused more on the virtual assistant and typing side, is on hers.
How do I contact Gaynor or TIVASA?
The best route is a WhatsApp to Gaynor on 083 442 4689, the same number for both TIVASA enquiries and her own work. By email she is gaynor at typewritetranscription.co.za.
Can a virtual assistant turn recordings into minutes rather than full transcripts?
Yes. One of Gaynor's newer clients records meetings but does not want transcripts, so she turns the audio into minutes, which saves someone having to sit through the meeting.
Can she transcribe a podcast?
Yes, she says it is her specialty and she has done a number of shows for other presenters. She agreed to provide a transcript of this episode, noting show notes and transcripts are becoming common practice in the States.
What is Gaynor planning next?
More international marketing, since remote work is now widely accepted, alongside using LinkedIn in the South African market. She wants to open up to different industries, saying any business needs to be versatile to survive.
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