Have you thought about adding chapters to your videos? If not, you should. They can help you get more views on YouTube.
YouTube chapters act as markers that keep viewers watching and can boost engagement by as much as 220%. Awesome, right? Now the question is, how to add chapters to YouTube videos?
Well, you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll explore how to make chapters in YouTube to ensure your tutorials, vlogs, or review videos more engaging. Let’s dive in!
What are YouTube Chapters?
YouTube chapters are segments of your video that break down the content into smaller parts. This organization makes even longer videos more enjoyable to watch.
You can look at famous YouTubers like MrBeast or Dude Perfect. Their videos always have chapters.
When you add chapters, your viewers will see small markers on the timeline that show where each chapter begins, starting at 0:00. This makes it easy for your viewers to skim through and click on a marker to jump right to a specific part.
When chapters are included, it’s easier for you to find the information you want to know, right? For example, you can quickly check if some of your favorite apps are mentioned in the videos you’re about to watch.
That’s what happens to your audience when they watch your videos. YouTube chapters can really enhance their experience by giving them a sneak peek of what’s in the content.
But remember that as a content creator, you have to add YouTube chapters on your own. You can do this by writing the times and titles in the video description or by using good editing software.
Well, it might seem like a hassle at first. But it’s worth it. They keep your viewers engaged and help you have better watch time. How is that possible?
Think about it: if you have the information your viewers are looking for, they’re more likely to stick around and watch your video until the end.
For example, if they see that you’re comparing some of their favorite apps, they’ll be more interested. Basically, they want to get the full picture, right?
So, do all YouTube videos need chapters? Not really. While you can use them for both short and long videos, but they’re especially helpful for educational content or more complex stories like tutorials, reviews, or vlogs.
Read Also: What are Closed Captions
Why Add Chapters to YouTube Videos
Here’s why adding YouTube chapters is a great idea for your content:
1. Better Content Organization
If your videos don’t have chapters, they might seem like one long, endless piece, which isn’t very fun, especially if they last for hours.
People might think twice about watching the whole thing because they’re afraid it won’t be what they want and they’ll waste their time.
YouTube chapters can help you with that. By dividing your video into clear parts, viewers can see what’s included right away, just like a table of contents in a blog post.
This helps them enjoy the video more, especially if they like having a guide to what’s coming up.
2. Improved Searchability
YouTube chapters for better searchability? You got it. Although you can’t search for chapters directly, clear titles help viewers find what they want to watch.
And YouTube prefers organized videos. Adding chapters lets viewers jump to the parts they want, making it more enjoyable and keeping them watching longer, which is what YouTube wants.
When people watch your video longer, it can rank higher in search results. You can use keywords in your chapter titles to connect your video to what people are searching for.
3. Increased Watch Time
You might think that having chapters on YouTube would make people watch your videos less because they can just skip to what they want. But it actually helps them watch more.
When viewers see that a video has chapters, they feel more confident that they can find the information they need.
How does this happen? If someone only wants to see the “Results” section of a product review video, they can go right to that part, right?
But after checking out the results, they might get curious about how it all happened. So, they could end up watching the entire video.
4. Improved Viewer Engagement
Engagement happens when people share their opinions by liking and commenting on videos. But first, they need to understand what the video is about.
YouTube chapters split long videos into shorter sections, which makes them easier to watch. If viewers get confused, they can go back and watch the parts that they like.
For example, a guide on how to build a gaming computer might include sections like “Picking Parts” and “Putting in the Graphics Card.” This way, viewers can go back to the parts they need without having to watch the entire video.
Also, each chapter can include helpful tips, common mistakes, and links to great products. This helps both new and experienced gamers find useful information that keeps them engaged.
5. You Can Repurpose More Easily
If you know how to add chapters to your YouTube videos, it really helps others share them more easily. This can help you reach new viewers beyond your usual subscribers, which means more views and potentially new followers.
