by Google
The very popular video format known as Instagram Stories can also be found on YouTube. Stories on YouTube have already been adopted by many creators and it has been confirmed that regularly creating stories supports channel growth. That's why we decided to prepare a short guide to YouTube Stories and a list of the benefits that using them brings.
• How do YouTube Stories work?
• What are the features of YouTube Stories?
• Benefits of YouTube Stories to help you grow
HOW DO YOUTUBE STORIES WORK?
If you have ever created at least one story on any online platform, then you will have no problem with the YouTube Stories feature and you will learn to work with it very quickly and intuitively. However, even though the user interface is very similar to other social networks, YouTube Stories are somewhat different from others.
First of all, it is very important to mention that YouTube Stories can only be used through the YouTube mobile application. The feature was designed mainly as another way for the creator to communicate with the audience, which is also confirmed by the rule that makes YouTube Stories available only to YouTubers with 10,000+ subscribers.
While stories on other platforms fulfill the role of quick information that disappears after 24 hours or less, YouTube decided to choose a different strategy. The video platform has adapted its stories to remain public for up to 7 days after publication. Stories remain public longer, thanks to which they reach a wider audience and thus reach new potential fans. The Stories you create should appear in your channel's mobile app as a new "Stories" tab. Subscribers can see your Stories in various places in the app.
YouTube Stories can appear to them on the Subscriptions page, Home page, and even on some pages below the video. You can view your own Story by clicking on your profile photo in the Stories section of the Home page on your mobile device or on the Subscriptions page.
WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF YOUTUBE STORIES?
YouTube Stories have several features that you can take full advantage of. Some of the features you'll probably already know from Instagram, but there are also some that are tailored to be relevant to YouTube.
1. LOCATION AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL TAGGING
YouTube Stories features include tagging people, adding locations, and stickers. We already know these features from Instagram, but they are different in some ways. On YouTube, tagging people works a little differently. While on Instagram you can tag any user in a story, in YouTube Stories you can only tag YouTube channels. Tagging in stories can also be very useful for various collaborations between creators.
TIP: If you make a video in collaboration with another YouTuber, don't forget to let your fans know about it via YouTube Story and tag your fellow creator in it. This way you will help each other spread your channel to a wider audience and increase your chances of gaining new subscribers.
2. SWIPE UP ON YOUTUBE STORIES
In the case of Instagram stories, we are familiar with the “Swipe up” function, thanks to which we can insert an external link into the video that any user can visit. YouTube has chosen a slightly different strategy and instead of the “Swipe up” function, it has added the option to share the video. Creators can share videos that they have made themselves or support other creators by sharing their videos. This is a great function that can help you be discovered by completely new viewers and potential subscribers.
3. LIKES AND COMMENTS IN THE STORY
We are completely used to likes and comments on YouTube videos, but in stories it is less common. What is their meaning? Likes and comments in YouTube Stories serve exactly the same purpose as under a video. Through them, we get very important feedback from viewers.
TIP: If a certain type of story that you regularly create has a higher number of likes and comments than other concepts, then you should include more stories in your creation that have a positive response from viewers.
4. REPLYING TO COMMENTS
A great feature that is characteristic of YouTube Stories is the ability to respond to comments using stories. You can use this, for example, if the same question is often repeated in story comments and instead of responding to each comment separately, you can select one specific one and respond to it directly through stories.
TIP: The feature can also be used to get closer to the community. Invite your audience in the story to write their questions in the comments and answer them directly using other stories.
5. YOUTUBE STORIES STATISTICS
Whether you've just started creating stories recently or you create them regularly, remember that whenever you start something new on YouTube, it's important to evaluate and monitor how the experiment is going. This is the only way to find out what works on your channel and what to create in order to grow. This also applies to YouTube Stories. Watch how your stories are doing, how many likes, comments and views they have.
In the YouTube mobile app, you can find a very simple analysis of your YouTube Stories that will help you decide what content to create. You can find the feature in the mobile app in the Home section, just scroll through the page and you should see the story statistics among the first videos.
Each analysis will provide you with the number of views your stories have achieved and the number of subscribers you have gained thanks to YouTube Stories. You can also find more brief information about your YouTube Stories in the YouTube Studio in the Content section.
TIP: Think about why some stories are more successful than others and create more stories with a positive response.
BENEFITS OF YOUTUBE STORIES THAT WILL HELP YOU GROW
Creating a 15-second video in the mobile app will only take a moment, but with long-term contributions it can help you grow your YouTube channel. Let’s take a look at how YouTube Stories can help you on your journey to a successful channel.
1. SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF YOUR CHANNEL
YouTube Stories were specifically designed for the online platform to be an added value for creators, and it really works. YouTube Stories make it easier for creators to communicate with their audience and help them gain new followers. It was confirmed that YouTubers who actively used the Stories feature gained an average of 8.5% more subscribers compared to creators who did not use Stories.
We ourselves observed the impact of using YouTube Stories on channel growth. We set aside a period when we actively created Stories and carefully monitored the statistics. After two weeks, we recorded an increase of 563 subscribers in that period, of which 59 subscribers were acquired thanks to YouTube Stories. In our case, it was not an 8.5%, but even an increase of over 10% in subscriptions. The numbers speak for themselves, there is no reason to wait, you can create your first story in the mobile app in the create section.
2. GET NEW VIEWERS
A big advantage of YouTube Stories is that each story contains a “subscribe” button, which opens up other options for you to gain new fans. The button is currently available in our Czech neighbors, but we expect it to arrive in Slovakia soon. In addition to the fact that stories contain a call to subscribe, another advantage of stories is that they remain published for 7 days, during which they are shown not only to your subscribers, but also to all users based on the algorithm. The more people see your stories, the greater the chance that they will be shown to people who can become your new viewers. Take advantage of the benefits of YouTube Stories and create a story where you introduce your new video and get the attention of potential subscribers.
TIP: Instead of repeatedly resharing your new video using the VIDEO sticker in YouTube Stories, try creating a short trailer to post in the story and appeal to users to come to your channel to watch the full video.
3. BUILD A TRUSTWORTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
Acquiring new fans is very important for channel growth, but it is equally important to maintain a close relationship with current subscribers. YouTube Stories are also a great tool for getting closer to your community. Show your loyal fans “behind the scenes” footage from the video shoot, chat via QnA or regularly answer their comments in stories.
YouTube Stories can be a definite asset on your journey to a successful YouTube channel. Work with this tool wisely and always monitor how your stories are doing so that you can fully utilize the potential of YouTube Stories. We believe that we have encouraged you to create YouTube Stories with this article and that using them will soon bring you many new subscribers. If you have any further questions or are interested in YouTube consulting, do not hesitate to contact us. We keep our fingers crossed for you and wish you much success on your YouTube journey.
