Boost podcast accessibility with transcripts, captions, audio descriptions, and keyboard navigation for wider reach using Voice to Text
Podcasting has exploded in popularity over the last few years. According to Edison Research, there are now over 100 million monthly podcast listeners in the U.S. alone. With this tremendous growth, podcast creators have an opportunity and responsibility to make their content as accessible as possible.
While the audio nature of podcasts presents some unique accessibility challenges, creators should strive to make their shows enjoyable by all listeners, regardless of ability. With a few simple steps, you can help ensure your podcast is accessible to people with disabilities.
Making your podcast accessible benefits more than just listeners with disabilities. Transcripts, captions, and clear audio help people who are not fluent in the language of the podcast, who are listening in noisy environments, or who simply prefer reading over listening.
Overall, improving accessibility leads to a better experience for all of your listeners. It demonstrates care for your audience and helps spread your content to more people. This guide covers some tips to make your podcast more accessible.
Providing written transcripts is one of the most impactful ways to make your podcast more accessible. Transcripts allow those who are deaf or hard of hearing to read along as they listen. They also make it possible for search engines to index your audio content, increasing discoverability.
Aim to release transcripts either simultaneously with or soon after an episode airs. The transcript should match the audio word-for-word, with proper spelling, punctuation, and formatting. This requires transcribing the podcast yourself or using a professional transcription service for accuracy. Rushed or poorly transcribed episodes can be frustrating for readers.
Some podcast hosting platforms like Buzzsprout offer automated transcription, but these AI-generated transcripts often contain errors. Review auto-transcripts carefully before publishing or use them as a starting point to edit.
When formatting transcripts, include the podcast name, episode number, hosts, and chapter markers. Add speaker names before each line to help readers follow the conversation. Publish transcripts on your website alongside the audio file. Offer them as a downloadable document or embed them on the episode page.
Investing time and effort into accurate, properly formatted transcripts removes a major barrier to enjoying your podcast for many listeners.
Having clear audio in your podcast is crucial for an accessible listening experience. Here are some tips:
By mastering these audio techniques, your podcast will sound professional and be easily understood by all listeners. It shows respect for accessibility and improves the experience for everyone.
Giving your podcast episodes descriptive titles is an important accessibility consideration. Titles like "Episode 1" or "My Latest Episode" don't actually describe what the episode is about. Someone who relies on a screen reader to choose podcasts won't get any useful information from vague titles like these.
Instead, craft episode titles that clearly and concisely communicate the main topic and contents of that episode. For example, if you have an episode interviewing an author about their latest book, the title could be "Interview with [Author Name] about their new book [Book Title]."
Descriptive titles allow all listeners, especially those using assistive technology like screen readers, to immediately understand what each episode covers. They can quickly choose episodes that interest them without having to listen to much of the audio or read through shownotes just to figure out the topic.
Adding chapter markers at logical breaks can make your podcast more accessible. These act like an interactive table of contents, allowing listeners to jump to certain sections.
To implement chapter markers:
0:00 - Intro
4:30 - Chapter 1: Progress in 2022
12:45 - Chapter 2: Case Study
28:00 - Chapter 3: Tips for the Future
Adding chapter markers creates a better experience for all listeners. They can use the chapters to skip to the sections they care about most.
Adding alt text to images, charts, graphs, and other visual elements is crucial for making podcasts accessible to those using screen readers. Alt text provides a textual description of the visual content, allowing blind and low vision users to understand what is being conveyed.
When including images or charts in your shownotes, be sure to use descriptive alt text that focuses on the key information being presented rather than just saying "chart" or "diagram." For complex charts and graphs, summarize the main takeaways.
Some tips for effective alt text:
Taking the time to thoughtfully describe your visual content in alt text ensures podcasters don't exclude an important segment of their audience. It's a simple yet meaningful way to increase accessibility.
Podcasts are an audio medium, so hosts should avoid relying too heavily on visual elements that listeners cannot see. For example, if you're referencing a chart or graph during your podcast episode, make sure to also describe it thoroughly in words so listeners who cannot view the image still understand the information you are conveying.
Similarly, if you put up a slide with key points from your discussion, read through the bullet points out loud rather than saying something vague like "Here's a slide with the key takeaways."
Do not use language like "As you can see here..." or "In this chart..." since vision-impaired listeners cannot actually see your visuals. Instead, describe exactly what is shown - "In this bar graph, the blue bar representing X is twice as large as the orange bar representing Y."
Providing listeners with a robust audio description of any presented visuals ensures your content is accessible and enjoyable for all audiences, not just those who can see your charts, photos, slides, or other graphics.
Your show notes are accessible when they are formatted with full paragraphs instead of bullet points or single fragmented sentences. Format your shownotes similar to a blog post with full paragraphs, proper headings, and thought out formatting.
This makes it easier for screen readers to interpret and for all readers to comprehend. Break sections into logical paragraphs, and avoid using excessive line breaks.
In your show notes, be sure to include:
Proper formatting and inclusion of key details in your shownotes improves the accessibility and readability for all users. Putting thought into your show notes makes the content more usable and shareable.
To ensure your site and audio player are usable and navigable by keyboard, follow these tips:
By optimizing keyboard usability, you allow access for users with disabilities while improving experience for all. Ensure your podcast platform and listening interface are navigable for the keyboard alone.
Making accessibility a core part of your podcast benefits everyone. While some accommodations specifically aid those with disabilities, most improve the overall listening experience.
When promoting your podcast, highlight accessible features that set you apart. For example, tout professional transcripts available for all episodes. Share your commitment to writing detailed alt text descriptions. Explicitly invite feedback to continue improving accessibility over time.
Listing accessibility as a key feature tells listeners you care about including everyone. It also spreads awareness to other podcasters about integrating inclusive practices. Promoting accessibility keeps the focus on enabling full participation. Though extra effort is required, the rewards of reaching a wider audience make it worthwhile.