With subtitles added to your YouTube videos, you significantly lower the chance of viewer abandonment, leading to enhanced viewer engagement which could potentially translate to more views, more likes, and more subscribers.
Adding subtitles to your videos is easy. We’ll show you how.
Why Are Subtitles Important on YouTube Videos?
Subtitles serve as a vital link between the content creator and viewers, acting as a veritable bridge that enables the transference of ideas and information.
Accessibility & Inclusivity
Subtitles make your content accessible to a wider audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing and non-native English speakers who may struggle with accents or fast-paced speech. They allow everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities, to fully understand and enjoy your videos.
SEO and Discoverability
Search engines can index the text in your subtitles, making it easier for your videos to be discovered by relevant keywords, potentially boosting your video’s visibility and reach.
Viewer Retention
Subtitles can help improve viewer retention rates. Some viewers prefer to read along while watching, which can help them better absorb the content and stay engaged for longer periods. Complex or technical terms, as well as specific names or locations, can sometimes be difficult to understand solely through audio. Subtitles provide a written reference, ensuring that viewers comprehend the information being presented.
Content Consumption in Noise-sensitive Environments
Viewers often watch YouTube videos in noise-sensitive environments, such as offices or public transport. Subtitles allow them to follow the content without needing to turn up the volume, ensuring a more considerate viewing experience.
How to Add Subtitles on YouTube Video?
1. Access Your Video Manager
Log in to your YouTube account and click on your profile picture at the top right corner of the screen. From the drop-down menu, select “YouTube Studio.”
2. Navigate to Videos
In YouTube Studio, locate and click on the “Videos” tab on the left-hand sidebar. This will display a list of your uploaded videos.
3. Choose a Video
Select the video to which you want to add subtitles by clicking on its thumbnail.
4. Subtitles & CC Tab
Within the video editor, find and click on the “Subtitles & CC” tab at the top of the screen.
5. Add Language
If your video doesn’t already have subtitles, click the “+ Add language” button. Choose the language for your subtitles from the list.
6. Choose Method
YouTube provides multiple ways to add subtitles:
– Upload a File: If you have a subtitle file (such as .SRT or .VTT), you can upload it by clicking the “Upload file” button and selecting the file from your computer.
– Transcribe and Auto-Sync: If you don’t have a subtitle file, you can use YouTube’s automated transcription service. Click the “Transcribe and auto-sync” button, then follow the prompts to review and edit the auto-generated subtitles. But YouTube’s captions are not reliable and often lack accuracy.
Instead, you can check out AI subtitle generator tools to get 99% accurate, time-coded subtitles within minutes.
7. Edit Subtitles
Once subtitles are added, you can use the subtitle editor to make corrections. You can adjust timings, correct text, and even add additional languages.
8. Save Changes
After making your edits, click the “Publish” button to save the changes you’ve made to the subtitles.
9. Review Subtitles
YouTube will process the subtitles, and once they’re ready, they will be available for viewers to enable. It’s a good practice to watch your video with the subtitles enabled to ensure they are accurate and synchronized.
10. Viewing Subtitles
When viewers watch your video, they can enable the subtitles by clicking on the “CC” button in the video player’s bottom toolbar. They can then select the desired subtitle language.
11. Manual Edits
If you need to make further edits to your subtitles after they’re published, you can return to the “Subtitles & CC” tab in YouTube Studio, locate your video, and click the “Edit” button under the desired language.
12. SEO and Visibility
Don’t forget to add relevant keywords and phrases to your subtitles, as they can contribute to your video’s search engine optimization (SEO) and visibility on YouTube. A better way to do this is to create your script with keywords.
That’s it! Follow these steps to successfully add subtitles to your YouTube videos, making your content more inclusive and accessible to a wider audience.
How to Add Subtitles on YouTube Video using Dubverse?
If you wish to generate accurate subtitles in multiple languages and upload your video instantly, Dubverse can speed up the process. The YouTube Studio feature will help you upload subtitles directly from the Dubverse output page. Here’s How
- Head over to Dubverse SUB.
- Locate the “GET SUBTITLES” button and give it a click.
- Copy the link of your YouTube video and paste it into the designated field. Hit the enter key to proceed.
- Click on the “LET’S SUB” button and let Dubverse work its magic. Your subtitles will be ready in no time.
- Now click on the captivating “WATCH” button.
- Click on the download button to instantly download your subtitles file.
- Elevate your YouTube Studio experience by clicking on the “YT Studio” button.
- Now click on the “ADD LANGUAGE” button, and you’re ready to take your video to new heights.
- Upload the downloaded subtitle file effortlessly.
- Now click on the Publish button. Your subtitles are now live!
Equip Your Videos with Subtitles: The Benefits
Subtitles carry a unique charm, allowing a video to cross language barriers and resonate with a diverse audience. For content marketers aiming for a global reach or targeting markets with varying language proficiencies, subtitles become a crucial aspect of the video content equation. For e-learning platforms or instructional videos, they offer an enhanced learning experience by ensuring no point is missed by the user. Moreover, when watching a video in a noisy environment or one needing quiet, subtitles ensure the message is not lost.
Auto-generated YouTube Captions: Yes or No?
YouTube simplifies the process of adding subtitles by providing a swift, easy-to-use feature allowing for automatic generation of captions for your video content. With just a few clicks, your self-made or professional videos can feature subtitles without the need to manually create them.
But it’s worth noting it’s far from perfect. The AI-based system can often misinterpret spoken words and phrases, leading to grammar errors and miscommunications. These resultant inaccuracies often disrupt the flow of the content and may confuse or mislead viewers. Hence, while this feature can certainly give you a kick start, it’s essential to cross-check and correct any errors.
You can try either of these methods to generate subtitles:
Manual Subtitling: The DIY Approach
Opting for manual subtitling over auto-generated YouTube captions provides you with enhanced control over crucial aspects like timing, placement, and precise wording of subtitles. But it still falls short as a viable method because it is time consuming.
Even potential solutions like hiring professionals for manual subtitle creation may not fully mitigate this issue, potentially resulting in accessibility delays of up to 24 hours post-upload. Such delays could negatively impact SEO and hinder the initial surge of engagement usually experienced within the first 24 hours.
Using AI Subtitles Tools: Auto-generate
Third-party AI tools designed specifically for subtitle creation and editing to meet the growing need have a more sophisticated interface and stronger detection algorithms, which can result in more accurate and versatile subtitles. Not only do you get accurate subtitles, but also get subtitles in foreign languages. It is efficient and saves you time, money and effort while improving your reach and visibility.
Not sure?
Try AI-powered Dubverse SUB to generate subtitles for free and see it for yourself.
