In the digital era where Cisco reports that 82% of all internet traffic comes from video, ensuring your audio and video content strategy is robust and comprehensive is more important than ever. While many elements contribute to successful video content, one increasingly crucial component is closed captions. But what exactly are closed captions, and why do they play a pivotal role in your video strategy?
Defining Closed Captions: Closed captions (CC) are the text versions of the spoken words and sound effects in videos, designed to make content accessible for the deaf or hard of hearing and for those in sound-prohibitive environments. They are typically located at the bottom of the screen and can be toggled on or off by the viewer, unlike open captions, which are permanently visible.
Closed vs. Open Captions: The key difference between closed and open captions lies in their flexibility. Closed captions offer viewers the ability to turn them on or off and often allow for customization in appearance. They can easily integrate with various media players and require only a text processor to create. Open captions, on the other hand, are part of the video itself and appear consistently across all devices without the need for additional setup.
The Importance of Closed Captions: Incorporating closed captions into your video content is not just an added feature; it’s a necessity for reaching a wider audience and enhancing user experience.
• Enhanced Accessibility: With billions worldwide experiencing some degree of hearing loss, closed captions ensure your content is accessible to a broader audience.
• Increased Engagement: Meta’s research indicates that videos with closed captions can see an average of 12% increase in watch time.
• Wider Reach: Considering that a significant portion of viewers watch videos without sound, closed captions are vital for capturing their attention.
Sourcing Closed Captions: Creating closed captions can be a meticulous and time-consuming task, especially when dealing with complex audio. You have two main options:
1.DIY Captions: While writing your own captions might seem cost-effective, it requires a significant investment of time and effort, particularly for videos with challenging audio elements.
2.Professional Captioning Services: Outsourcing to experts like Focus Insite ensures high-quality, accurate captions tailored to your video’s needs.
Elevate Your Video Content with Focus Insite
No matter the industry or audience, closed captions are an integral part of any modern online video strategy. However, creating them should not detract from your content creation process. Focus Insite offers expert closed captioning and transcription services, ensuring your videos are accessible, engaging, and reach their maximum potential.
For all your transcription and closed captioning needs, and to boost your market research insights, rely on Focus Insite. Contact [email protected] and let us know how we can support your project with our expert services. Trust us to make your content not just seen, but heard and understood by everyone.
