Why Transcribe?

Further to the reasons mentioned above, transcripts for video and audio content are more easily cataloged by Google and other search engines. Thus increasing the content’s search engine optimization (SEO) results.Transcribing video and audio will also make your content more accessible to a wider audience, including people who are deaf, hard of hearing or blind. 

The point of creating content is to engage people. So why leave out an entire segment of your potential target audience if you can avoid it? 

To get the most benefit out of your transcription, post a written transcript along with a talking video. This way, people who can’t hear the audio can read the transcript, and people who can’t see the video can hear the descriptive audio. 

Accurate transcription of video content inherently makes the content more shareable. If you use transcription in tandem with click-to-tweet add ons, shareability will skyrocket.

Cons? Transcribing content is time-consuming. Most companies either split the task between in-house workers or outsource the job to professional transcriptionists.Consider these tips from the pros.

Google Docs Part 2

Once you’re settled in a quiet place, plug in your headphones to listen to the content. This will make sure the software will hear your voice, not the audio from the content.

Why not just play the audio content directly and transcribe it that way? The problem with content is that its often unclear, fragmented, or there’s a lot of background noise. That’s the main reason transcription needs a human touch.

Once you’re plugged in, open a new Google Doc. And then, find the Voice Typing function under the Tools menu. The shortcut is Command+Shift+S.

Then, a recording button will appear on the left. Ensure your microphone is turned on, the correct language is selected, hit record, and then… voila! Begin speaking and the powers that be will start typing.

Be sure to speak slowly and clearly. It’s always a good idea to watch along as you speak, to make sure there are no glaring mistakes. You’ll go through it at the end with a fine tooth comb, but it won’t hurt to keep an eye on it as you go.

The Bottom Line

Attempting a transcription job without any software to assist you is not a productive way to go about it. Especially since there are so many free and inexpensive tools at your disposal. If you’re taking on a job yourself, at the very least, get a tool to help control playback, whether it’s using your keyboard or a foot pedal. Using your mouse for playback control just won’t cut it.Or, scrap the job and hire a professional service (see below). They know how to transcribe a video, and will already have the necessary tools.