Video is a winning content format for all kinds of businesses and you’re probably already leveraging video content to promote your business. It’s becoming increasingly important to add closed captions to your videos with a lot of your audience watching videos without turning on audio or on their phones in surroundings where audio is low.
Closed captions are text transcripts of the audio in your video, and they provide a number of benefits for viewers.
Here are just a few of the reasons why closed captions can be so valuable:
Benefits of Closed Captions on Your Videos
- They help people with hearing impairments understand the video content
Captions are extremely helpful for people with hearing impairments or who are deaf, as they provide a written representation of the audio content in the video. This means that people who otherwise would not be able to understand the video can follow along and appreciate the content. - They improve accessibility and reach a wider audience
Not only do closed captions improve accessibility for those with hearing impairments, but they also make videos accessible to people who don’t speak the same language as the audio. This means that your videos can reach a much wider audience if they are captioned. - They improve engagement and retention
Studies have shown that closed captions can actually improve engagement and retention for all viewers, not just those with hearing impairments. This is likely because captioned videos are easier to follow and understand. - They make videos more searchable
Since closed captions provide a written representation of the audio content in a video, they make it easier for people to find your videos through search engines. This means that you’re more likely to reach your target audience if your videos are captioned. - They improve the user experience
Ultimately, closed captions improve the user experience for everyone who watches your videos. By making your videos more accessible and easier to understand, you’re providing a better experience for all viewers. - They can help you comply with laws and regulations
Depending on the type of content you’re producing, you may be required by law or regulation to provide closed captions. For example, many educational institutions are required to caption their online video content. - They make your videos more professional
Closed captions can make your videos look more professional and polished, especially if they are well-done. This can help you attract more viewers and make a better impression on potential customers.
How To Get Transcripts of Your Videos
There are a few different ways that you can get transcripts of your videos. The first way is to use a free tool like OTranscribe.
This open-source tool will automatically generate transcripts for your videos based on the audio.
Another way to get transcripts of your videos is to create them yourself. This can be done by transcribing the audio of your video into text. You can then save this transcript as a text file or Word document.
If you want to create transcripts for your videos but don’t want to do it yourself, you can hire someone to do it for you. There are many transcription services available that can provide you with high-quality transcripts of your videos.
Once you have transcripts of your videos, you can use them for a variety of purposes. For example, you can use them to create subtitles for your videos or to make your videos more accessible to viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
How To Use Transcripts as Closed Captions
There are many ways to add captions to your video content, but one easy way is to use a transcript file. A transcript is simply a text file that includes all of the spoken words in your video. You can create transcripts using software like YouTube’s Automatic Captioning tool, or you can create them yourself.
Once you have your transcript, you can save it as an .srt file. This type of file can be imported into most video editing software and used as closed captions. To do this, open your video editing software and import the .srt file. Then, select the “Closed Captions” option from the menu and choose the .srt file you imported.
Now, when you play your video, the closed captions will appear on-screen. This is a great way to add accessibility to your videos and make sure that everyone can enjoy your content.
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Conclusion
Closed captions are essential for making your videos accessible to a wider audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as people who watch videos without audio or on low volume. By adding closed captions to your videos, you can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy and learn from your content.
Closed captions also have other benefits, such as improving SEO and providing additional context for viewers. In addition, they can help you understand how people are engaging with your videos.
If you’re not currently using closed captions in your videos, we encourage you to give them a try! They offer many advantages that are well worth taking advantage of.
