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Closed Captioning vs Subtitles: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve watched videos online, you’ve likely come across subtitles and close captioning. Did you know that these two terms do not mean the same thing? While many people use them interchangeably, subtitles and captions describe two different things. This guide will explore the meaning of each term and explain how they are different.

What is Closed Captioning?

The term caption refers to the text on a video that describes the dialogue and other relevant sounds played. The word caption is rather broad, and we can break that down into two options: closed captions and open captions.

Closed captions are produced by the application or platform that displays the video. As a result, the viewer can easily press a button to turn them off. If you watch Netflix, you will notice that you can toggle closed captions on and off as needed to suit your viewing needs.

Open captions, on the other hand, are embedded in the actual video file. This means that the user can’t turn them off because they are linked to the other images and audio playing on your screen.

So, what is closed captioning used for?

The most common use of captions is to make video content accessible to those who are hard of hearing. The text will describe everything happening in the video, including non-speech elements like background noises and sound effects. They will also identify speakers so that viewers can note what is happening in the video with ease.

U.S. laws require captions for most video content, so you will see these displayed on all major platforms and video-sharing sites. Their purpose is to aid viewers, so you can also change the positioning on the screen to avoid obstructing essential visual elements in the video.

How Are Subtitles Different?

You may be thinking that captions seem like they are the same thing as subtitles. They both represent text that moves across your screen as the video plays, and most of the time they describe what the characters on your screen are saying. So, what makes them different?

The key here is that subtitles help those viewers who don’t speak the language shown in the video. In other words, subtitles work to translate spoken dialogue into another language – their primary purpose is not to help those who are hard of hearing understand the video.

If you speak the language that the video is in then the terms might seem very similar, but the differences become clear when you read the text in another language.

Although the words synchronize to the audio that is playing, the subtitles do not include non-speech elements. The assumption here is that the viewer can read the subtitles in their native language but still listen to background noises and sound effects with their natural hearing.

Users can generally toggle subtitles on and off, and many large platforms allow you to choose subtitles in a broad range of languages.

July 16, 2021

3 Reasons to Transcribe Your Video

Milk Video makes it super easy to transcribe your video – but you may be wondering, why should you do it? Here are the top three reasons why you should always transcribe your video content!

1. It Enhances the User Experience

The top reason that you should transcribe your video is that it enhances the user experience.

Sure, you may have captivating video and audio content that you share with your viewers, but what about the people who prefer to read? Everyone has a different learning style and preference, so creating an option for them to digest your content in their favorite way will make their experience better.

You can also opt for a feature that highlights the text as the words are spoken in the video. This allows viewers to reinforce their understanding of what was said.

Similarly, a transcript can let the viewer skim for topics and keywords they are interested in. They may only have a few minutes to watch your video, so providing them with a transcript that leads them to the section they are most interested in can keep them engaged!

Did you know that you can also make your transcripts interactive? All the viewer needs to do is click on a portion of the text, and the video will jump to that specific portion.

Another way that transcripts improve the user experience is that it allows them to enjoy the video wherever they are. People often browse social media while they are in public places, which may prevent them from turning their audio on. With a transcript, your viewer can still consume your content without needing to enable their sound.

2. Boost your SEO Performance

SEO rankings are one of the most important metrics for attracting viewers and website traffic. The search engine will compare different web pages with the same content and bump up the best performers to the top of the search page.

Unfortunately, search engines can’t crawl video content. Even the best videos in your industry will not be successful if no one can find them!

Luckily, a transcript can address this issue! The search engines can use your video transcript to keywords and phrases to your web page so they can be ranked and indexed. That means when viewers search for those terms, they can find your content. Not only will this help you drive additional traffic to your webpage, but it will ensure that you connect with the right audience.

3. It Makes your Content Accessible

Another reason you should transcribe your video is that it makes the content more accessible. There are people everywhere who suffer from hearing loss or are considered hard-of-hearing. These viewers deserve to enjoy your content just like everyone else, and a transcript will ensure that they can do just that.

All federal agencies and similar organizations are required to caption and transcribe their videos to comply with accessibility laws, so your brand may be required to do so too.

Likewise, a video transcript helps viewers who are non-native English speakers understand the information. They can use the text as a study guide or can input it into a translator that allows them to read it in their native language.

Regardless of how you look at it, you can only create truly accessible content if you include transcripts and captions!

July 12, 2021

Best Practices for Creating Video Ads on LinkedIn

Video ads are a key component of any successful marketing strategy. Keep reading to learn more about video ads on LinkedIn, including what they are, why you should leverage them in your marketing campaigns, and the best practices for creating the right content.

What are Video Ads on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn video ads allow you to market to your target audience through video. Whether you use them to share information about an upcoming product launch, educate your audience, or build credibility, LinkedIn video ads can bring your brand to life.

Think of video ads on LinkedIn as a way to promote your marketing content without it looking out of place on the platform. They are a form of sponsored content that displays directly within a user’s LinkedIn feeds, so you can boost organic engagement and growth.

For example, you can sponsor a video post you’ve already shared on your LinkedIn page to increase the number of views and expand your reach. Similarly, you can use the platform’s Campaign Manager to create Direct Sponsored Content that has not already been shared on your LinkedIn feed!

July 9, 2021

Do Video Ads Work?

Video ads seem to be everywhere – but do they actually work? Marketing on social media can be difficult, so we put this guide together to help address some common questions. Keep reading to learn more about video ads, the types of platforms you can share them on, and what kinds work best.

