The Internet giant is always innovating for its users, and one example is Google Web Stories. This is one of the latest experiences offered by the most prestigious search engine and one that is of great help in giving visibility to your website.
Stories have become the favorite feature not only for digital platforms, but also for users. This could be because they tend to be more viewed than the feed posts themselves. This gives the company or brand a greater reach and, of course, makes it more visible.
And as if this option is not enough on the different social networks, Google Web Stories has come to show that you can get it through the search engine as well. So you should know all about this new feature that will revolutionize online searches.
Immerse yourself in Google Web Stories
Surely you have already heard of Google Web Stories. It is a content format similar to Instagram stories. They have a carousel style and are usually viewed by users using Google on their smartphones. It should be noted that they are supported by the search engine’s AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) technology.
Google has bet on this type of content to compete with social networks and applications such as Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok. Because these three digital platforms are currently the queens when it comes to content.
It gives you the ability to create temporarily shared content, just like the traditional stories you know. If you use your creativity, you will be able to tell a complete story across several pages. You can add images that take up the entire screen and text. You can slide your finger horizontally to navigate between screens.
You also have a mixture of colors and words, so you have the opportunity to design more interesting and surprising content.
If you want to view Web Stories on your smartphone, you have to open the Google app, which will direct you to the “Discover” tab. Because the content that the search engine considers and that you might be interested in is shown there, but if you go down, you will find the “Stories” section.
How do web stories benefit you?
This is certainly not new in the digital world, since many social networks have had the story format for years. But undoubtedly for content creators and marketers it is very interesting because they can gain several advantages.
One clear example is that you can attract organic traffic to your Web site in a much more powerful way than any other story. How so? Because with Google Web Stories you will appear in sites like Google News, Discover and in SERPs as any result of your website.
But not only that, the Internet giant suggests creating your own Stories with a WordPress plugin. And it is useful since this is the content manager for a large number of web pages and blogs. Think about how many people use their smartphones to view stories from platforms. The same can happen with Google.
Another advantage to note is that this is a content format that is quickly consumed. And photos or images make it easy to understand without requiring the person to pay much attention. Therefore, if you use Google Stories strategically, you are more likely to engage your audience.
How do Google Stories work?
How Google Stories work.
The first thing you should know is that you can locate them among the Google SERPS, which means they appear in search results. You can also find them within the Google Discover platform, which is dedicated to content discovery.
Google has also developed a story carousel to show this kind of content. But it should be clarified that it is currently only in beta for the United States, India, and Brazil. This format works like its social media namesake, however, there are some differences, such as its duration.
For example, Google Web Stories gives you the ability to determine how long you want your content to be displayed. Unlike other platforms that are only governed for 24 hours. In addition, this format is powered by AMP technology, which optimizes Web pages for faster loading on mobile devices.
All this, along with the variety of creative tools that the integration of this new format brings, shows a new landscape. i know This is a very interesting and positive future for web visibility.
Learn how to create web stories
Want to incorporate Google Stories into your strategy? You can do it through programming, but there are tools to help make the process easier and faster. For example, if you install the Google Web Stories plugin in your WordPress, you just need to download it from its official page and follow these steps:
Once you are logged into the admin panel, select the “Plugins” option and click on “Add New.” Then, in the digital search field, mark “Web Stories.” Then click on “Install Now” and “Activate.”
When you have already installed and activated it, the process is the same as any other plugin you have previously installed. You just need to enter it via the menu found in the left column and start creating your Stories.
In this plugin you will find several available templates that will inspire you, they have a predefined creativity that you can use to create your own Google Web Stories. Even if you wish, you can create your own.
That is why the plugin gives you access to all the videos and photos you have uploaded to your platform, and you can also upload new media content. In addition, you have the ability to insert text and shapes. Keep in mind that you can create stories of up to 30 pages, this allows you to design stories that capture interest through valuable content.
Other options
You should know that there are many tools that can help you create your stories such as Canva and MakeStories. It should be noted that creating Google Web Stories works quite intuitively and, with these allies, much more so.
The best way to design a story is to start with an idea that you think has potential, such as when creating images and videos. If you have already chosen a project, you can go ahead and create your stories using the WordPress plugin or the tools mentioned above.
Once you have created your story, you just need to share it, that is, you can publish it on your website. Keep in mind that this not only helps you generate organic traffic, but you will also be able to get much more visibility.
The success of Google Web Stories in figures
Although this feature of the Internet giant is fairly new and perhaps tested by only a few users, the results have been really positive. This is shown by a study conducted by Semrush, so now you will see the main data:
- Since February 2021, stories have been activated in 2,423 search results.
- The average position in search results is between 5 and 6.
- Based on the average, a story URL appears in 5 different results.
- 11% of all pages in Google stories have no text.
- On average, the number of pages containing images is 84%, while with videos 13% and with text only 3%.
- The average length of a Google Web Stories video is 12 seconds.
- The most popular topic in terms of keywords for story generation is related to the travel niche. The keywords of recipes, fashion and video games also produce different stories.
