Many viewers watch with the sound off, so captions can decide whether your video works. Use this checklist for every video.
Caption checklist
- Accuracy: proofread names, numbers and brand terms.
- Timing: text appears as the word is spoken, not before or after.
- Length: one or two short lines at a time, about 3 to 6 words for Shorts.
- Position: keep captions clear of the platform buttons and the bottom interface area.
- Contrast: use a bold font with an outline or background so text is readable on any footage.
- Emphasis: highlight key words with a brand color, but only a few per sentence.
- Consistency: use the same font, size and colors across all videos.
Safe sizes
- Vertical video (Shorts, Reels, TikTok): 1080 x 1920, keep text inside the central safe area.
- Horizontal video (YouTube): 1920 x 1080 or higher.
Where to add captions
- Burn-in captions for Shorts, Reels and TikTok so they are always visible.
- Upload a subtitle file (SRT) to YouTube for long videos so viewers can switch languages.
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