1. Search Engine Optimization
If you have your own website you are probably looking for ways to get more traffic. A transcription of your podcast will help with search engine optimization.
Because search engines don’t read audio, a transcript can make it easier for engines to index your podcasts.
Just think of all the additional keywords, phrases and relevant content that you talk about in your podcast. Wouldn’t it be great to have all that information on the page?
2. Accessibility
Having a written record of your podcast makes it accessible. Accessible to deaf and hard of hearing folks that are interested in your information, but also to visitors that don’t have access to audio on their computers (at a library or public facility), or visitors that don’t have time to listen to your podcast but might want to get a quick idea of what your podcast is about. Sampling your audio content without having to subscribe, download or listen to something can be an invaluable way to build your audience.
Print material is much easier to search. Pausing an audio file to jot down a note, or to rewind to listen to something you missed is not always easy. Your listeners may remember something you talked about, but may not remember the specifics. Text allows for quick scanning and easy access to information.
3. Content
A huge amount of information is typically covered in one podcast. Having this content as text could result in hundreds of pages of information that you can use on your website. You can edit it, use it for articles, blogs, make an ebook, or even provide the transcripts as premium content for paid subscribers. It is very easy to cut and paste text for your own needs once you have the transcript. You can even use quotes or blocks of text from the transcript for promotion of your podcast.
If for some reason you run out of storage space for your old podcasts and need to delete them, a transcript provides a record of the show.
4. Make your podcast content more interactive
Podcasts are often listened to while doing other activities such as driving, exercising or working. Listening to a podcast is a passive activity. Having a typed copy of your podcast can help engage your listeners.
Transcripts provide references and links to what was talked about during the show and can be a way for listeners to take action. It is much easier to click a link on the screen than it is to jot down a note to yourself while listening -you have to have a pen and paper, be able to write at that moment and remember where you kept the note afterwards when you finally get on the computer!
