Importance of closed captions and Subtitles for your YouTube Channel.
Over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, making it one of the world’s most popular online platforms. In today’s competitive online landscape, capturing viewers’ attention on YouTube is crucial. But are you unknowingly excluding a significant portion of your potential audience? Here’s where subtitles and closed captions come in – powerful tools that can unlock a wider audience, boost engagement, and even improve your SEO.
Unlocking a Global Audience
Did you know that over 800 million YouTube viewers* watch videos with subtitles turned on – and that number is constantly growing! Subtitles transcend language barriers, allowing you to reach viewers who don’t speak your native language. This opens doors to entirely new markets, increasing your brand awareness and expanding your reach on a global scale.
*Statistic Source: A 2019 Limelight Networks Report, commissioned by Limelight Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: LLNW) estimates that over 80% of viewers who watch videos with captions enabled do not speak the language of the video.
Boosting Engagement and Understanding
Subtitles and closed captions aren’t just for non-native speakers. Many viewers watch videos in noisy environments or prefer captions for better comprehension. Studies show that videos with captions see a significant increase in watch time and viewer retention*. Captions also enhance understanding for viewers with auditory processing difficulties, ensuring everyone gets the most out of your content.
A 2016 study by 3Play Media (Why Video Closed Captions Matter: A Business Case for Accessibility found that videos with captions are watched 40% longer on average.
The SEO Advantage You Didn’t Know About
Subtitles and closed captions are a hidden gem for YouTube SEO. Closed captions are text files that YouTube can index, allowing your videos to rank higher for relevant keywords. This means more organic discovery and increased visibility in search results – a win-win for your channel’s growth.
Making Your Channel Inclusive
Inclusivity is not just a trend; it’s the right thing to do. By incorporating subtitles and closed captions, you create a welcoming environment for viewers with hearing impairments and those who prefer captions for various reasons. This demonstrates your commitment to accessibility and fosters a positive brand image.
Improving Viewer Engagement: Subtitles can significantly improve viewer engagement. According to various studies, videos with subtitles have a higher viewing time compared to those without. This is primarily because captions allow viewers to follow the content more easily, especially in noisy environments or situations where audio is not feasible.
Getting Started with Subtitles & Closed Captions
The good news is that adding subtitles and closed captions to your YouTube videos is easier than ever. YouTube offers automatic caption generation, also you can read a great article published by us 10 free tools to Generate Subtitles for your YouTube Videos. but these free subtitles can be good for early-stage YouTube channels, if you have more viewers and want to reach a larger audience and for optimal accuracy, consider professional subtitling services or Captioning Services offered by Language Mark.
Here are some additional tips
- Ensure subtitles and captions are accurate and grammatically correct.
- Use clear and concise language that’s easy to read.
- Sync captions precisely with the audio for a seamless viewing experience.
By implementing subtitles and closed captions, you’re not just making your content more accessible – you’re making a strategic move to expand your audience, boost engagement, and improve your YouTube channel’s overall success.
With over 11,000 hours of subtitling and closed captioning experience, our team of 1,500+ global resources, each with domain-specific expertise, can ensure your subtitles are accurate, culturally relevant, and accessible in a staggering 197+ languages.
Ready to unlock the full potential of your YouTube content ?
Contact Language Mark today for a free consultation on your YouTube captioning needs.
