Introduction to editorial guidelines
The possibilities when building a Web Story are as endless as your imagination and we encourage you to get creative and think outside the box. But, to successfully break the rules, you need to learn them. We’ve put together a set of editorial guidelines to help kickstart your Web Story creator journey.
Be video-first
Be video-first. As much as possible, use engaging, full-screen video in portrait ratio (9:16) for an immersive experience.
Be video-first. As much as possible, use engaging, full-screen video in portrait ratio (9:16) for an immersive experience.
Be concise
Be concise. Avoid large blocks of text. Keep it to the essentials, varying type size and styles to increase scannability, while keeping consistent across pages.
Be concise. Avoid large blocks of text. Keep it to the essentials, varying type size and styles to increase scannability, while keeping consistent across pages.
Ensure legibility
Ensure legibility. Make text easy to read by ensuring enough contrast and separation between your text and your images.
Ensure legibility. Make text easy to read by ensuring enough contrast and separation between your text and your images.
Bring your perspective
Bring your perspective. Be the protagonist of your own story and use a narrative arc to build suspense from one page to the next.
Bring your perspective. Be the protagonist of your own story and use a narrative arc to build suspense from one page to the next.
Then, make your story extraordinary
Use animations thoughtfully. Animating objects separately makes visuals more interesting and enjoyable, helping each item stand out.
Use animations thoughtfully. Animating objects separately makes visuals more interesting and enjoyable, helping each item stand out.
Find a style that fits
Choose an animation style that suits your aesthetic, but be sure that animations make your narrative more compelling, and be mindful of how quickly things move.
Choose an animation style that suits your aesthetic, but be sure that animations make your narrative more compelling, and be mindful of how quickly things move.
Use embeds
Embeds can provide an added dimension to a story when used sparingly and presented within your design.
Embeds can provide an added dimension to a story when used sparingly and presented within your design.
Be found on Google surfaces
Optimize for Google. Ensure your story is discoverable by using the Web Story tool to preview it.
Capture interest with your cover
Capture interest with your cover. The cover should reflect your brand while including a title and the publication date.
The cover should reflect your brand while including a title and the publication date.
Add video captions.
In some settings, listening to audio isn’t an option. So keep your audience engaged with captions.
In some settings, listening to audio isn’t an option. So keep your audience engaged with captions.
