Why You Should Transcribe Your Podcasts
One of the most powerful tools you can add to your podcast marketing toolbox is transcription.
Transcribing your podcast not only makes your content more accessible but also significantly enhances your SEO efforts.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of transcribing your podcast and guide you on how to do it effectively using the latest tools and strategies.
Transcription Supercharges SEO
By transcribing your podcast, you provide a wealth of keywords and phrases that search engines can crawl, increasing your visibility in search results.
Latest SEO Practices
- Optimize with Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords naturally within your transcripts to improve search rankings.
- Mobile-Friendly Formatting: Ensure your transcripts are easy to read on mobile devices, as a significant portion of users access content this way.
- Voice Search Optimization: With the rise of voice assistants, optimizing your content for voice search can help you tap into a growing segment of users.
Advanced AI Transcription Tools
The gap between human and automated transcription accuracy has significantly narrowed, thanks to advancements in AI technology.
AI Transcription Accuracy Improvements
Modern AI transcription services like OpenAI’s Whisper API offer high-quality transcriptions with remarkable accuracy.
These tools utilize advanced machine learning models to deliver results that were once only achievable through human transcription.
AI Integration with Content Creation Tools
Many AI transcription services now integrate seamlessly with podcast tools, streamlining your workflow.
For instance:
Descript offers transcription along with powerful editing features that allow you to edit your podcast by modifying the text, creating a streamlined and intuitive editing experience.
Descripts Transcription
Otter.ai provides real-time transcription and integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Zoom and Dropbox, making it ideal for users who want smooth workflow connectivity.
Rev.ai, on the other hand, specializes in automated transcription through APIs that can be integrated into existing systems, offering a robust solution for businesses and creators looking to automate and scale transcription workflows.
Castmagic has tons of automation features including podcast transcription, email marketing copy, podcast show notes, sales copy, and more.
Riverside.fm has damn good transcription. I personally use Riverside and love how they keep improving their AI’s accuracy.
Riverside’s Editable Transcript
Podcastle is another popular AI transcription platform. First time users can get 1 hour of free podcast transcription.
Make sure you stay updated with new players in the transcription space that might offer innovative features or better pricing.
Regularly reviewing your options ensures you’re using the best tools available.
Repurpose Episode Transcripts Into Blog Posts
I’m a huge fan of doing this and it’s helped The Podcast Haven grow to 5k website visitors a month!
You can and should, turn your episodes into blog posts.
Highlight the main points from the transcript, and begin writing a post of what was discussed in the episode.
Be sure to include links, and reference anything that was mentioned on the show.
Ideally, this will draw listeners even deeper into your ecosystem and influence them to take action on the products or services you offer.
Make sure your blog posts are different from your show notes.
Turn Quotes Into Social Media Content
I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for good quotes. They always seem to evoke some kind of emotion out of me.
Pulling quotes from your transcription and sharing them on social media is an excellent part of an overall content marketing strategy.
It’s easy to copy a quote on your phone and then create a post on X, LinkedIn, or Insta.
Engaged audience members may even re-post!
If you decide to share quote images, be sure to link to the episode the quote is from.
Hiring a Human For Your Transcripts
If you have no desire to do transcription yourself, or use AI, you can hire a professional.
There are a lot of freelance writers that specialize in transcription.
Human transcription is the most accurate. You can usually get close to perfect accuracy.
However, human transcription is typically expensive, coming in at around $1 per minute, or more.
Places like Upwork, and Fivver have freelancers that post their transcription experience and availability along with their rates.
Rev has staff that can write your transcripts. The Podcast Haven has hired Rev hundreds of times.
Rev boasts a 99% accuracy rating and can usually turn around a podcast episode in 12-18 hours.
When outsourcing, clearly communicate your needs by providing specific instructions on what you’re looking for, the desired format, and the completion deadline.
Podcast Hosts with Transcription Included
Nowadays it seems like all podcast hosting platforms offer transcription.
Getting your episodes transcribed through your host is an easy and effective way to take care of transcription.
Here are a few podcast hosting platforms that offer transcription:
Accessibility and ADA Compliance
While often overlooked, accessibility and ADA compliance are an important part of content creation. This is yet again another reason to transcribe your podcasts.
People consume content in various environments and situations.
They might be on a noisy train where they can’t hear audio clearly, or at work where headphones aren’t allowed, but they’re eager to engage with your content.
Additionally, individuals with hearing impairments rely on text-based content to access information.
By providing a transcription of your podcast episodes, you make your content accessible to a wider audience.
This inclusivity not only serves your listeners better but also expands your reach.
Also, ensuring your podcast is accessible aligns with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. This not only serves your audience but also protects your brand legally.