As a business owner, you know that it’s important to have a good digital marketing strategy. After all, most of your customers are probably online, and that’s where you need to be in order to reach them. But what you may not realize is that your digital marketing strategy can also be used to your benefit when it comes to closed captioning. Here’s how.
What is closed captioning?
Closed captioning is the process of adding text to a video or audio recording. This text can be used to provide viewers with additional information about what’s happening in the video, or it can simply be used to transcribe the audio for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Either way, closed captioning can be a valuable tool for making your content more accessible and inclusive.
What are the benefits of closed captioning?
There are a few key benefits that come with adding closed captioning to your videos. First, it makes your content more accessible to a wider range of people. This is important not only for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, but also for viewers who don’t speak the same language as the audio in your video. Closed captioning can also be beneficial for people who are trying to watch your video in a noisy environment.
In addition to making your content more accessible, closed captioning can also help you boost your SEO. That’s because search engines index the text in videos, so including keywords in your closed captions can help you rank higher in search results. And since closed captioning allows you to transcribe the audio in your video, it can also help you improve the quality of your video transcripts, which is another important ranking factor.
Finally, adding closed captioning to your videos can also help you boost engagement and retention. Studies have shown that people are more likely to watch a video with closed captions, and they’re also more likely to remember what they watched. So if you want people to stick around for your entire video, closed captioning can be a helpful tool.
Do closed captions increase views?
There’s no guarantee that adding closed captions to your videos will increase views, but it is a strategy that can help. That’s because closed captioning makes your content more accessible and inclusive, which can appeal to a wider range of viewers. And as we mentioned before, closed captioning can also help you boost your SEO, which can lead to more people finding and watching your videos.
Are closed captions free?
There are a few different ways to add closed captions to your videos. If you’re using YouTube, you can upload a transcript of your video, and YouTube will automatically generate closed captions. You can also use a professional service from eTranslation Service to transcribe your video and create closed captions. These services typically charge by the minute so that the cost will depend on the length of your video.
How to Use Closed Captioning for Digital Marketing
Here are a few tips for using closed captioning in your digital marketing strategy:
Include Closed Captions on Your Videos
One of the best ways to use closed captioning to your benefit is by including it in all of your videos. This will ensure that everyone who wants to watch your videos will be able to do so, regardless of whether they have hearing impairments or not. Moreover, including closed captions on your videos can also help you reach a wider audience. For example, if someone is watching your video in a public place where they can’t turn the sound up, they’ll still be able to understand what’s going on if there are closed captions.
Invest in Quality Closed Captioning Services
In order for closed captioning to be effective, it needs to be of high quality. This means that you should invest in quality closed captioning services from a reputable provider. Otherwise, you risk having errors in your captions that could result in confusion or make your videos less enjoyable to watch.
Make Sure Your Website Is Accessible
If you want to use closed captioning to reach more people, you need to make sure that your website is accessible. This means that you should design your website using accessibility standards in mind. For example, you should use clear and concise text, high-contrast colors, and larger font sizes. You should also make sure that all of the videos on your website have their own transcripts so that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can still access the information.
Use SEO-Friendly Keywords in Your Closed Captions
As we mentioned before, including keywords in your closed captions can help you rank higher in search results. So if you want to use closed captioning to boost your SEO, make sure to include relevant keywords throughout your transcript.
Add Closed Captions to Live Videos
Another great way to use closed captioning is by adding it to live videos. This way, viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing will still be able to follow along and understand what’s going on. And since live videos are often unedited and spontaneous, adding closed captions can also help viewers who miss something or want to review what was said.
By following these tips, you can use closed captioning to your benefit and reach a wider audience with your videos.
Using digital marketing to your benefit with closed captioning is a great way to ensure that everyone can enjoy your content. Just remember to include closed captions on all of your videos, invest in quality services, and make sure that your website is accessible. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to putting together an inclusive digital marketing strategy that everyone can enjoy!