Chapters also make it simple to create shorter clips for social media. Anyone can take just one chapter from your video and use it for TikTok or YouTube Shorts.
Plus, you can direct viewers back to your full video. This helps you engage with those who like shorter content, boosts comments and shares, and helps build a community around your brand.
Read Also: Best Time to Post on YouTube
How to Add Chapters to Your YouTube Videos
You can add chapters to YouTube videos using YouTube Studio with a manual approach or automatically.
- Log into YouTube Studio with your Google Account.
- Go to the Content section and choose your videos.
- Click the Pencil icon to edit.
- In the Description section, add your timestamps, starting with 00:00.
- Include at least three chapters, each lasting a minimum of 10 seconds.
- If everything looks good, hit Save to keep your changes.
That’s how to add chapters to YouTube videos. Easy, right? And YouTube chapters often appear automatically because the setting is on by default.
What if you don’t have them, check your settings like this:
Go to the Content > Videos > Pencil > Automatic Chapters. Make sure “Allow Automatic chapters and key moments” is checked.
Or you can go to the Settings > Upload Defaults > Advanced Settings > Turn on Allow automatic chapters and key moments.
Just remember, if you use automatic chapters for your YouTube video, they might not be as accurate as if you set the timestamps yourself. And you can put the keywords that match with the viewers’ intent.
Also, when you add chapters to YouTube videos, they might not show up as you expect, like the little markers in the video or the cards in the description.
It is said to happen to some channels that have less than 1000 subscribers. And usually, you need to wait at least 24 hours for the YouTube chapters to display correctly.
Best Practices for Using Video Chapters on YouTube
- Clear and Short Titles. Keep your chapter titles short and easy to understand. They should tell viewers exactly what’s in each section. Don’t use long, confusing phrases or jargon.
- Plan Chapters First. Don’t add chapters randomly. Think about how your video flows and plan where the natural breaks are, like when you change topics or something important happens. Do this before adding chapters to YouTube.
- Use Keywords. Use keywords in your titles that people might search for on YouTube. But make sure they sound natural.
- Start Chapters at the Right Time. Chapters need to start exactly when a new part of your video begins. Watch your video carefully to make sure the timing is right.
- Use the Right Format. Always use this format: “mm:ss Chapter Title”. The first chapter should always start at 00:00.
- Only Add Useful Chapters. Don’t add chapters just because. Only add them if they mark an important part of the video that makes it better for viewers. Too many chapters can be messy.
- Check and Fix. After you add chapters, watch your video to make sure they show up correctly. If something’s wrong, fix the times in the video description.
How to Make Chapters in YouTube: A Wrap-Up
Want to grow your YouTube channel? It’s not just about having great content. You also need to focus on the user experience, like adding chapters to your videos.
This article has everything you need. Now, you know how to add chapters to your YouTube videos, right?
Just keep in mind, it might take a bit for everything to show up properly. And as long as you enter the details correctly in your video description, you’re all set.
That’s it. We hope you find this helpful. For more tips on content creation and making money with membership platforms, check out Gank blog. See you next time.
FAQ About How to Add Chapters to YouTube Video
How do you add chapters to a YouTube video?
You can log into YouTube Studio to change your video details and settings. In the video description, you can add timestamps. Start the first timestamp at 0:00 and write it like this: “0:00 Introduction.”
Do you need 1000 subscribers to have chapters?
There isn’t an official announcement about this. But if you have less than 1,000 subscribers, you’ll see your timestamps in the video description, and they will work properly. But, you won’t see any markers on the video timeline.
How do I split a YouTube video into sections?
Sections and chapters mean the same thing. You can follow the steps in this article to edit your video information and settings, add a timestamp in the video description, and then save your changes. You need to have at least three sections for your video.
Why is adding chapters to YouTube videos not working?
Make sure you know how to add chapters to your YouTube video the right way. Check if your timestamps are formatted correctly, in chronological order, and each chapter is 10 seconds long.
