Google Web Stories: understand what Google's new feature means

Taking first place among search engines, Google has just launched a new feature called “Google Web Stories”.  Keep reading and learn more about the topic!  Google Web Stories: What is it?  Following the trend of increasingly dynamic and humanized content, Google launched Google Web Stories (or AMP Stories), a tool very similar to what we know on the social network Instagram, which was created in 2016.  Basically, this is information that is quick and easy for the user to consume, fulfilling the objective of the new feature, which is to improve the user experience when consuming digital content.  The big difference between Instagram stories and Google Web Stories is that, in the second case, it is possible to create stories that last “forever”, in addition to being able to add links and being a good way to increase the indexing rate of your website on Google.  With a carousel-style format, web stories appear most frequently for those using Google via mobile devices.  However, they are also available for desktop, both in conventional search, as well as in Google Images and Google Discover.  We’ve already discussed here how videos are an excellent way to captivate and engage your audience.  According to data provided by Google, there are already around 100.000 new stories published daily and more than 6.500 domains using the tool.  In other words, this is just further proof of how important it is to stay up to date with new developments, so that your brand continues to stand out more and more in such a competitive market.  How to navigate Web Stories?  If you are interested and want to know how to access and use Google web stories, check out the step-by-step guide: Navigate between pages To advance: tap on the right side of the screen; To go back: tap on the left side of the screen.  Pause story Tap and hold anywhere on the screen.  Switch between stories To go to the next page: swipe left; To go to the previous page: swipe right.  Share story At the bottom, tap "Share".  Check out good practices for using Web Stories If you are curious about this new feature and want to know how to use it, check out some good practice tips given by Google itself for using the tool: Give preference to video content, leaving images and texts only as a complement; Avoid using excessive text; Speaking of SEO, provide high-quality and useful content; Use short titles; All Web Stories must be canonical.  Make sure each Web Story has the link rel="canonical" attribute; Allow desktop viewing, adding compatibility with landscape mode display; Respect image sizes of at least 640 x 853 px and use a 3:4 aspect ratio, among other tips, which can be accessed in the Google search center.  How to create a Web Story?  To create content in this format, some tools can help you, such as: Web Stories Plugin for WordPress; MakeStories – creation tool; NewsroomAI – creation tool.  In the case of the WordPress plugin, the interesting thing is that you can create stories on your own website.  To do this, follow these steps: Log in to your admin panel; Hover over the “plugins” option and click “Add new”.  In the search field, type “Web Stories” and install; Click “Activate”; Then, just start creating, being very similar to the Canva tool.  In the case of the MakeStories and NewsroomAI tools, simply create the web stories - remembering to produce them in vertical format - and start using them.  After the creation process, you must check whether the Web Stories are a valid AMP - you can use Google's tool to do this, check your metadata and, finally, check whether the stories are indexed by Google's algorithm.  Why invest in Google Web Stories?  In addition to being a well-known format in the digital world, it is an excellent way to engage your audience and gain traffic, and completely free of charge.  But remember: because they are fast and dynamic contents, you need to use them strategically and following the best practices manual, in order to get good results.  Another interesting point is that Web Stories can be created by anyone, not just by large companies.  Every type and size of business can benefit from this new feature.  So, have you heard about the news?  Take advantage of all the resources the web has to offer and increase your brand's potential.

Google Web Stories: understand what Google's new feature means

Taking first place among search engines, Google has just launched a new feature called “Google Web Stories".    

Keep reading and learn more about the topic!

Google Web Stories: What is it?

Following the trend of increasingly dynamic and humanized content, Google launched Google Web Stories (or AMP Stories), a tool very similar to what we know on the social network Instagram, which was created in 2016.

Basically, this is information that is quick and easy for the user to consume, fulfilling the objective of the new feature, which is to improve the user experience when consuming digital content. 

The big difference between Instagram stories and Google Web Stories is that, in the second case, It is possible to create stories that last “forever”, in addition to being able to add links and being a good way to increase the indexing rate of your website on Google.

With a carousel-style format, web stories appear most frequently for those who use Google via mobile devices. However, they are also available on desktop, both in conventional search, as well as in Google Images and Google Discover.

We have already discussed here how videos are an excellent way to captivate and engage the public. According to data provided by Google, There are already around 100.000 new stories published daily and more than 6.500 domains using the tool

In other words, this is just further proof of how important it is to stay alert to new developments,

so that your brand continues to stand out more and more in such a competitive market. 

How to navigate Web Stories?

If you are interested and want to know how to access and use Google web stories, check out the step-by-step guide:

Navigate between pages

To advance: tap the right side of the screen;

To go back: tap the left side of the screen.

Pause story

Touch and hold anywhere on the screen.

Switch between stories

To access the next page: swipe left;

To go to the previous page: swipe right.

Share story

At the bottom, tap “Share.”

Check out good practices for using Web Stories

If you are curious about this new feature and want to know how to use it, check out some good practice tips given by Google itself for using the tool:

  • Give preference to video content, leaving images and texts only as a complement;
  • Avoid using excessive text;
  • Speaking of SEO, provide high-quality and useful content;
  • Use short titles;
  • All Web Stories must be canonical. Make sure each Web Story has the link rel=”canonical” attribute;
  • Enable desktop viewing, adding support for landscape display;
  • Respect the size of images of at least 640 x 853 px and use a ratio of 3:4, among other tips, which can be accessed at Google Search Center

How to create a Web Story?

To create content in this format, some tools can help you, such as:

In the case of the WordPress plugin, the interesting thing is that you can create stories on your own website.

To do this, follow the steps:

  • Log in to your admin panel;
  • Hover over the “plugins” option and click “Add new”. 
  • In the search field, type “Web Stories” and install;
  • Click “Activate”;
  • Then, just start creating, very similar to the Canva tool.

In the case of the MakeStories and NewsroomAI tools, simply create the web stories – remembering to produce them in vertical format – and start using them.

After the creation process, you will need to verify that the Web Stories is a valid AMP – you can use the Google tool To do this, check your metadata and, finally, check whether the stories are indexed by Google's algorithm.

Why invest in Google Web Stories?

In addition to being a well-known format in the digital world, it is an excellent way to engage your audience and gain traffic, and completely free of charge.

But remember: because they are fast and dynamic contents, you need to use them strategically and following the best practices manual, in order to get good results.

Another interesting point is that Web Stories can be created by anyone, not just by large companies. 

Every type and size of business can benefit from this new feature.

So, have you heard about the news?

Take advantage of all the resources the web has to offer and increase your brand's potential.

If you need help, count on GS2 Marketing Digital. 

1 comment

  • Felipe Mateus

    I've been using web stories since the end of last year. The traffic is insane in the first few days, then it drops. I'm still finding the best way to post web stories, but I do get great results with them, especially when they create a link to a page on my blog.

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