Don’t Let Your Viewers Miss a Word!

Captioning online media like YouTube videos may seem like a lot of extra work. But there are very good reasons for using subtitles.

Practically speaking, captions can compensate for a video capture with less than perfect sound quality, widening the range of videos that can be uploaded. Captions also allow viewers to watch your videos in situations where they can’t have the sound turned on—if they work in a cubicle, for instance.

Subtitles are also important in broadening the audience for your videos to be as wide as possible. A huge percentage of the population is hearing-impaired in some way—many of them don’t even realize it. It’s not just the occasional person you see signing, or elderly people with visible hearing aids—hearing loss can be extremely subtle.

They’re also great for people working on learning another language, and children who are developing their reading skills. Captions for your online media will make it more attractive, especially if you’re competing for views against others who have posted similar clips.

Web accessibility isn’t just for the handicapped. In fact, studies have shown that providing accommodations for those with disabilities makes a facility more attractive to people of all kinds.

Think of curb cuts that are designed to help people with wheelchairs use sidewalks—they’re also great for moms with strollers, high school athletes on crutches, grandmas pulling shopping carts, movers handling furniture.

Similarly, although captioning is a great service to those with hearing loss, it will help your media attract hits from people of all kinds.