Thanks to social platforms like YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, videos have quickly become one of the most popular forms of content on the internet.

Social video gets shared 1200% more compared to text and images combined. In fact, according to Insivia, mobile consumption rises by 100% every year. 

What does this mean for brands and content creators? One thing is clear: you’ll have to start producing videos. 85% of marketers credit video as an effective way to get attention online and 52% of IG stories are in video form which outperform images. But before you begin shooting, you’ll have to know the basic best practices. 

Adding captions to social media videos 

Did you know that adding captions to your videos will increase your chances of success? This is because captioned videos are accessible to a wider audience including the hearing impaired and the 85% of people who view videos without sound. As a result, videos with text overlays, reduce bounce rates, have generally higher click-through rates, and are more shareable. 

Facebook has over 8 billion video views per day and makes it possible for viewers to consume and enjoy videos without having to switch on the volume, publishers have to find other ways to capture the attention of scrollers in the first few seconds. 

Thankfully, there are hundreds of apps available to help you add captions and text to your videos, easily. Below, we’ve listed our top choices: 

Instasize

Instasize is a user-friendly photo + video editing tool that gives you an artfully curated selection of fonts and effects that you can add to your content in just one click. Whether you want to create an eye-catching title card, add subtitles, or include descriptions, Instasize will have just the right font for you.  

The app simplifies the video editing process — which could easily take hours — and makes it possible for anyone to produce professional-quality content. 

All social media platforms have their nuances and requirements, that’s why Instasize has created a one-click feature that guarantees your videos are optimized for posting. 

You can download Instasize for free in the App Store or Google Play Store. A premium subscription is also available at $4.99 a month.

Mixcaptions

The process of having to transcribe audio, overlay the text using a separate app, and making sure it’s in sync with the audio could get tedious. Not to mention, having to proofread and edit. For a small team, it isn’t feasible. 

Mixcaptions lets you do the transcribing straight on your video and cut the time wasted doing tasks on different apps. The app lets you transcribe,  choose fonts and colors, and fix your text placement all in one place. 

Mixcaption is free to download in the App Store, Mac App Store, and Google Play Store. In-app purchases start at $0.99.

Typito

Typito is an online video editor that makes the video-editing experience accessible to beginners. With its drag-and-drop editor and intuitive user interface, you can get your video edited and published in no time. 

The app also has over 500 free templates that have pre-made animations and text effects that you can seamlessly apply to your videos. It also has an Instant Captions feature that ensures that your captions are automatically synced with your audio. With its 20+ video formats, you can publish optimized content to virtually every social media platform. 

Typito has a free version that allows you to create and publish up to four videos per month. The premium version starts at $29.

Vont

If you simply want to add texts to your videos, Vont is the app for you. The app has over 400 fonts available and it also allows you to install your own fonts. Everything from the text size, color, gradient, and background is editable. You can also get technical and play around with kerning and line spacing. 

The app is free to download in the App Store and Google Play Store. To add more fonts, you can pay a one-time fee of $2.99. The pro kit costs $4.99.

iMovie

iMovie is the go-to app for most Apple users. While the editing software is often used by advanced editors, it’s also incredibly easy to use, making it a great choice for those who want to get started with video editing. 

iMovie allows you to make adjustments to the font size, color, and position of your text. You can also customize the timing and transition to ensure that your captions make an impact and hit the exact mark. 

The software is available in multiple languages. If you own multiple Apple devices, you can edit and access your files between devices. 

iMovie comes free on the App Store and Mac App Store. 

Get started

Adding captions and text to your social media videos is one easy and effective way to ensure that your video catches the attention of viewers. Plus, it’s the right thing to do if you want to create content that’s accessible and inclusive. 

Most, if not all video editing apps will give you the option to add text or subtitles to your video. Deciding on one will depend on your needs and skills. Use the information above to guide you. 

Author’s Bio:

Denise Langenegger is part of the team at Instasize – a content creating tool kit for anyone editing photos and online content on mobile.