Video Subtitles: 5 Tips to Increase Accessibility & Engagement

Creating subtitles for your videos might seem like a straightforward task, but the truth is, there’s a lot more to it than just typing out what’s being said. Done right, video subtitles can make your content more accessible, engaging, and even boost your SEO. Done wrong, they can distract, confuse, or worse, alienate your audience.

If you’re investing time and resources into creating video content, it’s worth making sure your subtitles are pulling their weight. Whether you're a marketer, content creator, or nonprofit sharing a story with the world, avoiding a few common missteps can make a big difference in how your message is received.

Here are five tips for creating video subtitles.

1. Getting the Timing Right

You’ve probably watched a video where the subtitles lag behind or rush ahead of the audio. It’s frustrating. Subtitles that are out of sync can make your content harder to follow and, in some cases, completely useless for viewers relying on them.

One of the biggest timing-related mistakes is leaving subtitles on screen for too short a time. Viewers can’t read at lightning speed, especially if the subtitles are dense. On the other hand, keeping them up too long can cause confusion when the text doesn’t match the audio anymore.

‍Pro Tip: As a general guideline, keep each subtitle on screen for at least one second and no longer than six. Try to break text at natural sentence pauses or punctuation, and aim to sync closely with the spoken words. If your video subtitles are automatically generated, review and adjust the timing manually if needed—it’s worth the extra step.

2. Avoid Cluttering the Screen with Too Much Text

You’ve got a lot to say. We get it. But squeezing entire paragraphs onto the screen at once doesn’t help anyone.

One common mistake is trying to cram too much into a single video subtitle. It overwhelms the viewer and breaks the natural rhythm of reading. Most people are watching videos on their phones, during a quick break, or while multitasking, so subtitles need to be easy to scan and digest.

‍Pro Tip: Stick to one to two lines of text per subtitle frame. Break sentences into smaller chunks that follow the pacing of the speaker. Keep the language concise and conversational. You’re not writing a script. You’re creating a reading experience that flows smoothly with the visuals and sound.

3. Follow Accessibility Best Practices

Video subtitles and captions aren’t just for people who speak different languages. They’re also essential for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. But not all subtitles are created with accessibility in mind.

A major mistake? Failing to include speaker identifiers. If your video has multiple speakers, it’s important to identify them, especially if the visuals don’t make it clear who’s talking.

4. Review Auto-Generated Subtitles

Auto-generated subtitles have come a long way thanks to advances in AI. They’re fast, convenient, and a great starting point. But they’re not perfect, and assuming they are is one of the most common traps content creators fall into.

Misspelled names, misunderstood jargon, or just plain wrong transcriptions can easily slip through the cracks. If you’ve ever seen “Santa cause” instead of “Santa Claus” or “bare” instead of “bear,” you know what we’re talking about. These errors can make your content seem careless and lower its perceived quality.

‍Pro Tip: Always review and edit your video subtitles—especially if you’re using automated tools. Select an AI tool that has broad customer adoption and positive customer feedback. Also make sure the tool includes a customizable glossary to help ensure names and industry jargon is translated correctly.

5. Optimize Subtitle Design and Placement

Subtitles aren’t just about what they say—they’re also about how they look. Design choices like font size, placement, color, and background contrast can make or break readability.

A common mistake is placing subtitles too close to the bottom edge of the screen, where they might be covered by YouTube’s player controls, social media elements, or even closed caption logos. Or using fancy fonts that look great on paper but are impossible to read quickly.

‍Pro Tip: Use a clean, sans-serif font in white or light colors with a black outline or semi-transparent background to improve legibility. Test how they appear across different devices, especially mobile, and ensure they’re not getting cut off or hidden by other on-screen elements. If your video has a busy background, a subtle shadow or box can help your subtitles stand out.

Bonus: Don’t Forget About SEO

If you're posting videos online, SEO might not be the first thing that comes to mind when adding video subtitles—but it should be. Search engines can't watch your video, but they can read text. That means your subtitles, transcripts, and caption files are full of keywords and context that can help your content show up in search results.

Neglecting this part means you’re missing out on discoverability and visibility, especially for long-form content or educational material.

‍Pro Tip: Whenever possible, provide a full transcript along with your video, or upload your subtitle files (like .srt or .vtt) so they can be indexed by platforms like YouTube and Google. You don’t have to keyword-stuff—just make sure your content is accurate and natural.

‍Be sure to check out our post on How AI Subtitles Enhance SEO for Video Content.

Conclusion

Creating great video subtitles isn’t rocket science, but it does take some effort. From syncing your text properly to making your content more accessible, these small details can significantly improve your viewer experience.

To recap:

1. Timing matters – Make sure your subtitles are in sync with the audio.
2. Keep it concise – Avoid overloading the screen with too much text.
3. Design for accessibility – Include speaker labels and sound cues where necessary.
4. Don’t blindly trust auto-subtitles – Always review and refine.
5. Prioritize design and legibility – Make your subtitles easy to read and unobtrusive.

Whether you’re creating short-form clips of global conferences, educational courses, or any other video content, high-quality subtitles can take your content to the next level. They make your message clearer, more inclusive, and easier to engage with, especially in a world where videos are often watched on mute.

If you’re using AI tools to subtitle your videos, make sure they’re delivering the accuracy your audience expects. Check reviews and test the tool with your content before fully relying on it. And remember, even the most advanced subtitling solutions benefit from a quick review to ensure everything is syncing properly and context is preserved.