What Are Video Ads?

This type of marketing strategy involves leveraging videos to advertise your brand, products, and services. Many companies use them for promotions, presenting how-to guides, live streaming events, and even customer testimonials.

For example, if you are launching a new product, you can use a video ad to increase customer awareness. Another way you can use videos is to target existing customers and offer upgrades to their current services!

Video ads can be very versatile because you determine the goal of the marketing campaign. Unlike traditional photo and text ads, you can add things like music and video clips to capture your audience’s attention and boost engagement. Likewise, you can carefully craft your message to resonate with your target audience and maximize the impact.

The numbers behind video ads don’t lie, either. Users are more likely to engage with your brand organically through video advertising than they are with any other type of advertising!

July 8, 2021

Share Your Clips via Links

This July we’ve a number of exciting features to share.

To start the month on the right foot, we’ve just made it even easier for you to share your video clips*. Now, any clips you create can be shared with a direct link.

Clips from the Upload Clips section can be shared via links

What this means is that you can create a clip in a couple of minutes and share it in Slack, email, Zoom or on social media. No need to download the file (but that of course is still always available).

In addition, the transcript of the video can be shared externally and all your views will be tracked so that you can see how well your content performs.

To get you started, here are some ideas on how to use the clip sharing function.

Engage your sales prospects on email
Add a clip from a case study or webinar into your sales outreach cadences (and track the views!).

Share moments from Zoom calls
Clip a highlight from your virtual call and share it in Slack in an instant.

Post a video clip on social
Clip a key moment from your webinar and share it on social media in a matter of minutes.

To get started, login to Milk Video now

July 7, 2021

Best Practices for Video Ads on Facebook

If you have scrolled through social media, you have likely seen video advertising on Facebook. What are they, and what are the best practices for video ads? This comprehensive guide will answer all those questions and more!

What are Video Ads on Facebook?

Let’s start by defining Facebook video ads. This type of marketing allows you to share your products and services using a video on the social media platform. You must pay for the ad placement that you want, but you can choose to share either an existing video on your Facebook page or create a brand new one.

In other words, you can pay to have your video appear on a Facebook user’s screen. The location is predetermined when you set up the ad, and the length of the video will vary depending on the placement you chose.

There are three basic options for video advertising on Facebook: in-feed ads, marketplace ads, and in-stream ads.

July 7, 2021

How Businesses Can Regularly Create Quality Video Content

Video content is one of the most effective ways to capture your audience’s attention. It should play a major role in your marketing plan and campaign efforts, especially when it comes to social media!

However, how can you create quality video at scale without a huge budget? This guide will give you the tips you need to start creating quality video content more regularly.

Start with a Game Plan

Before you get your camera and start recording, you must start with a game plan. Although the goal is to create more video content so that you have more ways to engage with your audience, you want to make sure the posts you are sharing are high quality!

Define The Purpose of the Video

Ask yourself what the purpose of the video is. Are you trying to drive more visitors to your website? Is the video meant to raise awareness about a new product launch, or are you simply trying to educate your customers about existing products and services?

Regardless of what the goal is, make sure you have a clear picture of what action you want your viewers to take after they watch it. Defining this goal will help you avoid wasting time – and money – re-shooting, editing, or re-writing your script!

July 2, 2021

How to Tag Someone on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great social network to better your career. While other popular social media channels are oriented to serve your personal life, Linkedin is focused on your work life. You can set up your LinkedIn profile to help you source jobs and internships. Additionally, LinkedIn is a great platform to expand your skillset and become more qualified in your career.

A well-rounded Linkedin profile can also help establish you as a unique individual. You can set up your profile to highlight your experience, skillset, and education. If set up properly, your profile can also set you up for success when networking. Networking refers to the act of establishing a group of contacts that can help you further your career.

There are many reasons to continuously network in your career. Networking allows you to grow within your field. With support from high profiles in the industry, you can obtain additional support during challenging times with the help of external experts. Networking also enables you (and your business) to get noticed, hence generating new opportunities for your career.

Another useful way to get noticed is by tagging people you’re interested in adding to your network in posts or comments.

June 28, 2021

How to Transcribe Audio

Looking for the best ways to transcribe your audio file?

A handful of people assume that audio transcription is the easiest thing in the world. After all, what could be so complicated about listening to a bunch of words and putting them down on paper, right?

Wrong! Granted, transcription is not rocket science. But it is something that requires speed and extreme focus. Apart from having the right level of concentration, you need to work with the right transcription tools.

At the same time, you should ensure that the result is error-free. Transcribers have found that working with Milk Video as a tool of choice makes the job less cumbersome. Here is how to transcribe audio using Milk Video:

June 28, 2021

Event Recap: Linkedin Tactics For B2B Marketing Teams

LinkedIn is perceived by many as a professional networking site, however, with over 600 million members Linkedin is a valuable resource for B2b marketers to utilize. The right LinkedIn strategy can result in higher engagement values.

On June 24th, 2021 Milk Video hosted a roundtable discussion regarding LinkedIn Tactics for B2B Marketing Teams. This event allowed marketers and sales individuals across the world to share ways that they have been able to utilize Linkedin to drive engagement.

During the roundtable, the topics covered were:

The types of content to post such as text, video, and images
Connecting, messaging and InMailing
Advertising

Highlights, transcripts, and the slides of the roundtable can be found here:

June 25, 2021

Writing