Imagine this: You open Google on your phone, scroll through your personalised Discovery page, and come across a full-screen swipeable story that catches your eye. It looks like an Instagram story, but it does not disappear after 24 hours; it sits right there on Google. That’s when you wonder: what are these Web Stories, how are they used, and where can I learn them?
Read on to get answers to all those questions, such as why they matter, the best practices for creating Google Web Stories, SEO tips to boost visibility, how to rank your Web Story, and answers to common FAQs, which will help you start!
What are Web Stories?
Web Stories by Google are a visual storytelling format that blends Instagram stories and blog posts. It is published on your website and shown through Google’s Discovery page. They are full-screen and mobile-first stories that are interactive, allowing you to swipe through navigation, animations, and even embedded links.
For creators, publishers, and businesses, it is a style that connects search engine visibility by using social engagement rate techniques. It allows brands to repurpose blog posts, show products, or tutorials into bite-sized content, attracting the audience’s attention.
Why Optimise Your Google Web Stories?
Google Web Stories are not just another content format; they are an opportunity to reach audiences. There are various benefits of optimising Web Stories, such as:
- Stand out and gain visibility by appearing on the Google Discovery feed and Images.
- Improvement in engagement rate and CTR due to appealing visual and storytelling content.
- High probability of rich results because of good structure and proper metadata.
- Enhanced user experience leads to the Web Story being pushed by Google.
Best Practices for Creating Web Stories
Creating Web Stories is not just about random images, videos, or text. Your Web Story should capture your users’ attention and urge them to engage. Here’s how you can do it:
- Keep the format mobile-friendly and vertical, i.e., 9:16 ratio, since most users consume stories on their phones. This ratio ensures your story is displayed perfectly without any sort of cropping.
- Do not use out-of-focus images, as they can destroy user confidence. Utilise clean, high-resolution media that will load fast but look great.
- Keep videos under 15 seconds.
- Limit text to 280 characters. Make it short, punchy, and interesting to read.
- Make sure you have a consistent font and colour palette for your brand. This will let users recognise you by typography, tone, and colours without mentioning the name.
- Allow the flow to be smooth. Start from a hook and provide valuable information in the middle, and a strong CTA at the end.
SEO Optimisation Tips for Web Stories
Just like your blog or landing page, Web Stories need SEO as well. Follow the given techniques:
- Use rich titles that explain what your story is about. Also, avoid using vague or overly creative titles that don’t match your users’ intent.
- Include Alt text since it makes your Web Stories accessible, which lets Google interpret what is the visual context.
- Add meta-descriptions and structured data to make your story a snippet in search.
- Interlink your Web Story to the main content or the page you want to drive traffic to. It will work as a gateway to your blog, product page, or videos.
- Submit your stories to Google Search Console so it speeds up indexing and tracks performance quickly.
The Takeaway
Google Web Stories brings together the best of storytelling and search to help your content stand out while enabling the open web to make its way to the surface. They are only effective when produced wisely using eye-catching images, matter-of-fact copy, and SEO-friendly habits.
To become proficient in formats like Web Stories and other cutting-edge digital tools, investing in upskilling with IIEDM’s industry-led courses will be a good idea. At IIEDM, you will get a hands-on experience of SEO, content, and social media through their up-to-date digital marketing course module.
FAQs on Google Web Stories
- How long should a Google Web Story be?
Your Google web story can be of 5 to 10 slides. However, you should ensure it is not too long or too short and is an eye-catching graphic with minimal and to-the-point text. - Can I reuse blog content for a Web Story?
Yes, you can use a blog for content web stories and link the blog URL at the end. - Do Web Stories help with SEO rankings?
Yes, they do help by improving visibility in Google Discover, Images, and Search. They can also drive traffic to your main content, indirectly boosting SEO. - How to submit a Web Story to Google?
Once your blog or web story is published, add it to your sitemap and submit the URL via Google Search Console. This helps Google crawl and index it faster. - What is the ideal image size for Web Stories?
The ideal image size for web stories is 1080 x 1920 pixels for images and videos. This will ensure your visuals look sharp across all mobile devices. - Can Web Stories include outbound links?
Yes, you can add outbound links related to articles, references, or affiliate pages. Just ensure they add value and don’t feel spammy. - How often should I post Web Stories?
You can post 2 to 3 stories per week, but adjust frequency based on resources and audience engagement. - Are Web Stories free to create?
Yes, creating Google Web Stories is free. - What is the difference between AMP Stories and Google Web Stories?
AMP Stories were the original format under Google’s AMP project. Google Web Stories are the evolved, branded version designed to integrate seamlessly with Discover, Search, and YouTube. - Can I monetise Web Stories with ads?
Yes, you can by using Google Ad Manager and AdSense, which will allow you to place ads within Web Stories, opening up monetisation opportunities.
