Podcast Translation: The Ultimate 2024 Guide

According to Research and Markets data, the global podcasting market value is forecasted to reach $94.88 billion by 2028. Even years ago, this industry has been attracting thousands of listeners. However, today and in the coming days, it is attracting millions of listens from around the world. So, if you want to expand your reach, you must consider making podcast translation a part of your workflow.

Podcast Insights reports over two million active podcasts and over 48 million episodes in over 100 languages. Research data revealed that a huge percentage of these figures come from the U.S. However, studies also show that the podcasting industry is growing increasingly popular everywhere.

Podcasters have several opportunities for generating revenues. However, they can only access these opportunities if they have a sizeable audience. So, if you want to get more people from different languages interested, you should learn about podcast translation.

What Are the Advantages of Podcast Translation?

Before we dive into the steps of creating a multilingual podcast, let’s discuss the benefits you can gain from this practice. Here are the advantages of podcast translation:

Wider Audience Reach

When you take advantage of podcast translation, you’re pushing your episodes beyond the linguistic and cultural limits of your native language. As a result, you can gain attention and listens from the international market.

Search Engine Optimization

Podcast translation requires you to create transcripts of your episodes. When you have a text version of the recording, you’re allowing Google to crawl through your content. The search engine will index your podcast episodes, which in turn increases your web presence. You will notice more traffic coming to your page. What’s more, you’re likely to attract your target audience.

Higher Revenue

Once you’ve reached your target audience and you’ve captured their interest, you will begin generating revenue. You will notice improvement across various levels of monetization channels. Using podcast translation will help you maximize returns when you’re requesting paid subscriptions or selling products or services. It will also allow you to leverage digital ads.

What Are the Elements of a Multilingual Podcast?

For a multilingual podcast to be effective, you need the following elements:

Transcript

Before you can even go into podcast translation, you need to create a transcript of the episode. Your best option is to hire podcast transcription services. Professionals will handle the recording and convert the audio to text accurately. By having a transcript of your podcast episodes, the translation process will be easier. Of course, it will also help you boost your search engine ranking.

Translation

Besides having an accurate transcript of the podcast audio, you also need a translation of the material. It should be available in the languages that you’re targeting. However, keep in mind that translating podcasts is more challenging than regular document translation. After all, you must consider figurative idioms and colloquial expressions.

If you hire a native-speaking translator, the process will be easier and more accurate. So, hire a professional podcast translation service for convenience and quality.

Localization

Localization is a more comprehensive way approach to podcast translation. It involves addressing non-textual and cultural components when adapting the episode for a different locale. If you want your podcast to come across as sincere, you need to localize the transcript according to your target audience’s culture and linguistic conventions.

The Steps Involved in a Podcast Translation

In general, podcast episodes aim to entertain or educate a particular audience group. You can find them in different formats, including conversational dialogues, interviews, monologues, and even repurposed content.

As we’ve mentioned, podcast translation has enabled businesses and individuals to generate greater revenue. After all, multilingual podcasts can open fresh opportunities for success on a global scale.

At this point, you might be asking, “How do I create podcasts that sound original in my target language?” Here are some tips that you can follow:

1. Hire Professionals

These days, it is easy to find apps that can allow you to translate simple sentences, phrases, and words. Because most of them are free, you might have considered using them for podcast translation. However, before you start searching for the best translation app, you should consider why professional audio translation is the better option.

When you hire qualified translators, you can expect:

• A translated text that accommodates cultural sensitivities – something that apps cannot achieve.
• Human elements like emotions and tone that won’t get lost in translation.
• Relevant cultural references and idioms that keep your podcasts conversational regardless of the target language.

2. Choose Native Speakers

When you hire a native-speaking voice talent, you can expect them to possess a more extensive vocabulary. What’s more, they can easily pick up and interpret the smallest nuances and stylistic details. As such, you can guarantee that the original message of the episode will be translated accurately.

Native-speaking translators also have the ability to play with words effortlessly. They feel comfortable with the language and can use it creatively without causing misunderstanding. After all, they are fully aware of the culture’s sensitive language and customs.

3. Create Multiple Versions of Your Podcast Episodes

Naturally, part of the podcast translation process is creating multiple versions of each episode. Depending on the number of languages you’re targeting, you need to record the podcast several times. Of course, as we’ve mentioned in the previous step, you’ll need to hire a native-speaking voice talent for every version.

4. Prepare the Transcript

Remember that there are lower chances of search engines crawling your audio file if you don’t have a transcript. So, with every podcast translation, you should have an accompanying transcript. If you have a transcript for every language you translated, you can optimize your content for as many locations as possible.

5. Have Subtitles

Are you producing podcasts with videos? Well, this is also a great opportunity to widen your reach. You can upload on platforms like YouTube and Facebook.

However, if you’re planning to do the same, make sure that your podcast translation comes with foreign subtitles. This way, you can retain the authenticity of the speakers’ natural conversation. You wouldn’t want your foreign language audiences to struggle to understand your podcasts.

What’s more, you can provide accessibility for hard-of-hearing individuals. With translated subtitles, you can expand your demographics and include foreign language audiences with hearing disabilities.

Wrapping Up

Ideally, you should record different language versions of every episode. If you want authenticity, you can hire native-speaking hosts. However, the other option is podcast translation with localization features. You can adapt the content to the relevant cultural customs, idioms, and colloquialisms in your target language.

Podcast translation is a great strategy for widening your reach in the global market.