Transcripts: Why You Should Create Them For Your Audio and Video Files
Did you know that 75% of people watch videos with the sound off? Based on this habit, transcripts are essential when creating audio and video files.
Transcripts are texts of the spoken words within audio or video content. They serve various purposes, such as enhancing searchability for online content and providing an alternative way for people to consume information.
While it might seem like an additional step in the content creation process, creating transcripts offers myriad benefits, ranging from accessibility to search engine optimization (SEO).
The Benefits of Transcripts
Transcripts don’t just allow people to read your content. They offer benefits beyond consumption that are worthwhile to your business and help you get the most out of your content.
Accessibility
Transcripts make your content accessible to a broader audience, including those with hearing impairments. By providing a written version of your audio or video content, you ensure that more of your audience can engage with and comprehend your message.
An SEO Boost
Search engines can’t listen to audio or watch videos, but they can read text. And SEO can significantly improve the discoverability of your content online. Transcripts enhance the SEO of your content by providing searchable text that can be indexed and ranked. In other words, it leads more people to your content.
Improved User Experience
Some users prefer to consume content in text form for a quicker overview or reference. Transcripts cater to this preference, offering an alternative way for your audience to engage with your material. This ability can lead to improved user satisfaction and retention.
Increased Sharing
You want people to talk about and share the content you create. Having a transcript for your audio or video gives them another way to share your content. People are less likely to share an audio file than they are a link to a transcript. When you include a transcript, you make it easy for any type of listener or viewer to share your content.
How To Create Transcripts
Yes, creating a transcript does give you one more thing to do, but if a transcript results in a wider audience, it means you are making the most out of each piece of content you create.
Plus, creating a transcript doesn’t have to be overly taxing. There’s more than one way you can do it.
Manual Transcription
You can transcribe your audio or video content manually by listening to it and typing out the spoken words. While this can be time-consuming, it allows for precise control over the transcript’s accuracy.
Automatic Transcription Services
Some online services leverage advanced speech recognition technology to generate automated transcripts. Platforms like Otter.ai, Rev, and Descript provide efficient and relatively accurate transcription services. Keep in mind that some manual editing may still be required for perfection. Also, you have to pay for these services, but the time they save you will likely make it worthwhile.
FYI, transcription services also can do manual transcription, but it costs more and takes longer. Getting a faster turnaround, even when you have to edit the content, is usually a better choice.
Built-In Platform Tools
Some platforms, such as YouTube, offer automatic transcription services for videos. While these may not be flawless, they provide a good starting point that can be edited for accuracy.
Let My Marketing Assistant Transcribe for You
Want to get the most out of your video and audio content? My Marketing Assistant can make it happen. Our marketing assistants know how to promote your video or audio content to get the most attention, adding transcription to it, and even writing online content related to it after it publishes. We’ll make sure you get the most traction from any piece of video or audio content you create. And, depending on your plan with us, you can get accurate transcription within 24 or 48 hours. Contact us today to learn more or choose a plan to get started.