Lost in Translation? Why Your Videos Need Foreign Language Subtitles and Audio Dubs on YouTube

I have found myself watching more YouTube than television. Because of YouTube, creators have the opportunity to reach audiences with specific content, around the world. However, many still focus solely on creating content in their native language, because it is safe, and therefore missing out on a significant opportunity to reach global audiences. In a video interview with Creator Insider, creator Mr. Beast discusses his video channel growth from not only adding subtitles in other languages, but also audio dubs.

Posting videos with foreign language subtitles and audio dubs can help reach a wider global audience. According to a study by Common Sense Advisory, 75% of consumers prefer to buy products in their native language, and 60% of consumers rarely or never buy from English-only websites. By providing subtitles and dubs, you can make your content more accessible to a broader audience, increasing your chances of attracting new customers.

Videos with foreign language subtitles and dubs can also increase engagement and views. Subtitles make your content more accessible to non-native speakers, making it easier for them to follow along and understand the message you’re trying to convey. Audio dubs, on the other hand, make your content more engaging and immersive, allowing viewers to fully experience your video regardless of their native language. By providing subtitles and dubs, you can make your content more appealing to a wider audience, leading to increased engagement and views.

Audio dubbing languages can also be fun…In the video mentioned above, Mr. Beast was even able to secure Naruto actor Junko Takeuchi to voice his Japanese audio dub, making the audio even more engaging for his audience.

Translated videos can also help you build trust and credibility with your audience. By showing that you care about making your content accessible to everyone, regardless of their native language, you demonstrate that you value diversity and inclusion. This can help you build a positive reputation and establish trust with your audience, leading to increased loyalty and repeat business.

As more brands expand their global reach, it’s becoming increasingly important to offer content in multiple languages. I recently worked on a website project for OTIS elevators, and while it was involved to have video subtitles in thirteen different languages, it made a big impact on audience interaction. Awareness and inclusion should be a primary focus of today’s content creators.

The next question that follows usually is, how much does it cost to start doing this?
Here are some quick points to illustrate that foreign language implementation doesn’t cost as much as you might think:

• YouTube has made it easy to upload language subtitles and audio dubs
• The subtitles text doc format is fairly easy to understand and create
• Sites like Fiverr have a slew of providers who can provide translations

If you’re not posting videos with foreign language subtitles and dubs, you could be missing out on a significant opportunity to expand your global reach, increase engagement and views, build trust and credibility, and keep up with the competition. By making your content accessible to a wider audience, you can attract new customers, build loyalty, and establish your brand as a leader in your industry.

In my experience of looking at different language matrix spreadsheets, it wasn’t to difficult to decipher the languages, which has helped me understand that we aren’t that far apart from each other.

If you found this article interesting, please read this article talking about why it’s a good idea to hire two people for the same department at once.