Dumb SEO Questions

(Entry was posted by Devin Peterso on this post in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 05/05/2014).

Transcribing videos.

For some products I sell there are manufacturer videos that describe the specs and instructions for using the item, many of these videos are pretty helpful so I post them on my product pages. I was considering transcribing the videos and adding that content as supplemental information (probably using an `aside` element). However, I then remembered that youTube transcribes most videos automatically (these videos are all on youtube). I then thought that perhaps my transcriptions would be considered duplicate content since Google likely indexes the transcriptions it automatically generates from the videos. Is this reasoning correct? Are there any good reasons to transcribe or not to transcribe these videos??
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YOUR ANSWERS

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.

  • Devin Peterson: For some products I sell there are manufacturer videos that describe the specs and instructions for using the item, many of these videos are pretty helpful so I post them on my product pages. I was considering transcribing the videos and adding that content as supplemental information (probably using an 'aside' element). However, I then remembered that youTube transcribes most videos automatically (these videos are all on youtube). I then thought that perhaps my transcriptions would be considered duplicate content since Google likely indexes the transcriptions it automatically generates from the videos. Is this reasoning correct? Are there any good reasons to transcribe or not to transcribe these videos?
  • Simon Fryer: Hey +Devin Peterson ;

    Transcribing the videos is normally a good idea, especially if you're a distributor. Chances are the manufacturer hasn't gone to the effort so you can to capitalize on the long-tail goodness if the content is right. ;

    It's worth the effort of transcribing them  ;yourself too. I've found Youtube's auto-transcriptions to be pretty awful. ;

    Duplicate content isn't anything to be concerned about in this instance, as there are no 'punishments' per se for having the same (or similar) piece of content. ;
  • Devin Peterson: +Simon Fryer ;I took the time to transcribe a few... and I'm realizing how terrible the auto transcriptions are... I'm no longer worried about duplicate content lol. Thanks!
  • Simon Fryer: No probs ;) ;
  • Simon Fryer: You can probably grab someone to transcribe them on Fiverr, if you find that kind of thing as tedious as I do.
  • Devin Peterson: +Simon Fryer ; Hmm. I don't mind at all. In fact, hit me up if you want me to do it for 5!

View original question in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 05/05/2014).