Trappe Digital LLC may earn commissions from sponsored links and content. When you click and buy you also support us.
Adding podcast chapters to podcast episodes makes it easier for listeners to navigate content and find exactly what they want to hear. The evolution of podcast platforms has made chapters an essential feature for improving the listener experience. The most basic version of podcast chapters is relatively easy to set up.
It’s a valuable feature for my podcast listeners. They can jump right to the sections that interest them most, which leads to better engagement. Here are my steps on how to easily create chapters, which will look like this on Spotify:
It looks similar on Apple Podcasts. Click on the timestamps to go to that chapter. Unfortunately, these time stamps are behind the “See more” button for episodes, so they are currently a bit hidden.
Add the same copy to your YouTube version of the episode and it will work there too:
Chapters provide several key benefits:
- Improved navigation for listeners
- Better retention as people can easily replay important sections
- Enhanced discoverability of specific content within longer episodes
- Professional presentation of content
While Spotify only supports clickable timestamps on mobile devices, the feature still provides value for all listeners who want to scan episode content quickly.
When adding chapters to podcasts, 3-5 minutes per chapter is reasonable.
The effort to add chapters pays off through improved listener experience. Whether someone wants to revisit a specific segment or skip to the most relevant content, chapters make podcasts more user-friendly and professional.
Creating podcast chapters from transcripts
Here’s a streamlined process for creating chapters using AI tools:
1. Transcript
Upload the episode into Otter for it to be transcribed. Then export as txt.
2. Upload the transcript to AI
Upload the transcript to Claude or Perplexity and prompt as follows: “Create an outline with the different topical chapters from this podcast and then include the time stamp before the name of the chapter like this: (29:02).”
Here is how the output looks like:
3. Upload into Spotify for Podcasters
Publish or re-save the episode and you are all set.
As podcast platforms continue to evolve, chapter functionality will likely become even more sophisticated. While current implementation methods differ between platforms, the trend toward better content navigation is clear.
Implementing chapters should be a priority for any podcast focused on delivering value to listeners. The small investment in time during post-production can significantly impact audience engagement with the content.
The process might seem technical at first, but the benefits for listeners make it worthwhile. Starting with simple chapter implementations allows for refinement of the approach over time.