Introduction

Video is one of the best ways for businesses to communicate with customers. Companies use videos to advertise products, explain services, and share information online.

 

Improving Accessibility

Adding subtitles is a simple way to make these videos more effective. The usage of subtitles are the words shown on the screen that match what is being said. They help people who are hard of hearing or have cognitive difficulties understanding  the spoken word in video, or even just watching in a space that isn't good for audio, thus making video content more accessible. This shows that a business cares about including everyone and can improve its reputation. 

 

Reaching Viewers Without Sound

Many people watch videos on their phones in public places or at work, where they keep the volume turned off. Without subtitles, they may skip the video. With subtitles, they can still understand the message and are more likely to keep watching. Social media is another reason why subtitles are important. Videos on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok often play automatically without sound and by the time the viewer has switched on the sound they have missed part of your message.

 

Increasing Engagement on Social Media

Subtitles help people understand what the video is about straight away, making them more likely to stop scrolling and watch. This can lead to more views, likes, comments, and shares. They help viewers follow what is being said, especially if the speaker talks quickly or uses difficult words.  However, subtitles should not be just a verbatim transcript;  they need to be paraphrased so allow each line to be read and understood in its own right within 3 seconds.

 

Reaching Different Audiences:

This is useful for training videos, product demonstrations, and educational content. Businesses that sell products or services in different countries can also benefit. Subtitles help people who speak English as a second language understand the video more easily. They can also be translated into other languages, allowing businesses to reach an even wider audience.

 

Creating a Professional Image

Finally, adding subtitles makes a business look more professional. It shows attention to detail, that you genuinely care about communicating and improves the viewing experience for customers. It also allows businesses to reuse their videos on different platforms, helping them get more value from the content they create.

In conclusion, subtitles are a simple but valuable addition to business videos. They improve accessibility, increase engagement, help people understand the message, and allow businesses to reach a wider audience. By adding subtitles, businesses can make their videos more effective and connect with more customers.

At TakeOneTV.com our Directors have broadcast experience of creating subtitles for video content that improves engagement.   A top tip from Karen@takeonetv.com is to always check the auto captions on YouTube, as it is easy to go in and correct any mishearings that confuse viewers - you need help with subtitles for video feel free to give us a call for a discovery session.