What is a Google Web story?
Web Stories are the new web-based version of stories blended with image, audio, video, animation, and text. It appears on Google SERP, Discover, and Images.
Google Web Stories are powered by AMP technology and are owned by Google.
Google started testing Instagram-like Stories in their search results back in Feb 2018 under Amp stories. In May 2020 Google rebranded Amp stories to Web Stories.
In July 2020, Google released a Web Story plugin for WordPress. And, in October 2020, Google announced they were bringing Web Stories onto the Discover platform for India, Brazil, and the USA.
Google Official Site: Web Stories
How Web Stories appear across Google
Google Discover
Web Stories are the latest development in Google’s quest to take over your phone. The new carousel is a curated selection of trending web stories that can be found near the top of Discover on Android and iOS devices via version 8.11 of the Google app, or newer versions depending on country availability (US, India).
Web Stories provide both an engaging browsing experience as well as information about what content might interest people based on previous viewing habits; “likes,” shares, or site visits- all without leaving one’s main feed page!
The example Web Stories carousel is geared towards lifestyle content. Some examples of other carousel categories are Beauty, Fitness, Celebrities, Wellness, Entertainment, and Opinion.
Google Search
The Google Search grid view displays different types of web content, such as articles and photos. When people search for “things to do in New York”, the results show Web Stories from multiple publishers; when they search for a specific publisher only their stories will be displayed. The English version of this feature is currently available within the United States and India.
Google Images
Web Stories are popping up in Google Images. Web Stories is a section that will appear as an image card with the icon to indicate it’s there! You’ll be able to find them wherever you can use Google Search, which includes all regions and languages around the world
Create the Web Story
Web Stories are a new form of storytelling for the internet. You can publish regular web pages, but with short-form text and multimedia.
There are two ways to get started:
- Drag and Drop story Editor Tools
- Use AMP to create visual stories on the web (coding )
Best Web story Editor for wordpress Site
- Web stories for a wordpress plugin ( Powered by Google)
- make stories
Best Drag and Drop Web story editor
How to create Web stories in WordPress
For the first time ever, you can create and publish your very own Web Stories with just a few taps. The new plugin for WordPress will make it easier than ever to post on social media or in your blog!
Time needed: 3 minutes
Step 1. Download the Google Web Stories Plugin (Plugin is out from Beta)
Here is the link : web story plugin
Step 2. Add the new plugin to your WordPress
Under Plugins, ‘Add New’ as shown below.
Set up the configuration it Involved
Set up the configuration
- Publisher logo
- tracking code ( Google Analytics)
- Video optimization (optional)
- Monetization( yes! google ads)
- After going to New story and start creating a story with the available interface.
Best practices for creating web stories
A Good Web Story: Web Story is a series of information snippets that come together to tell a cohesive story. It requires a fixed topic and a narrative arc. A good Web Story also needs to be well-designed, use engaging language so that it pulls the reader/viewer and keeps them hooked on till the last page or slide – and perhaps prompts them to take any action, such as following a link or swiping up to view a web page.
Content
A successful Web Story is often a combination of both information and entertainment. A reader needs to be informed, but the message also has to resonate with them in order for it not just be another boring read on their screen. Here are some key things you should keep in mind when creating your own web story:
The content must inform its readers without being too overwhelming or confusing – It’s important that the writer choose topics which they can follow through with throughout an entire article so as not to lose interest performance; this way, each paragraph will have something new and different about it rather than merely repeating what was said before. Topics needn’t always revolve around current events either – many authors like using themselves as a subject matter since people
Keep it short and crisp
One of the features of a Web Story that serves as both an advantage and drawback is that it gives you a fixed space within which to work – so your content needs to be brief, pointed, and fit into whatever space is available. Google recommends no more than 280 characters per slide; this includes any titles or captions at all.
Enhance your stories with video
Stories are like watching a video, and you move from one frame to the next. You might be wondering why not incorporate actual videos within each slide? Right now people who surf through web content consume more short-form videos on platforms such as TikTok or Instagram Reels for example.
good design and aesthetics
How many times have you found yourself reading through an article or a story and then having to read it again because of all the typos? It’s frustrating, right. So how do we make sure that doesn’t happen with your stories while still making them interesting enough for viewers to want more than just one episode? The answer is simple: design well!
You can create slides/pages that are true to your brand by utilizing features like logo, color scheme, and font. These elements will make sure everyone knows you’re the real deal!
Add fun elements
Thanks to social media, it’s easier than ever before for businesses and brands to connect with their audience. Infographics are a great way of making your content more digestible while polls allow you to provide an interactive experience that will be sure to keep users engaged.
Readability and text size:
Keep your text easy to read. Your font size should be a minimum of 24, but go bigger if you can given the character and slide count. Contrast the color of your words with that in the background image or story page- avoid using images only and videos as well!
Use high-quality images:
Low-resolution images are best avoided as they can get blurry and bore. Use high-resolution images, and take care when resizing images to portrait.
Video length and size
Videos are a great enhancer, but they need to be used judiciously. Google recommends videos that are less than 15 seconds per page or 60 seconds maximum. Web Stories should ideally be shot at 720p rotated (1280h x 720w) and with 24 frames per second for the best viewing experience on portrait mode devices like smartphones
Be careful when using animation:
Animation can be a great way to bring your stories more life and keep readers engaged, but it’s important not to go overboard with animations. Distracting or repetitive animations may strain the reader’s eye.
Link back to your website page
Integrating Web Stories into your website is a great way to engage visitors. If you have an article related to digital marketing, link it to the category page that lists all articles and blogs on the topic of digital marketing.
Poster image (Important for CTR)
Avoid using images that could obscure the title of your story when users preview it in search results. If they are unable to clearly read what you’ve written, then there’s a good chance they’ll stop reading right away and not click through!
Avoid photos with text burned into them because this will make it harder for readers to see and understand the name of your story if someone is searching on Google or other platforms.
Use Eye-catching and high-quality images in poster images to increase the CTR.
The benefits of Web Stories
- Create beautiful and engaging content easily
- Creative flexibility for editorial freedom and branding
- Sharable and linkable on the open web
- Track and measure
- Immersive storytelling
- Advertising Benefit
- Boost your brand and organic growth rate Online.
- Best SEO strategy for bringing traffic to the website.