5 Reasons Why You Should Subtitle Your Content
Subtitles are text displayed at the bottom of a video that provide a written representation of the spoken dialogue or audio. They are used to help people understand the content, especially when the language spoken in the video is different from their own or when they have hearing impairments.
In today’s digital world, audiovisual content is king. With platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook making video content easily accessible to a global audience, content creators must elevate their strategies. One key tactic is the inclusion of subtitles. With millions of viewers around the world, adding subtitles to your videos is a smart move.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into five crucial reasons why you should subtitle your videos.
1. Accessibility for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Closed captions are subtitles that transcribe the original audio in its source language. They are often a lifeline for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. By providing closed captions, you not only meet legal accessibility standards but also open the door for an inclusive viewing experience. This makes your content accessible to an audience that might otherwise miss out.
2. Increased Engagement
Studies reveal that videos with subtitles captivate viewers for longer durations. Moreover, people are more likely to interact with content they know their followers can understand, which can lead to increased shares and engagement.
3. SEO Optimization
Search engines, such as Google, use various metrics and algorithms to rank online content, including the engagement a content receives, as well as accessibility features available for it. By adding subtitles, you provide search engine bots with additional valuable metadata, increasing the visibility of your videos and helping you reach the right audience.
4. Breaking Down Language and Market Barriers
Subtitles can open doors to new markets that you might not be able to reach without them. Your content and product could become popular in places you’ve never heard of. By subtitling your videos, you are breaking down language barriers and making your content accessible to a much wider audience. If you produce content for a global audience, subtitling will become an essential aspect of your production process, guaranteeing that you can effectively connect with people, and potential customers, from all corners of the world.
5. Improved Accuracy
Closed captions and subtitles not only provide the added benefit of helping your audience catch any missed or misheard words or names, but they also eliminate any ambiguity in conveying important information. Even the highest quality recordings can be difficult to understand for some. Using this written visual tool can reduce the window for misinterpretation, ensuring that your audience truly understands all your content.
There is much to gain from subtitling your videos and very little to lose. Subtitling your videos offers a wealth of benefits with minimal drawbacks. Don’t underestimate the potential of this seemingly small detail; it can transform your audience’s experience and greatly benefit your business.