Express yourself with Stories beta

Stories beta is another way you can connect with your community on YouTube—more casually and on the go. Find out how to express yourself with Stories and build even stronger bonds with your audience.

• Capturing your moments in Stories

  With Stories, you can connect with your viewers in a personal, in-the-moment way that allows you to express your creativity and expand your YouTube presence. Stories are short videos (up to 15 seconds) that allow you to connect with your fans more casually and on the go.

  You can post Stories from the YouTube app on your mobile device with a few simple taps:

  1. Create a story. From your YouTube app home screen, swipe right or tap the creation icon to jump into the Stories camera.
  2. Capture your moment. Capture your story in app, and apply an effect. You also can upload a recorded video or images from your gallery.
  3. Complete the content. Put the finishing touches on your story via the in-app editor and then drop in music and a variety of filters, stickers, and text options.
  4. Review and share. Once ready, you can post your story (it will expire after 7 days). Stories appear on the Stories tab of your channel page and may show on the Subscriptions feed to subscribers. In addition, all viewers may see your Stories on the homepage and on some watch pages as recommendations.

  Note: Stories is currently in beta release, and we may add or adjust features and roll out to more creators over time. You can send feedback to let us know which features you enjoy the most. Some new features may not be available on all channels during the beta.

  Examples

  YouTube Stories for creators You have the flexibility to create a custom story with video or images.	Use the in-app editor You can drop in music and a variety of filters, stickers, and text options.

  Tips

  • See how to create a story, apply effects, and post it to YouTube.
  • Stories can only be viewed on a mobile device using the YouTube app.
  • You can view your own Stories by navigating to the Stories tab of your channel page in the YouTube app.
  • Viewers who aren’t subscribed to your channel can subscribe directly from the story.

• Ways to get started with Stories

  As you introduce Stories, think about how you want to present this new type of content to your audience. It’s a good idea to explain what your Stories are about—as a community post or in an announcement video.

  If you’re new to the Stories format, consider how it can help you strengthen your relationship with your audience. Here are a few examples:

  • Start a conversation. Comments on Stories gives the audience a unique opportunity to engage with you and your content on YouTube. You can also heart or thumbs up comments.
  • Bring fans into the spotlight. The “Reply in story” feature allows you to incorporate comments into a story; viewers will see your response in-story with the original comment highlighted via a sticker.
  • Share more. The lightweight format and ease of use allow you to share snippets from your daily life without the pressure and preparation of your standard uploads.

  Every new community feature on YouTube involves a level of trust. Like other content on YouTube, Stories should respect our Community Guidelines. Copyright rules apply, so only post content in Stories that you created or that you're authorized to use. And be sure to follow other YouTube policies, such as disclosure for paid promotions.

  Examples

  Reply in story You can feature a viewer’s comment as a sticker in your next story.	Share daily life Stories allow you to complement your regular video uploads on the go.

• Some creator strategies for Stories

  As a creator, you already know how to express yourself in videos. Stories provides another format for you to be creative. To help you get inspired, we’ve collected some strategies from other creators who have been using Stories. You can adapt your approach based on what works best for you.

  Approach	How you can put it in action	What other creators have done
  Be consistent.	Consistency in both content and post schedule can help ensure viewers know what to expect when engaging with your Stories.	FashionbyAlly’s series “Outfit of the Day” is a repeatable format that provides viewers with consistent, easy-to-consume content.
  Promote responsibly.	Feedback from viewers indicates a desire for content that does more than notify them about the latest video uploads.	When promoting his video uploads, RJ Vashishth adds value by discussing the creative journey behind his newest release.
  Encourage engagement.	Stories can be a great way to start a conversation with your audience, so ask viewers to share their comments.	Creators can keep the conversation flowing with personalized responses and hearts.
  Maintain awareness.	Keep Stories top of mind with your audience via regular reminders in your videos, community posts, and live streams.	Creators can invite viewers to check out their Stories by promoting in a teaser video.
  Take fans backstage.	For many viewers, the story behind the scenes can be just as compelling as the final video.	Some artists have showcased their music recording process to get the audience pumped for future song releases.
  Create an adventure.	Give your audience a memorable experience by bringing them along on your journey, giving them a front-row seat to the action.	Tim Schmoyer used Stories to chart his journey to YouTube Space Toronto, giving fans an experience they couldn’t get anywhere else.
  Mark your milestones.	Try celebrating your biggest moments in Stories, along with some of your fans.	When Shruti Arjun Anand crossed two million subscribers, she created a story to share her success with her fans.

  Remember, Stories is designed to be a fun and easy way to express yourself. We’re excited to see how you engage with your fans using this new format.