When you think you’ve mastered every significant type of content creation for the web, Google comes along and introduces Web Stories. You may not be aware of this, but Google Web Stories has been around for a while. Web tales are essentially Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) story format, which debuted in May 2020 and was renamed then. Google describes this type of content as “snackable” and says it’s perfect for people who want to scan something on the go, like during a subway ride or lunch.
Sharing your experience, inspiring others to connect, and driving visitors to your website are all within your reach with Google Web Stories. Why you should use them to your advantage is discussed below. There are tales from all of humanity’s past cultures. Some would even argue that humans have a dependency on narratives. Experts say that it’s essential for people to make sense of the world.
Brand marketing of the future whether it’s outbound marketing or Inbound marketing will include more narrative-based content. Researchers in the field of anthropology agree that narrative plays a crucial role in human culture. Participation is an integral aspect of storytelling, making it one of the most engaging forms of communication. This is why more successful firms are using narrative in their advertising campaigns. It’s a great way to get people involved, commenting, and contributing.
Let’s break it down and figure out how to get this done. But first, let’s figure out what Google Web stories are.
What Are Google Web Stories?
The editorial content you produce may be elevated to a higher level with Google Web Stories by transforming ordinary blog posts and articles into something more engaging and interactive for your audience to read. Because each segment of a Google Web Story is only a few seconds long, users can quickly go to the parts of the story that are most interesting to them and revisit the segments they skipped.
An outstanding example of how to make the most of the Web Stories format is provided by a travel blog that includes a story about a specific location. Try using a Google Web Story to showcase the most exciting aspects of the attraction without exhausting your audience with a short film that is only two minutes long. The reader had a fast opportunity to assess whether the novel would be worth their time based on what was shown to them.
Why Should You Use Google Web Stories?
Many popular websites aim to increase their website organic traffic. The use of online story publishing is one option. Unlike Instagram, a Web Story is yours to keep and display as you like on your own website. There are no boundaries regarding accessibility, originality, participation, and call-to-action variety. Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) is a web technology to publish stories. That’s why they’re so quick to load.
In turn, this keeps readers interested in what you have to say. You can scroll through Google’s Web Stories by tapping on them. Additionally, it is not limited to a specific period. A day does not make it go away. When you no longer wish to have the article publicly available, or when your website is no longer accessible, you can remove it from publication.
What Are the Best Practices for Creating Google Web Stories
1. Champion Video-First Storytelling
Google made Web Stories video-first. It favors video over audio, visuals, and animations that tell a story. Text can be used, but keep it to 40 to 70 words on each page.
2. Use Engaging Elements.
Use interactive components to make your stories more engaging and fun for your readers. The ideal method is to have many story pages, each of which will pique the viewer’s interest and make them want to tap to find out more.
3. Use Your Brand Identity.
Include your unique brand features in your stories so that your audience will recognize you when they see them on search engine results pages (SERPs) and Google Discover.
4. Ensure AMP-Validity
The AMP framework is what powers Web Stories, so its content must be AMP-compliant. Use the testing tools we suggested above to ensure your Stories will display adequately online.
5. Accessible Web Stories
Your Web Stories should be user-friendly and visual. Include alt text for photographs, audio transcripts, subtitles, captions, and metadata to make your Stories accessible.
6. Google’s SEO Standards
Web Stories are pages that may be seen on your website. For your Web Stories to be indexed and prepared to appear on search engine results pages (SERPs), you must create them with an eye toward the best search engine optimization (SEO) practices.
Benefits of Using Google Web Stories
Let’s discuss the potential advantages of Google Web Stories for your business and why they might be a better option than other social media platforms if you’re still on the fence about using them.
1. Users Can Find Your Site More Easily
One of the most convincing reasons in favor of creating Google Web Stories is that they can show up in the search results on Google or in Google Images. Optimizing your website for search engines can be improved with this new approach. Due to the adaptability of Google Web Stories, you can also include call-to-action (CTA) buttons that take viewers to your website.
2. You Own The Content
When compared to competing for social media platforms, Google Web Stories stands out due to the user’s greater sense of content ownership. If you’ve made something using AMP or another service, it’s yours to do with as you choose. The content can be shared in any way you see fit, including embedding it on your own website. Consider your goals for using Google Web Stories and how you want them to be discovered. In the same way, this can serve to inspire your inventiveness.
3. They Enhance Webpage Immersion
Google Web Stories can give your website a new dimension, which is helpful whether you’re searching for a method to add some flair to your blogging, you want to tell stories on your website, or you like how things seem when they take up the whole screen. Full-screen versions of Google Web Stories are available on desktop computers and mobile devices. These versions limit the text displayed on the screen and make viewers feel more involved in the narrative.
4. Unique Advertising Opportunities
You should be aware that Google Web Stories can be combined with Google AdWords as well as other advertising opportunities; we will go into more detail about this topic in just a bit. Because of their significant connection with SEO, this may be a suitable choice for specific brands.
What Are the Best Practices for Creating Google Web Stories
1. Champion Video-First Storytelling
Google made Web Stories video-first. It favors video over audio, visuals, and animations that tell a story. Text can be used, but keep it to 40 to 70 words on each page.
2. Use Engaging Elements
Use interactive components to make your stories more engaging and fun for your readers. The ideal method is to have many story pages, each of which will pique the viewer’s interest and make them want to tap to find out more.
3. Use Your Brand Identity.
Include your unique brand features in your stories so that your audience will recognize you when they see them on search engine results pages (SERPs) and Google Discover.
4. Prioritize Top Posts
Google enjoys giving high rankings to content that is both helpful and relevant. You can then drive even more traffic to your site by writing feature articles about your top-performing pieces after they’ve been featured. Stories can increase your authority and, thus, your organic search engine results.
5. Name Your Stories Well
It should come as no surprise that optimization is at the core of any effective SEO strategy, and the same is true for your stories. Make sure that the titles of your tales are not only imaginative enough to grab your target audience’s interest but also optimized for the keywords you want to rank for.
6. Create Awesome Content
Focus on providing valuable, engaging content through your stories, and make sure they will add value to your target audience. That’s how you get them to look forward to more content from you.
Final Thoughts
Google Web Stories are a fantastic tool for building brand awareness and customer loyalty through personal narrative. Google Web Stories does not have a time limit compared to its rivals. They can basically show up whenever they want, wherever they want.
A story can be made about anything, from introducing a new product to continuing an existing piece. Understand Web Stories’ central concept and implement all of the search engine optimization strategies discussed here. If you’re still unsure and would like some guidance, you can opt for digital marketing services from a reputable company that will help you out immensely.
