Not Sure Which Languages to Choose?
Bad subtitles kill the mood, mess with the flow, and make viewers click away faster than you can blink. Your audience is doing the same thing.
So, how do subtitles affect retention? Bad subtitles kill your retention. It’s a reality that happens every day on YouTube. Poorly timed subtitles, mismatched translations, or any issue that makes the viewing experience harder leads to people bouncing from your video. And when they leave early, it hurts your watch time. That’s a direct hit to your YouTube performance, which then affects your channel’s growth.
If you want to keep people engaged and watching to the end, you need to get your subtitle optimization strategies right.
YouTube's Subtitle Functionality
Before we dive into the mess of bad subtitles, let's talk about what YouTube offers in terms of subtitles. YouTube has auto-generated captions, which are a nice start for accessibility.
But they’re far from perfect. Just look at Reddit and what creators say.
Subtitle Translation Issues
Now, let’s talk about subtitle translation and an issue many creators are facing, especially when they try to expand globally. Languages like Spanish or Arabic don’t translate directly from English without causing major subtitle issues. Here’s why:
Translation Length
Take Spanish, for example. A sentence in English might be short and sweet, but when translated into Spanish, it often takes twice as long. This causes subtitle syncing issues with the audio because there’s too much text for the time it’s on screen. On the other hand, languages like Arabic will have much shorter sentences, which can cause subtitles to disappear too soon.
Timing Gets Messed Up
When you simply throw a translation into AI, it doesn’t always adjust for these differences. That’s why you have to manually sync the subtitles after translation. This can be tedious, but it is necessary to keep your subtitles in sync with the audio.
Native Speakers Are Key
Ideally, you should work with a native speaker or a professional editor to review and adjust subtitles. Not only do they fix the timing issues, but they also make sure the translation sounds natural in the target language. You don’t want subtitles that read like a robot wrote them, right?
How to Fix Bad Subtitles
Fixing subtitle problems doesn’t have to be difficult. It all comes down to using the right tools and techniques.
Start with YouTube’s Auto-Generated Captions
YouTube’s auto-generated captions are a decent starting point, but you need to check them. Review the text, compare it with the video, and make sure it aligns. You might need to tweak a lot of things, but at least you have something to build on.
Edit the Timing
This is where things often go wrong. You can use tools like Amara or Rev to adjust subtitle timing. It’s as simple as syncing the text to the audio, making sure the subtitles appear at the right time, and disappear when they should. These tools also let you fine-tune translation and make sure everything flows smoothly.
Use AI Tools
If you’re short on time, AI tools like Kapwing and Descript can help speed up the process. These platforms automatically generate captions and even let you adjust the timing. They’re much faster than doing it by hand, but again, you’ll still need to check for accuracy.
Don’t Forget Metadata
This is a big one, metadata for global views. If you’re translating subtitles, you should also be translating the video’s title, description, and tags. Without this, YouTube won’t know who to show your video to.
Metadata is the secret weapon for global reach, so use the AI Metadata Translation tool to help automate this process.
Want to fix bad subtitles and boost your views?
Contact us today, and let’s get your content optimized for better engagement!
Test Your Subtitles Across Devices
Since most viewers (69%) watch YouTube on their phones, make sure your subtitles are mobile-friendly. Sometimes subtitles look fine on a desktop, but are cut off on smaller screens. Test on different devices to make sure your subtitles are readable everywhere.
Go Pro If You Need To
If all of this sounds overwhelming, you can always hire someone to handle it. AIR Media-Tech offers full-service subtitle translation, from translation to syncing to metadata, we’ve got you covered. We’ve worked with over 400 channels, so we know what works.
The Cost of Bad Subtitles
Subtitles are important for retention. Research shows that 80% of YouTube viewers watch videos with subtitles.
Some of them might not even need subtitles, but prefer them for convenience. Whether they’re in a noisy environment, at work, at school, or just don’t want to disturb anyone, subtitles are a lifeline.
But bad subtitles make viewers leave. When your subtitles are wrong, misaligned, or hard to understand, people don’t stick around. They bounce, which affects your retention rate.
And when retention drops due to subtitles, YouTube’s algorithm notices and starts pushing your videos less. That’s why getting your subtitles right is non-negotiable if you want to grow on YouTube.
Fixing Subtitles Is Key to Better Retention
Bad subtitles hurt your channel’s growth. But fixing them is straightforward. Whether you use AI tools, manual editing, or professional services, the key is getting it right.
If you’re ready to take your subtitles (and retention) in the right way with the strategy, AIR Media-Tech can help you. We can handle everything from syncing, translations, localization, and even dubbing to metadata optimization, ensuring that your content reaches the right audience.
Don’t let bad subtitles kill your retention. Get in touch with us today, and let’s get your video views boosted!
