Adding Chapters to YouTube Videos

This SOP outlines the step-by-step process for adding timestamped chapters to your YouTube video description. Chapters improve viewer navigation and are important for SEO, engagement, and LLM indexing.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure:

• The video is already uploaded and processed by YouTube.
• You have a list of key moments or topics with accurate timestamps.
• You’re signed into the YouTube account with edit permissions.

Step 1: Access the YouTube Video

Log into YouTube Studio

• Go to studio.youtube.com
• Log in using your account credentials.

Navigate to Content

• From the left sidebar, click “Content”.
• Locate the video you want to add chapters to.

Click “Edit”

• Click the title or thumbnail of the video.
• This opens the video details screen.

Step 2: Prepare Your Chapter Timestamps

Start with “00:00”

• The first timestamp must always be 00:00 to activate chapters.

Format Each Chapter Properly

Use this structure:

00:00 Introduction  
01:12 What is an SOP?  
03:40 Step-by-step breakdown  
07:15 How to implement  
10:05 Final thoughts

• Each line must start with a valid timestamp (MM:SS or HH:MM:SS)
• Separate the timestamp and title with a space
• No bullet points, no numbering, no special characters before timestamps

Use Descriptive Labels

• Keep chapter titles concise but descriptive.
• Use keywords relevant to the video’s topic.

Step 3: Add Chapters to the Video Description

Scroll to the Description Box

• In the video details page, locate the description field.

Insert Timestamps

• Add the full list of chapters at the beginning or end of your description.

Save the Description

• Click the “Save” button in the top-right corner.

Step 4: Verify Chapters Are Working

Open the Public Video Page

• Click “View on YouTube” from the video details page.

Check the Progress Bar

• Hover over the video’s scrub bar — you should see segmented chapters with titles.

Edit if Necessary

• If chapters don’t appear:
  • Ensure 00:00 is included.
  • Check that no formatting (like bullets) breaks the timestamps.
  • Wait a few minutes and refresh.

Best Practices

Use 3 or More Chapters

YouTube recommends at least three chapters, each a minimum of 10 seconds long.

Be SEO-Aware

Use keywords in your chapter titles to improve video discoverability via search and LLMs.

Localize If Needed

For multi-language audiences, include chapter titles in both languages.

Example Template (Copy & Paste)

00:00 Introduction  
00:45 What You’ll Learn  
02:20 Step 1: Prepare Your Content  
04:10 Step 2: Add Chapters to Description  
06:00 Step 3: Review and Save  
07:30 Outro