Putting subtitles in a video - SRT files

[chandrika]

I was reading that there are SRT subtitle files, that most media players can handle. I had always thought that subtitles were added within video editing software by hand, has anyone used these SRT files, I was wondering of they are searchable by search engine spiders, as if they are it might be better for seo than adding "call outs" text into a video for sub titles, which is what i usually do.

[almer]

Hi,

If you put the video online I don't know if adding a loose file actualy works.
If you present it as a download most people will have to manualy add the subtitle to the movie.
I would know how to do this because I watch subtitled movies a lot, but I don't think most people do.

As for spidering this as content. Don't think it works.
Searched for a lot of lyrics but never found a subtitle file.
Easy to try ofcourse if you make a SRT file with gibberish inside and upload it.

Cheers,

Almer

[almer]

Nope, by the way.

http://www.google.nl/webhp?sourceid=navclient&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8#hl=nl&q=%22l+want+Captain+lndustry.%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=e1f06ec38e8647e7
Only a HTML version of an SRT file.

Or is it yes? Looking at the file location: www.meanstreams.com/Defendor/Defendor%5BEng%5D%5BSubs%5D.srt

Cheers,

Almer

[chandrika]

Thanks, I had been unable to find any .srt files in google search results, so those links were really insightful. Looking at that first example in googles results it does appear that they have spidered the content of the .srt file as the text from within the file is shown in the result. Usually they put the "html verson" link for people to have option to view the content in that format, as they do for .pdf files that they have spidered they put that link to "html version" as an option.

So it does suggest that they do spider them.

[chandrika]

I was not sure if .srt files were indexed that was all. I realise there is alot of info on how to make .srt video subtitle files on the web, just was not sure if they were included in the index.

I can see however that if I change the url of the search url for a .pdf file...

from

google.co.uk/search?hl=en&as_q=report&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=pdf&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images

to

google.co.uk/search?hl=en&as_q=report&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=srt&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images

That there are alot of .srt files indexed there, so would seem that in terms of seo, like a good idea to use .srt files for videos if the content is valuable and relevant to a sites content.

[almer]

Sorry Chandrika, I do apologize.

My remark was not for you.
Someone spammed the thread with "i could not find any info on srt files, blah blah".
That's what I replied on but it must have been removed.
I feel like an ass now, im teribly sorry.
I'll find a way to edit or remove my earlier remark.

My sincere apologies,

Almer

[jamesneo]

many many thanks to all for your replies...