Adding Captions to TikTok or YouTube Shorts

We know adding captions is a worthwhile endeavour, with research showing that over 60% of people watch videos without sound and relying on closed captions. But what's the best way to add these subtitles? Here are a few options. ‍

‍Option 1. Use automated captions on TikTok or YouTube

One way of adding subtitles to your videos is to use TikTok's or Youtube's automatic caption features. It’s easy and can be done very quickly. Cons are that not all languages are available, there aren’t many customization options and mistakes are prevelant. 

To add captions on TikTok, record or upload your video, then tap the ‘Captions’ button. TikTok will now automatically transcribe the audio of your video. For YouTube Shorts, the process is just as easy. Simply add subtitles to any video by selecting ‘Subtitles’ in YouTube Studio.

Option 2: Add text manually

Another option is to manually add captions to your videos. This will take more time and effort, but it will give you more control of the text and how long it's displayed. 

On TikTok, you can add text by using the 'text’ option. You can use multiple fonts, alignments, and colors, and you have the option to display the captions wherever you want on the screen. By selecting the text box and clicking the clock icon that appears, you can choose the duration of each piece of text. For YouTube Shorts, this works roughly the same way.

Option 3: Generate captions automatically with StreamLadder

Another option is to use StreamLadder to generate captions automatically. We're a bit biased, sure, but we think it's the best one. A big plus is that you only have to edit your video once, rather than having to add captions for each platform separately. There are various text styles available in multiple colors, the captions and timing of the words can be edited easily and there are seven languages to choose from. Slight con is that automated captions are currently only available on StreamLadder Gold.

Why adding captions to your Twitch content is a good idea

As mentioned before, adding captions to a video can be beneficial in several ways, including:

• Accessibility: Captions make the video accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, ensuring that they can understand the content even without audio.
• Improved comprehension: Captions can help viewers understand the content better, especially if the speaker has a strong accent or speaks quickly.
• Multilingual audience: Captions can be translated into multiple languages, making the video accessible to a wider audience.
• SEO: Captions can help boost the video's search engine optimization (SEO), making it more discoverable online.
• Better engagement: Captions can keep viewers engaged by allowing them to follow along even if they're in a noisy environment or unable to turn up the volume. 

Overall, adding captions to a video can help ensure that your message is being received even when the sound is off or muted, making it a valuable addition to your video strategy.

Use StreamLadder to add subtitles to your Twitch videos and reach an even wider audience.

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