Have you ever thought about adding chapters to your videos? If not, you should do it. They can help you get more views on YouTube.
YouTube chapters act as bookmarks that keep viewers watching and can increase engagement by as much as 220%. Amazing, right? Now the question is, how to add chapters to YouTube videos?
Well, you are at the right place. Here, we’ll learn how to create chapters on YouTube to ensure your tutorials, vlogs, or review videos are more engaging. Let’s dive in!
What are YouTube Chapters?
YouTube chapters are segments of your video that break content into smaller parts. This organization makes longer videos more fun to watch.
You can see famous YouTubers like MrBeast or Dude Perfect. Their videos always have chapters.
As you add chapters, your viewers will see a small marker in the timeline indicating where each chapter begins, starting at 0:00. This makes it easy for viewers to browse and click on bookmarks to jump directly to a specific section.
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 video you are about to watch.
That’s what happens to viewers when they watch your video. YouTube’s offshoot can really enhance their experience by giving them a glimpse into its content.
But keep in mind that as a content creator, you have to add your own YouTube chapters. You can do this by writing the time and title in the video description or by using good editing software.
Well, it may seem troublesome at first. But it’s worth it. They keep viewers engaged and help you get better watch time. How could it be?
Think about it: if you have the information your viewers are looking for, they will be more likely to stay and watch your video until the end.
For example, if they see you comparing some of their favorite apps, they will be more interested. Basically they want to get the full picture, right?
So do all YouTube videos need chapters? Not too. While you can use them for both short and long videos, they are especially useful for educational content or more complex stories like tutorials, reviews, or vlogs.
Read Also: What is Closed Captioning
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 video doesn’t have chapters, it may seem like one long, never-ending section, which isn’t much fun, especially if it’s hours long.
People might think twice about watching the whole thing because they’re afraid it won’t be to their liking and they’ll waste their time.
YouTube branch can help you with this. By dividing your video into clear sections, viewers can immediately see what’s included, such as a table of contents in a blog post.
This helps them enjoy the video more, especially if they like guidance on upcoming videos.
2. Improved Search Capabilities
YouTube chapters for better searchability? You understand. While 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 part they want, making it more fun and keeping them watching longer, and that’s what YouTube wants.
If people watch your video longer, it can rank higher in search results. You can use keywords in chapter titles to relate your video to what people are searching for.
3. Increased Watch Time
You might think that having chapters on YouTube will make people watch your videos less because they can jump straight to the content they want. But it actually helps them watch more.
When viewers see a video has multiple sections, they feel more confident that they can find the information they need.
How could this happen? If someone just wants to see the “Results” section of a product review video, they can go straight to that section, right?
But after seeing the results, they may be curious about how it all happened. So, they can watch the entire video.
4. Increased Audience 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 branches divide long videos into shorter sections, making them easier to watch. If viewers are confused, they can go back and watch the part they liked.
For example, a guide on how to build a gaming computer might include sections such as “Choosing Components” and “Installing a Graphics Card.” This way, viewers can go back to the part they need without having to watch the entire video.
Additionally, each chapter can include helpful tips, common mistakes, and links to great products. This helps new and experienced gamers find useful information that keeps them engaged.
5. You Can Reuse Them More Easily
If you know how to add chapters to your YouTube videos, it will really help others share them more easily. This can help you reach new audiences beyond your regular customers, meaning more views and potential new followers.
Chapters also make it easy to create short clips for social media. Anyone can just take a chapter of your video and use it for TikTok or YouTube Shorts.
Additionally, you can direct viewers back to your full video. This helps you interact with people who like short content, increases comments and shares, and helps build a community around your brand.
Also Read: 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 or automatic approach.
- Entered into YouTube Studios with your Google Account.
- Go to Contents section and select your video.
- Click Pencil icon for editing.
- In Information section, add your timestamp, starting at 00:00.
- Include at least three chapters, each at least 10 seconds long.
- If everything looks good, press Keep to save your changes.
That’s how to add chapters to YouTube videos. Easy, right? And YouTube chapters often appear automatically because the setting is enabled by default.
What if you don’t have it, check your settings like this:
Go to Contents > Videos > Pencil > Auto Chapter. Make sure “Allow Automatic chapters and key moments” is checked.
Or you can go to Arrangement > Upload Default > Advanced Settings > Turn it on Allow automatic chapters and key moments.
Just remember, if you use automatic chapters for your YouTube videos, they may not be as accurate as if you set the timestamps yourself. And you can include keywords that match the audience’s intent.
Additionally, when you add sections to a YouTube video, they may not appear as you expect, such as small bookmarks in the video or cards in the description.
This is said to occur on some channels that have less than 1000 subscribers. And usually, you have to wait at least 24 hours for YouTube chapters to display properly.
Best Practices for Using Video Chapters on YouTube
- Clear and Short Title. Keep your chapter titles short and easy to understand. They have to tell the viewer what is actually in each section. Don’t use long, confusing phrases or jargon.
- Plan the First Chapter. Don’t add chapters randomly. Think about how your video flows and plan where the natural breaks will be, such as when you change topics or something important happens. Do this before add chapters to YouTube.
- Use Keywords. Use keywords in your title that people might search for on YouTube. But make sure it sounds natural.
- Start Chapters at the Right Time. Chapters should start exactly when a new section 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. Add them only if they highlight important parts of the video that make it better for viewers. Too many chapters can get messy.
- Check and Repair. After you add chapters, watch your video to make sure they appear correctly. If something is wrong, correct the timing in the video description.
How to Create Chapters on YouTube: Conclusion
Want to grow your YouTube channel? It’s not just about having good content. You also need to focus on user experience, such as adding chapters to your videos.
This article has everything you need. Now, you know how to add chapters to your YouTube videos, right?
Keep in mind, it may take a little time for everything to appear correctly. And as long as you enter the details correctly in the video description, you’re all set.
Just that. We hope this is useful for you. For more tips on content creation and making money with membership platforms, check out the Gank blog. See you next time.
FAQ About How to Add Chapters to YouTube Videos
How to add chapters to YouTube videos?
You can go into YouTube Studio to change your video details and settings. In the video description, you can add a timestamp. Start the first timestamp at 0:00 and write it like this: “0:00 Introduction.”
Do you need 1000 subscribers to have a chapter?
There has been no official announcement regarding this. But if you have less than 1,000 subscribers, you’ll see your timestamp in the video description, and it should work fine. However, you won’t see any markers in the video timeline.
How to split YouTube videos into parts?
Section and chapter have the same meaning. You can follow the steps in this article to edit the video information and settings, add a timestamp in the video description, and then save the changes. You should have at least three parts to your video.
Why doesn’t adding chapters to YouTube videos work?
Make sure you know how to add chapters to your YouTube videos the right way. Check that your timestamps are formatted correctly, in chronological order, and that each chapter is 10 seconds long.
