The popularity of tappable stories is increasing day by day. According to a study, 74% of users viewed or read social stories, and 84% preferred tappable stores over traditional article scrolling.
There are several companies that have their unique way of creating mobile tappable stories. Now, Google has joined the club with its own platform (Google Web Stories)to create these stories. Here in this article, we will explore some Google We Stories examples and get familiar with all the steps to create them. So, without further ado, let us dive into the article.
Table of Contents
A Brief About Google Web Stories
The Google Web Stories are short, informative video pieces that the creators can use to share different things in the form of tappable stories. These interactive stories contain text, images, and audio snippets to share the information with the audience.
You may think that there are several platforms offering these types of formats. However, you will be surprised to know that Google Web Stories have no platform restriction like the other options. Creators have a higher degree of freedom with their creations and can host them anywhere they want.
In simple words, you can use Google Web Stories outside social media to share information. Whether you have a blog or a website, you can elevate your traffic level by leveraging the popularity of the stories.
On top of this, you can monetize them by placing suitable ads. For placing thoughtful ads and creating revenue, you can use Google Adsense and Ad manager.
Some Solid Examples Of Google Web Stories
- How Stuff Is Made: How Money Is Made
This Web Story is the perfect amalgamation of texts, audio snippets, and video slideshows to explain the steps to the audience. The Web Story starts with a little general introduction and then takes the viewers through the detailed steps of money production. The immersive slideshows keep the viewers entertained while the audio snippets explain all the steps properly.
- Lonely Planet: 5 Destinations To See Wildlife With Your Kids
This interactive Web Story by Lonely Planet takes you through the top five destinations to see wildlife that you can explore with your kids. There is no audio in the story. Still, the whole story will keep you immersed in its information and beautiful visuals of wildlife. In the end, you will know more about these places and be a better judge in planning your next vacation.
- Input: Ford’s Mustang Mach-E 1400 Prototype
INPUT gives another excellent example of using Web Story to showcase the Mustang prototype. The first slide incorporates an interactive video of a car zooming on the road track. After this, there are several other visuals and audio snippets that explain other essential aspects of the prototype. INPUT has used all the elements to create a masterpiece for this prototype.
How To Make Google Web Stores: Step-By-Step Guide
The Google Web Stories format has a lot of potential to market your blog or website, widen your audience pool by diverting more traffic towards your platform, and bag good profit. This guide will explain all the steps to create Google Web Stories here.
- Plan & Plot Your Narrative
The first step towards creating your Google Web Story is to create a draft of your narrative. Google has offered a sample to create the draft without any confusion. Here is the direct link to the draft.
- Pick Suitable Editor And Tools
Once you have completed your draft, it is time to pick an editor and start creating your story. If you have a blog or website powered by WordPress, then you can use its Web Story plugin to create everything. This interactive editor has the drag-and-drop feature to create stories without any unnecessary hassle. Moreover, you can pick all the other elements for your stories from the Media Library of WordPress.
Another promising app for editing web stories is MakeStories. It has a wide arsenal of templates that you can choose to create your story in the least possible time. With the help of these templates, you don’t have to design and create everything from scratch. It includes a drag-drop feature, free shapes, animations, and several typographies. Moreover, you can ensure that your story complies with the SEO guidelines.
There are several editors available on the internet that you can use to create stories, even if you don’t have any coding language.
- Make Your Web Story
Now, it is time to create your story. Add different elements and fabricate an informative web story for yourself.
- Test & Publish
Always test your web story before publishing it on your blog, website, or any other platform. Make sure that it renders properly with all the popular search engines. Also, ensure that Google indexes your story.
Several tools are available on the internet to test all the aspects of your story. Once you have completed the testing phase, add your Google Web Story to your platform.
Perks Of Using Google Web Stories
Here are some of the major advantages of incorporating Google Web Stories into your online presence.
- Distinctive Engagement Medium
Google Web Stories offers a unique and interactive medium to engage with your audience. It encompasses visually captivating elements that help you attract more viewers. Thus, high influx of traffic towards your platform.
- Content Ownership
One of the most important advantages of using Google Web Stories is that you own your content completely. You create your content with a 3rd party platform or AMP. So, you have all the rights to use it anywhere according to your requirements.
- Revenue Generator
You can add ads and affiliate links to your Google Web Stories and use them effectively to create a passive revenue stream. If you have a solid affiliate network, then you can place the CTA’s correctly to the stories and divert the traffic to earn fat commissions.
You can use different affiliate programs and other Google services to ameliorate the features of your Google Web Stories. Also, you can track all your Google Web Stories earnings from different platforms.
Top 5 Best Practices to follow while sharing Google Web Stories
The best practices shared below must be followed to get the best results and hook visitors to your site instantly.
- No Big Chunks Of Texts
Every story is incomplete without visual graphics, be it images or videos. This same thing happens with Google web stories. Even if you play with numerous font styles, font colors, and an excellent story, it will all go in vain without any high-quality visual component.
Expert advice: Everyone loves watching a combination of beautiful graphics with a maximum of 20-30% text. Believe it or not, if you use more than this text percentage, most people will stop watching your web story right there, and your hard work will go to waste.
- Use More Videos: High-Quality Always!
People fall for interactive, immersive experiences all the time, and that comes with Videos only! Yes, no texts or photos, just elegantly crafted videos that share a story.
But do ensure they fill the 15-second time bracket per panel and 60-second time bracket fully to create a lasting impression.
Also, always prefer videos with the right aspect ratio that covers the entire story window. It enhances the story outline a lot better than a panel with a half-filled video.
- Google Optimization For Faster Viewing
Since Google developed this feature, every website wants its story to rank on top for higher views. But for that, you need to ace your SEO strategy and follow all guidelines properly.
Prefer short and descriptive titles between 70 and 90 characters and attach proper metadata structure that aligns with the AMP Story guidelines. To resolve any issues, you must use the AMP validator online.
- Don’t Forget The Cover Photo And Ctas
Just like the front page and last page of a storybook, decide whether you liked the story and would want to read more like them or not. Google web stories should have a fascinating cover photo and a suitable CTA for apt user action.
While the cover photo highlights the title with outstanding visuals, the CTA must have a proper line of action. Expert advice: For mindful CTA ideas, you can ask your audience to subscribe to your newsletter or buy any product via your affiliate link or simply view more online stories.
- Clear Texts, Animations & Audio
Always ensure that your added text never gets concealed by any other video/photo element. The same goes for animations and audio.
Take special care while using your background music and story audio. Don’t mix them, which will create a mess.
The Bottom Line
Now that you have gone through all the elements of this article, you will be more familiar with this unique tool. Google Web Stories allows you to engage with your viewers in a unique way to attract them to your online presence. Moreover, you can use it anywhere you want.
So, stop wasting time and add stories to your platforms to enjoy its various benefits.