The global pandemic caused a massive surge in the popularity of online courses. People were looking for new ways to learn, and Skillshare provided an excellent platform for educators to share their knowledge.
However, with so many courses available, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. One way to do this is by adding captions and subtitles to your lessons. This blog post will explain why you should add captions and subtitles to your Skillshare courses and how to do it better with Amberscript.
What is Skillshare?
First, let’s clarify what Skillshare is for anyone who’s not familiar. Skillshare is an online learning platform with classes taught by industry experts. Classes are available on a range of topics, from design and programming to business and entrepreneurship. For example, Seth Goden can teach you about marketing through a series of Skillshare classes.
While Skillshare is mostly aimed at adults, it’s also becoming increasingly popular with students. In fact, many universities are now using Skillshare as a supplement to their curriculum. This is because Skillshare offers a more hands-on, practical approach to learning than traditional lectures.
Skillshare is also convenient and flexible, as students can learn at their own pace and fit learning around their busy schedules. And with new courses added every week, there’s always something new to learn.
What are subtitles and captions?
Subtitles and captions are text that appears on the screen to accompany the audio of a video. They usually appear at the bottom of the screen and are used to provide translations or to make the content accessible to those who are deaf or hard of hearing. These text transcriptions can also be useful for viewers who are not native speakers of the language in which the video is narrated.
Captions are slightly different from subtitles, as they also include information about sound effects and other non-verbal audio cues. This makes them even more helpful for those with hearing impairments. For example, a caption might read: “SOUND OF A CAR HONKING.”
Subtitles and captions were originally developed for television and movies, but they are now widely used online. You’ve most likely seen them on Youtube videos or even paid to advertise. Ideally, the subtitles and captions should be synced with the video’s audio so that viewers can follow along easily.
What are the benefits of adding subtitles to Skillshare courses?
You might be wondering if it’s worth the effort to add subtitles to your classes. The answer is yes! There are several benefits to adding subtitles and captions to Skillshare courses.
The first is that it makes the content more accessible. This is especially important for those with hearing impairments, as they will be able to follow along with the course more easily. It’s also helpful for viewers who are not native speakers of the language in which the video is narrated.
In addition, subtitles and captions can be used to provide translations into different languages. This means that educators can expand the reach of their courses and make them accessible to a global audience.
You can also use subtitles and captions to improve the SEO of Skillshare courses. They provide an opportunity to include keywords that viewers might search for. For example, if a class is about marketing, the subtitles and captions could include keywords such as “digital marketing” or “social media marketing.” It will make the course more likely to appear in search results and attract more students.
Finally, subtitles and captions can make the content more engaging. They provide a way to break up the text on the screen and make it easier for viewers to follow along. They can also be used to highlight key points or add additional information that might be helpful for viewers.
Overall, adding subtitles and captions to Skillshare courses can be a great way to improve the reach, accessibility, and engagement of the content.
How to add subtitles and captions with Amberscript
As you may know, submitting a course to Skillshare requires a video. You have the option to upload your own video or create one using Skillshare’s built-in video editor. If you’re creating your own video, you’ll need to make sure that it includes subtitles and captions. The best way to do this is to use a subtitling service like Amberscript.
Of course, you could manually transcribe the video and create the subtitles and captions yourself. However, that is a time-consuming process, especially if you have long lessons or multiple modules. It’s also likely that you’ll make mistakes if you overwork yourself.
This is where Amberscript comes in. We provide both software and manual subtitle services to create accurate and synchronized subtitles and captions for your Skillshare course. We also translate into 39 languages, so you can reach a global audience. Our team of subtitle experts will ensure that your subtitles and captions are of the highest quality.
Here are the main steps involved in adding subtitles and captions to your Skillshare course with Amberscript:
1. Record your course
If it’s not already, your course must be in video or audio format. The video can be recorded using a webcam, smartphone, or another device. If you’re unsure how to record a video for education purposes, Skillshare has a helpful guide that walks you through the process. Make sure to articulate clearly so that your words can be easily transcribed.
You also want to avoid speaking too fast, as this can make it difficult for listeners to keep up. A good rule of thumb is to speak at a rate of about 150 words per minute. This may seem slow, but it will help to ensure that your words can be transcribed accurately.
2. Upload video to Amberscript
The next step is to upload your video to the Amberscript website. We accept most major video/audio formats, including MP4, MP3, and MOV. You’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one. Uploading your video is free, and we don’t have any hidden fees.
Once your video has been uploaded, you’ll need to select the language(s) into which you want it to be translated. Our features are available on both desktop and our mobile app, so you can create subtitles and captions anywhere, anytime.
3. Choose Automatic or Human-made subtitles
Next, you’ll need to decide whether you want automatic or human-made subtitles. Automatic subtitles are created using speech recognition software and are typically less accurate than human-made subtitles. For this reason, we recommend choosing human-made subtitles for your Skillshare course.
Our team of subtitle experts will use the software for speed, but they’ll also listen to the audio and edit the subtitles by hand to ensure that they’re accurate. This process usually takes 24-48 hours, but we can often deliver the subtitles sooner if you need them urgently.
4. Export your file
Finally, you’ll need to export your file to upload it to Skillshare. We provide subtitles in the following formats:
- .docx
- .json
- .srt
- .vtt
- .EBU-STL
- .Txt
These are all standard subtitle formats that you can upload to Skillshare. Once you’ve exported your file, you’re ready to upload it to Skillshare and start reaching a global audience!
About Amberscript
Why choose us? AmberScript is the leading provider of subtitles and captions. We offer both software and manual subtitle services to create accurate and synchronized subtitles and captions for your Skillshare course. We’ve worked with big industry names like Netflix, Disney, and the Government of Quebec.
Our subtitlers are all native speakers of the target language, meaning they can create accurate and sound natural subtitles. They’re also experts in subtitling conventions, so you can be sure that your subtitles meet all the necessary standards.
If you have any more questions about how to add subtitles and captions to your Skillshare course or about our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to help!