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Copyright © 2015 SDL plc. www.sdl.com
Cheat Sheet to Kickstart
Your Global Video Strategy
You’re looking to build a global video strategy, but where do you start?
We know that there can be hurdles, which is why we created this cheat sheet
to start you on the right track!
When creating the original video…
make it relevant to a
global audience.
You can better connect with your global
audience by building into your script
multicultural names, locations around the
world, different currencies. Also, carefully
evaluate the effectiveness of any humor
and avoid idioms that may not translate
well to other languages or cultures, such
as barking up the wrong tree, beating
around the bush, pulling someone’s leg,
etc.
preserve your scripts.
Transcription services are required if you
cannot provide the original script. This
creates additional costs and delays in the
localization process. You can request the
edited, updated and final script from the
agency who created the original video, this
will allow you to reuse it for the translation
process, but it can also be used online as
part of your SEO strategy as well as for
internal training.
leave space for subtitles.
Subtitles will be displayed within the bottom
portion of the video area. Don’t place
important visuals in the lower third of the
screen where the subtitles typically appear.
Some video players also have hovering
features which can overlay and hide your
important visuals.
create impactful static text.
Your video designer may be tempted to
create highly intricate animations with on-
screen text. This can become problematic
to recreate if the translated content does
not have the same amount of words or
contains more characters. If you do use
animations, make sure the animation
source files can be made available for
translation. If you can “wow” your audience
with static text, simply allow flexible space
to accommodate target languages that are
longer or shorter than the original
language. Splash screens with a solid
background can help get your message
across, while also facilitating video
localization as the video can be extended
to support text expansion.
limit on-screen speakers.
Using multiple speakers will increase audio
recording costs. If your original video
contains multiple on-screen speakers, you
may be multiply the audio recording costs
for each new market. Also voice-over can
sometimes become distracting if not lip-
synched. Off-screen speakers on the other
hand can be duplicated by one or more
alternate voices to reduce cost.
When sending your video off to translation, provide…
 High Resolution video with split audio tracks
(narration, music, sound effects)
o Clean textless video may be required
for recreation of on-screen animations.
 Audio and On-screen text script and/or
Subtitle file (SRT, SUB, SBV, XML etc.)
 Publishing specs (file format, size and
compression if different from source)
 Project & Voice brief
 Target languages and markets
 Animation project files (if required)
When publishing your video assets…
Add Videos to your
Website  Share Videos through
Social Channels  Push Videos to your
Portals
SUBTITLES
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