Transcribing Podcasts: 6 Important Reasons to Do So

Once upon a time, podcasting was seen as a niche medium; not many people were doing it and not a lot of people were tuning in when there was one. However, in recent years, podcasting has seen a significant boom worldwide. 

According to a report by Backlinko, there are over 546 million podcast listeners around the globe. The same report also states that this number is expected to grow to 651.7 million by 2027. With such a high number of listeners, it’s clear that the popularity of podcasts can’t be denied.

When doing a podcast, hosts tend to discuss many talking points throughout the episode. Since various topics are discussed, transcribing podcasts is always a good idea to consider. Here’s an in-depth look at the six important reasons why podcasts should be transcribed.

1. Transcriptions Increase Accessibility

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 5% of the world’s population, or 430 million people, suffers from hearing loss. By 2050, this number is estimated to increase to nearly 2.5 billion. This means that accessibility in media is more important now than ever. By making your podcast more accessible through transcripts, you can widen your audience and make those who are deaf or hard of hearing feel even more included, increasing your reputation in the process. 

In addition, transcribing your podcasts can help you avoid legal issues. Believe it or not, podcast broadcasting companies have been sued because their podcasts did not include transcripts. 

One such case occurred in 2021, when SiriusXM, a Manhattan-based broadcasting company, faced a lawsuit from both the National Association for the Deaf (NAD) and the Disability Rights Advocate (DRA). The company failed to provide transcripts for most of its podcasts, preventing accessibility and violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the process. 

With so much at stake, don’t hesitate to avail the assistance of transcription services for your podcast to make your content more accessible. That way, you can avoid such violations and the ensuing legal issues in the process.

2. They Create Resources You Can Repurpose

Repurposing content is another reason to consider transcribing your podcasts. Even if you have a podcast, the material you use for every episode can be converted to content outside podcasting such as blogs, social media posts, and even marketing campaigns.

While the transcript itself can’t be used as content, you can always repurpose it and turn it into a blog-style post instead. On the other hand, if you’re using it for social media posts, you can simply skim the transcript for material. Whatever format you want to convert the contents of your podcast into, you can accomplish it easily with a transcript on hand instead of repeatedly listening to the audio for hours on end.

3. Transcribing Your Podcast Boosts SEO and Attracts Attention

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ensures everyone sees your podcast and its content. With proper SEO practices, your content could be at the top of Google’s search results, bringing more attention to what you’re doing. Surprisingly enough, an audio transcription of your podcast can boost its SEO.

Transcripts can encourage SEO growth for your podcast in two ways. First, if you’re creating podcast transcripts, ensure the appropriate keywords are woven through the transcription. The second method is backlinking, where you link any resources you may have cited in your podcast to the transcript itself. In doing so, your listeners who are looking at your podcast's resource section can look at them for themselves.

With these two methods, you can turn your transcript into an effective SEO tool that properly indexes your podcast. As such, for better search visibility and organic engagement, don't hesitate to turn to podcast transcription services to create an accurate transcript of all your podcast episodes.

4. They Can Make Your Podcast Social Media Friendly

Another reason why transcribing podcasts is a good course of action is because transcripts can make your podcast, and its contents, more social media friendly.

Nowadays, social media is a must-use tool that can help your podcast succeed and grow. With transcripts, it’s easier to make your podcast visible on the social media platform of your choice. This is because they can help you find areas of your podcast content that you can turn into captions, which in turn can help the chances of your content going viral and becoming more visible on social media.

5. Transcripts Help You Get Quoted

If you’re doing a podcast, you’re proving you have valuable insights on the topic you’re discussing. This could range from a variety of topics such as politics, entertainment, or more. By transcribing your content, you can increase your chances of getting accurately quoted in tweets, blogs, or articles and be properly credited for it. This can easily increase your renown and bring further attention to your podcast.

6. Transcriptions Create a Better UX for Audiences

Transcribing podcasts is a great way to make it more accessible not just for the deaf but also for those who prefer a visual way of digesting a podcast. Remember, not everyone can always listen to a podcast; sometimes, their current environment may not be conducive to let them properly hear your podcast. Alternatively, they may not have the means to listen to it without bothering others around them at the moment. 

With transcripts, audiences can still access your podcast even under these circumstances as they can simply read along the transcript even if the podcast’s volume is reduced. Additionally, desktop audiences who prefer to read along can still access the podcast’s contents thanks to the transcriptions.

Transcriptions can be a valuable tool for both podcast hosts and their audiences. As such, you’ll want to ensure that your transcript is as accurate as possible. With that in mind, don’t hesitate to contact expert transcription services like TranscriptionWing to get the job done.

TranscriptionWing has over 25 years of experience in the transcription industry. We cater to a variety of industries, such as academia, market research, legal, and media. Additionally, clients can choose between various turnaround times that suit their needs. Contact us and receive highly accurate transcripts for your project needs.