Last time we talked about the super-basics of search engine optimization (SEO). This time, we’re talking about a very YouTube specific trick, and how to do it.
Adding closed captions can get your video bumped higher on searches. This is because the video content has a text file attached that is searchable by engines. Adding closed captions takes a little extra work, but it’s not as difficult as it seems.
While YouTube offers an automatic closed caption tool, it often does not work very well. A lot of words are not recognized clearly, and it’s really unprofessional looking to have those automatic captions. If you’re going to do closed captions, you need to do them the right way.
This leaves you with a few options. If this is something you really want to get into, and you have the time to do, you can get closed captioning software to help you create a transcript file with time codes in it.
Another way is to manually type out the transcript, and then let YouTube sync it to the video. To do this properly, use a double break (press enter twice!) between lines to force proper breaks in the text. If there is more than one speaker, identify the new speaker using right-facing arrows. (SHIFT period key) Include non-verbal information like music, noises and laughter in brackets. Your transcript should look something like this:
>>JOHN: Knock knock.
>>JANE: Who’s there?
>>JOHN: Interrupting cow.
>>JANE: Interrupting cow…
>>JOHN: Mooo!
[laughter]
If there is only one speaker in your video, you don’t have to identify them on every line. Also, for long pauses, you may want to include [pause].
Next, once the video is uploaded, click on edit. There is a tab that says closed caption on it. When you click it, it gives you the option to add captions. Once you click it, select the language, copy and paste in the text, and press the “synchronize” button. Then go get yourself a snack while you wait for it to sync.
Okay, depending on the length of the video, maybe get a couple snacks, a cup of coffee, and work on another video in the meantime. Or better yet, check you stats on Social Blade. Depending on the length of the video, it can take about 45 minutes to an hour to sync.
Eventually, you will see two tracks next to your video under the closed caption edit screen. One will say “automatic captions,” which you don’t want, and the other one will contain the transcript you typed out synced to your video.
The sync will only work if you have decent audio in your video without a lot of background noise. So the videos you make at our upcoming YouTube Gathering in Raleigh, NC where everyone is talking in the background is probably not a good candidate.
The third way is really the easiest. When you go to the close caption tab for your video, click on the “automatic captions.” It will display time codes and text. You will notice it is probably very, very wrong. However, you can click and edit it. I suggest this as the third option, because you will still need to know what you said verbatim to get your closed captions correct.
A couple quick tips if you are using this for SEO purposes.
1. Try using keywords in you video when you speak so that they are in the transcript.
2. Don’t forget to name you track something appropriate.
3. When you upload your own caption track, disable the automatic one by clicking on it, then selecting “disable.”
Remember that closed captioning is intended to provide all the audio content for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Even if you are using them for SEO purposes, taking just a little more effort by including some of the non-verbal audio content will make your video accessible to a whole new audience.
