People enjoy seeing stories play out. Tappable tale experiences are so well-liked because of this. These tappable stories may be created on various platforms, and now Google has its version called Google Web Stories.
Although Google isn’t a traditional social media platform, one of its features, Google Web Stories, is comparable to the stories format you’d see on well-known websites like Instagram.
Web Stories are an online adaptation of the well-known “Stories” format that combines text, video, audio, graphics, and animation to produce a dynamic viewing experience.
Let’s dive into the deep!
Google Web Stories: What are They?
Google Web Stories are tappable pages with audio, video, and text that allow authors to interact with audiences and share information with them. Before becoming web stories, the format was known as AMP Stories.
You can add Web Stories to a newsletter, link to them on social media, and find them in the usual Google Search results and as carousels in Google Discover.
Web Stories can be indexed and surfaced in relevant results because they are individual pages on your website. You can showcase them on your website as independent content or embed them like podcasts or YouTube videos.
You may share brand tales with consumers who can click through to experience the story you want to tell by using individual story panels that include images, videos, and other elements.
Owning the material for your Google Web Stories gives you the best chance to take advantage of SEO benefits and maximize this immersive storytelling option.
Google Web Stories Example
Web Stories Example:
“7 Factors to Consider While Choosing Web Hosting.”
This web story starts with what appears to be information on a thing. However, because of how effectively Digital Jubilee Stories uses informational visuals, it stands out among other Web Stories.
Advantages of Web Stories
Have you yet come around to developing Google Web Stories for your company?
Let’s discuss some of the advantages of Google Web Stories for your company and why they might be superior to some of the social media alternatives if you’re still on the fence about using them.
(A) It offers users a fresh approach to discovering your website.
The possibility for Google Web Stories to be visible in Google search results in pages or Google pictures is a strong incentive to consider generating them due to Google’s potent search engine capabilities. It’s another way to improve your SEO strategy.
Furthermore, you may include links or CTAs that direct visitors to your site because Google Web Stories are configurable.
(B) You own the content or the information.
Content ownership is the main distinction between Google Web Stories and competing for social media platforms. You can do whatever you want with the material because you developed it using AMP or a third-party platform.
You can share it. However, you wish or embed it on your website. Consider your intended use of Google Web Stories and how readers will discover yours. This may influence your artistic decisions as well. There are a plethora of solutions available to you.
(C) They give your website immersive experiences.
Google Web Stories may give your website a new depth, whether you’ve been seeking a method to spice up your blogging, tell a narrative, or appreciate how a full-screen experience looks.
Full-screen Google Web Stories can be seen by desktop and mobile users, reducing descriptions and enhancing the sense of immersion.
(D) They are enjoyable for your audience.
Americans use their mobile devices for five hours a day on average. As a result, people enjoy skimming through topics that catch their attention.
Finding your specialty and sharing captivating, engaging stories can help you stand out from the noise and clutter of the internet and draw in new viewers.
(E) They provide novel advertising options.
You should know that Google Web Stories can be combined with Google AdWords and other ad options. We shall get into this more in a moment. However, this might be a smart choice for some firms due to its strong SEO connection.
How to Create a Web Story for Google
Consider your brand’s image before you start your first Google Web Story. What tales ought you to tell? Utilizing the persuasiveness of stories may be a fun method to get people interested in your company and what you have to say.
Never forget to storyboard your story in advance, whether on a whiteboard or the back of a napkin. Determine how many panels you require and sketch out your idea. Which images or videos should be displayed on each board? Recall your CTA and advertisements.
The actual process of writing your Google Web Stories can now begin.
Google stories contain a lot of code. A coding engineer on your team might be able to write the story for you, but they must be knowledgeable about and at ease using the AMP framework. However, AMP does have a tonne of documentation to help creators if you want to go along that path.
You can look into various tools if you’re not a developer and want to make Google Web Stories.
Google Web Stories Creation Tools
Google provides various third-party options for creating Google Web Stories because it knows that many of its authors won’t be coding engineers.
(a) Web Stories by Google Plug-In
We will start with WordPress-built websites since they account for many websites. You can build Google Web Stories using this plug-in from the content management system of your WordPress website.
Your WordPress media library is accessible to your Google Web Stories since it is integrated with your website. The plug-in allows you to post your narrative directly to your website and offers drag-and-drop construction.
Additionally, you can use templates to help with your design. This might be the most apparent and seamless solution if you have a WordPress website, especially if you are already familiar with the content manager.
(b) Newsroom AI
With many tools, Newsroom AI enables you to start making Google Web Stories for free. You may begin spreading your tales on Google, even with the free version, by embedding stories on your website. You can monitor how well your accounts perform through the analytics reporting option.
(c) Make Stories
Make Stories has features that are simple to use, much like the previous two choices. They employ a drag-and-drop interface and provide a library of free photos, icons, symbols, and more. To help you get started, they also have templates.
They integrate with WordPress, but you may export each tale as a zip file, publish it to your website’s FTP, and use embed tools like iFrame.
This one might be the more straightforward choice if you only want to take a quick look around before jumping in if you only want to do a little exploring.
SEO Checklist for Google Web Stories
Web Stories adhere to the same traditional SEO best practices. If your company already has an SEO plan, use it as you go along. There are essential Web Story SEO aspects to be aware of, though.
- All of the components of your Web Story should have metadata added to them because this will allow search engines and other features to learn more about what is inside them. By adhering to the recommendations for AMP metadata, you can optimize for this.
- Less than 90 characters should be used for story titles.
- Noindex attributes should not be added to your site map when including Web Stories. The Index Coverage Report can determine whether you have been indexed.
- You want your Web Stories to be self-canonical since they are pages on your website. Therefore, there should be a link rel=”canonical” to each of your Stories.
- All images require alt text, and videos need subtitles to increase discoverability.
- Web Stories must all use AMP structured data.
Final Words About Web Stories by Google
Most brands have compelling narratives. You may improve your online reputation and win clients’ confidence by using Google Web Stories to share your stories with your followers.
Your videos can cover anything, from the culture of your business to introduce new products. Various plug-ins can assist you in creating Google Web Stories, even though writing the code to do so is challenging.