What are web stories and are they useful for my business?

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Stories are one of the most successful formats on social media and networks, as they have an impressive potential to increase visibility and presence on networks, especially if it is an emerging company or brand.

For this reason, Google has decided to include this content trend in its search products, through the tool called Web Stories. The purpose of Web Stories is for websites to take advantage of this format.

If you're not sure how to use Web Stories to boost your brand or company, in this article you'll discover what they are and how you can adapt them to your marketing strategy.

What are Web Stories?
It is the web version of the Stories format, which has become popular on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. Web Stories combine video, audio, images, text and animation, so that the user enjoys a dynamic experience, and explores at their own pace with just a tap or swipe.

Web stories
Web Stories work almost the same way as social media stories , except for some differences regarding length, appearance, etc. These stories developed by Google help brands and companies decide the length of their content.

You can enjoy this format thanks to Google's AMP technology , which is responsible for optimizing websites so that they load faster on mobile devices.

Where can I view Web Stories on Google?
On these sites users will be able to see Google stories:

Google Discover
Web Stories will be displayed in a carousel format near the top of the Google Apps feed in Google Discover for Android and iOS . Available in Brazil, India and the United States, this feature is typically used for lifestyle, opinion, beauty, and other content.

This format can also be presented as a single card, as part of the Discover feed. This service is only available in the United States.

Google Search
Set up your Web Stories in a grid format for Google searches. For example, when you enter the search “things to do in Miami” , the search engine will display Web Stories from various profiles in a grid format.

If you search for a post, the results will be Web Stories for that site. This feature is only available in English for the United States. Web Stories also appear as a single result, available in locations around the world that support Google Search.

Web stories
Google images
Web Stories will be able to appear in Google Images results as an image card in the Web Stories icon. This design will be available in all locations and languages ​​that Google Search supports.

Tips for creating Web Stories
Web Stories, like any other Internet page, must follow good practices to achieve positioning. First of all, it is suggested to use videos, since they generate greater engagement than texts and images, especially when used in a complementary way.

You should not write more than 280 characters per slide, and you should not use text formatted as an image. Stories are scaled to fit the screen of each device, which cuts off the edges of the image. If the slide has text, it may not be nigeria mobile phone number list fully visible.

To ensure good SEO, try to create quality content to improve positioning, as Google also evaluates this for Web Stories.

How to create Web Stories?
While you can certainly create Web Stories using web programming, there are tools that will help you simplify the process. One of the most well-known is the Web Stories plugin for WordPress.

After logging into the admin panel, hover over the “Plugins” option and click “Add New” . In the search field, type “Web Stories” so you can find the corresponding plugin (If you are familiar with WordPress, you will know which plugin this is).

Then click on “Install Now” and then “Activate” . You will finally be able to access the plugin, which you will find in the sidebar. The generation of Web Stories works in an intuitive way, similar to the Canva design tool, to give a well-known example.

Web stories
You can find other tools for creating Web Stories that work independently of WordPress, such as MakeStories. You won't have any issues with size with these tools, but you will have issues when creating videos for your Web Stories.

Always remember to use the vertical camera so that the user enjoys a better experience.