Rates for Training and Standard Vocabularies

Refer to the Tech Indexing page for more details on how the training and standard vocabulary services work. The following are specific services that are part of the process, with information on how I charge for those services:

Indexing of a cross-section of documents in order to build the standard vocabulary—I charge based on the number of indexable pages in a document. This indexing just to get a feel for the vocabulary is usually done as a standalone exercise, which means that it does not include actually embedding index markers/tags in the document. Depending on the physical size of the document and the density of text (vs. figures/screen shots, etc.), I find that a range of $3.00–$4.00 per page is reasonable compensation for the work. It's up to you how many documents you'd like me to index from scratch as part of the analysis of your material. If you'd like me to embed the index markers into your source documents as part of the indexing job, it will increase the scope of the job significantly, so I charge between $5.00 and $6.00 for an embedded index.
Standard vocabulary construction—This process usually involves putting together the indexes I've already created, plus analyzing the existing indexes of other documents to integrate their terms into the standard list. In addition, there's usually a bit of back-and-forth with subject matter experts reviewing the list followed by further editing and corrections. I also provide a revision or create a new indexing guideline chapter for your existing documentation style guide. I charge by the hour for this process at $60 per hour. To give you an idea of total cost, it can take anywhere from 30 to 60 hours (my work time) to review indexes, put the standard vocabulary together, and make corrections from the review process.
Training—I provide a concise, but comprehensive workshop on how to think about indexing, primarily from the user's perspective. I tailor the lecture material as well as the exercises (using your documentation) to make the training directly applicable to writers' and editors' daily work. Depending on the audience and scope of training required, I can do a half-day (3 hour) or full-day (5-6 hour) session. In addition to normal travel expenses incurred, I find that a flat fee of $1000 for each full-day session, or $800 for the half-day session (remember, I still need to do all the preparation, regardless of how long I stand before you) is appropriate.