How to optimize SEO for Google Web Stories?

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Since Google Web Stories are either part of or independent of web pages, ensuring standard SEO best practices are in place should be a priority for creators. This includes:

Ensure that metadata is included for each page to allow search engines and discovery features to understand and collect the content.
Similarly, all images should include alt text to ensure they are properly discoverable.
Videos must have subtitles to ensure they are accessible and can be enjoyed with the sound off.
Restrict article titles to 90 characters or less
Finally, users should include all Google Web Stories in their sitemap, with the necessary AMP structured data.
What are the benefits of Google Web Stories and why should influencers use them for their marketing?
In addition to the ease of use and the huge interest in story formats in general, there are a few key benefits that make web stories an attractive opportunity for influencers to use in their marketing efforts.

New channel = new opportunities
Google Web Stories should be seen by influencers as a completely new channel to reach new audiences. They are different from social stories – they don’t disappear after 24 hours , they can appear alongside other content on a website – and offer influencer marketers the opportunity to do something different and engage with audiences in new and engaging ways. This is an exciting proposition for influencers who are always looking for creative ways to grow and expand their brand.

Growth should also be the goal of the game. Last year, Google revealed that there are now 20 million web stories online, with 100,000 new stories added every day . Publishers like VICE , Inverse , and Refinery29 are already using them in full force. It’s a format that’s incredibly shareable and one that audiences are eager to engage with. That same Google study found that users see almost two more stories for every Google web story they open.

Monetizable format
Google Web Stories also potentially offer influencer marketers a return on investment. It’s relatively easy to monetize Google Web Stories, with options including AdSense, Ad Manager, display ads, affiliate links, and CTAs . Google doesn’t require a percentage of the revenue created, underscoring the platform’s value for influencer marketers.

Authentic brand
Unlike rival social platforms and channels, which control the look and feel of content and predetermine the UX, Google Web Stories allow creators to produce content that’s on-brand, thanks to the flexibility offered by custom coding and some pretty customizable templates. This way, everything an influencer creates can stay true to the identity they’ve worked ha cmo email lists rd to build, and because the content lives on their website, it remains copyrighted.

When creating stories on social channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, you're reliant on the platform's interface. With Google Web Stories, you have full control of the code . You can embed your Web Stories on your website and use them to create cross-platform content. And because they're on your website, you own the copyright to the content.

Growth and improvement
This being Google, analytics is central to the format. Each story can be analyzed using Google Analytics or the Web Stories Insights Dashboard, giving marketers concrete data to help inform decision-making and ensure content stays close to any digital marketing strategy.

Creators should be very concerned about performance and quality when it comes to Web Stories, as Google has made it clear that it will crack down on low-quality, clickbait-style Web Stories. This includes Stories that feature low-quality assets, overly commercial storytelling, or “teaser” content that is being used as a trailer for content hosted elsewhere.

In short, while Google Web Stories aren’t as well-known as other formats, it’s a growing format and now is the time to get ahead of the game and start creating.