How do you add subtitles to video clips, and why is it important?

Hello, and welcome to "Website Success in 5 Minutes." I’m Shaun Carvill. Today’s question comes from Hugh Strickland at Aaron & Partners LLP: Hugh asks: "How do you add subtitles to video clips, and why is it important?"

This is a great question Hugh, and a topic that’s more relevant than ever, especially as video content continues to grow in popularity. Let’s explore how to add subtitles to your videos and why they can make a big difference.

First, why are subtitles so important?

Subtitles, also called captions, do more than just display dialogue—they make your content accessible to a much wider audience. For one, they’re essential for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. But beyond that, many people watch videos on mute—especially in an office setting or on social media or in public places—so having subtitles means they can still engage with your content, even without sound.

Subtitles also make your videos more accessible for non-native speakers or people who may struggle with certain accents or fast speech. In fact, research shows that videos with subtitles tend to have higher engagement rates, as people are more likely to stick around and watch the full video when they can read along.

And let’s not forget SEO. Search engines can’t "watch" videos, but they can read subtitles. So by adding captions to your video content, you’re creating text that can help search engines understand what your video is about, which can improve your search rankings and visibility.

So, how do you add subtitles to your videos?

Option 1: Auto-Generated Subtitles.

The easiest and quickest way to add subtitles is through platforms that auto-generate them. YouTube, for example, offers automatic captions for uploaded videos. Once you upload your video, YouTube uses speech recognition software to create subtitles for you. While this is convenient, the accuracy isn’t always perfect—especially if there’s background noise, strong accents, or fast speech. You’ll need to go in and edit the subtitles to make sure they’re accurate.

Facebook and Instagram also offer auto-captioning tools for videos, and the process is quite similar. But again, always double-check the accuracy before posting your video.

Option 2: Manually Adding Subtitles.

If you want more control or need your subtitles to be spot-on, you can manually add them. There are plenty of tools available, like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or free options like Kapwing or Subtitle Edit. Here’s how it works:

• Upload your video into the editing software.
• Create a new subtitle track or caption layer.
• Play through the video and manually type out what’s being said, syncing the text with the audio.
• Export the video with the subtitles baked in or save them as a separate file (usually in .srt format).

While manual captioning takes more time, it’s the most accurate way to ensure your subtitles are perfect. Plus, it allows you to control the timing and appearance of the text, ensuring it fits naturally with the video content.

Option 3: Hire a Service.

If you don’t have the time or the patience to add subtitles yourself, there are plenty of services out there that can do it for you. Services like Rev, 3Play Media, and Amara will take your video, create accurate subtitles, and deliver the finished file to you. This is a great option if you’re working with a lot of video content and need high-quality captions without the hassle.

Here are a few tips for effective subtitles:

1. Keep them simple and concise. Don’t overload the screen with too much text. Subtitles should be easy to read quickly.
2. Sync them properly. Make sure the subtitles appear at the right time with the dialogue. Bad timing can frustrate viewers.
3. Use contrasting colours. Make sure your subtitles stand out against the background of your video, using high contrast text for readability.

To summarise:

Adding subtitles to your videos is essential for accessibility, viewer engagement, and SEO. Whether you use auto-generated captions, manual editing, or hire a service, there are plenty of options to get your videos subtitled quickly and accurately.

Thanks again to Hugh Strickland from Aaron & Partners LLP for sending in today’s great question!

That’s all for this episode of "Website Success in 5 Minutes." I’m Shaun Carvill. If you found this helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for more tips on making your website and content more effective.

See you next time!