Staying at the forefront with meaningful content formats for its users, India’s largest digital products company, Times Internet has worked with Google to implement a fast-loading full-screen, interactive, narrative-driven digital storytelling format. Users can now access these stories on all 16 Times Internet Brands and also on Google Discover feed in Android & iOS Apps. When the user opens Google App — they will see a carousel of stories that bring them rich, visual content.
Since its launch on Times Internet properties in April ‘20, web story content users have been spending 3X time across categories on its English & Hindi lifestyle, sports & entertainment platforms. After launching 400+ web stories across brands simultaneously within the first month, the group is planning to add web stories and innovative features such as contests, polls, quizzes, podcasts etc to 10+ sites to drive even greater engagement.
“Acquiring a user with high engagement is a big win for us. We foresee Web Stories to be the next big story-telling product with its high visual appeal across content categories, and expect it to drive significant advertising revenue in the near future.” Rudra Prasad Kasturi, Vice President – Times Internet
Times Internet’s proprietary content management system (CMS) & ad-tech solutions offer the brand greater flexibility & control over its content & data. Its technology team has implemented the web story plug-in, adding detailed analytics, comprehensive search/recommendations for Images, editing options etc in a way that the group’s editorial team is able to seamlessly create compelling, brand-safe visual stories & narratives across genres & languages. The group has also created a wide range of design templates that enable writers to select a relevant theme for their visual stories to deliver the most immersive and relevant content experience to end-readers.