Google Launches Beta Version Of Web Stories Plugin For WordPress

Did you know that Google recently launched a new Google Web Stories plugin for WordPress, called Web Stories?

Web Stories allows content creators and publishers to present their blogs, news, reports, and other articles in a mobile-focused format that are visually pleasing, narrative in nature, contains engaging animations, and also tappable interactions.

According to Google, this plugin uses an innovative form of the format i.e. Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP). 

If you haven’t realized it yet, with the help of this Web Stories plugin for WordPress, Google is aiming to help bloggers, publishers, and business owners to increase their traffic flow (by tapping-in mobile users).

The great thing about this plugin is that you do not need any specialized skills to implement and post stories for your websites.

Now that I have briefly introduced you to this plugin, allow me to educate you more about it…

What Is Google Web Stories WordPress Plugin?

The plugin is a new revolutionizing way of creating stories for your website with short but engaging content that could be consumed by mobile users.

Understand it this way – Web Stories works somewhat similar to the stories on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. Just like these social media stories, the aim of web stories is to help you share insightful stories on your website.

And, as we know, it is powered by AMP,  so you are guaranteed a significant boost in your traffic as AMP pages are quick to load.

In a way, you can say that the Google Web Stories plugin is a new way to achieve top ranks in Google search, Google images, Google apps, and Discover.

Now, I am quite sure that you would be wondering about the resources used to make a web story.

Don’t worry, I am going to explain this in detail too…

What Constitutes A Web Story?

When a painter starts painting, he starts with a blank canvas. In the same way, the web story is often started with a blank canvas or cover page.

Now, here it gets interesting…

On the cover page, you have the liberty to include all sorts of visual elements. Some of them include –

Images, GIFs & Videos

There’s a saying that an image speaks a thousand words. Hence, the plugin allows you to add appealing images to your stories.

Moreover, to maintain the interest of your mobile readers, the plugin also allows you to engage them with GIFs and Videos.

Although, one thing to keep in mind while using videos is that it should be shot in portrait mode.

Textual Content & Audio Clips

An image used without any context won’t offer any value. Hence, to maximize its ability to convey your message, you can pair it with text.

The great thing about using text in your web stories is that they are extremely customizable. It can be customized (size, style, color, etc.) to match the theme of web stories or your business brand.

At last, you can also add audio clips in your stories as background music or as a narration.

Animations & Interactions

The web stories WordPress plugin leaves no stones unturned in providing you the opportunity to get your stories shared on social media. Therefore, it allows you to add social media sharing links at the end of your stories.

In addition to this, the plugin also enables you to add animations to your text. It involves making to text fade-in, fly-in, etc. in your stories.

Using motion or animations in any kind of content is regarded as the best way to capture the attention of readers.

All in all, the web stories plugin by Google allows you to amalgamate these elements to form a unified mobile-oriented content that tells the story of your business.

Having said that, one must not randomly and haphazardly the elements in their web stories. There’s a proper way to use them that would result in a good and appealing story.

Lucky for you, Google has listed a few points that would help you create an ideal story.

Guidelines Issues By Google For Ideal Web Stories

In order to ace your web stories game, you must follow the below-listed guidelines for your web stories –

• It is advisable to use 5-30 pages in a web story with 10-20 target pages.
• While using text in your story, you should keep in mind that the title should be short and not more than 40 characters.
• Each story should not contain more than 200 textual characters.
• If you are using videos, you must keep in mind that it was shot in portrait mode.
• The length of the video used in a story page must not exceed 15 seconds.
• You should include captions and subtitles with your videos.
• It is recommended to use 1 affiliate link per web story.

And, last but not the least, your web stories must be complete in every sense. Meaning, each story page provides complete information about the corresponding topic.

Now, that you know how to make a perfect web story, it’s time for you to learn about its benefits.

Advantages Of Google Web Stories

Since there are a plethora of benefits offered by web stories and the Google web stories plugin for WordPress, it would be easier for me to compartmentalize its benefits.

Common Benefits Of Web Stories

• The web stories plugin is packed with tons of readymade templates that facilitate quick and easy story creation.
• You can customize your web stories with the help of drag & drop editor that further extends editing features to match your brand style.
• Web stories also provide you with shareable options that allow you to share your stories across different sites and apps.
• If you want to track the performance and reach of your stories, you can easily do so.
• Since web stories are powered by AMP technology, it provides you and your viewers with blazing-fast speed.
• The ability to provide content in a new way to your audience ensures long-term business relationships.

Traffic Benefits Of Web Stories

Since we have already established that Google web stories plugin for WordPress is one of the new and upcoming means to attain top ranks in SERP features, search results, images, etc., you are guaranteed to receive a new stream of traffic for your website.

In addition to this, you’d be surprised to know that it is relatively new in the digital marketing world.

Hence, if you start using it now, you won’t have to face any competition for scoring top ranks in search results.

And, as we know that top ranks mean high traffic flow, you have the chance to leverage this traffic across your entire site with proper internal linking.

Monetization Benefits Of Web Stories

Did you know that you can create story ads with the help of Google web stories WordPress plugin?

Yes, in addition to being able to add affiliate links in your stories, you also have the power to launch a story ad for different campaigns.

This story ad creation includes all the similar activities required to create a social media ad. Such as using text, images, videos, and other relevant animations & interactions…

You can start a story ad from scratch or use the ad templates provided by the plugin.

This affiliate promotion, sponsored content promotion, product promotion, etc. are supported by Google Ads Manager and Google DV360 (Beta) as of now. In the coming time, many more ad server support will be introduced.

With that being said, let’s jump straight to –

Getting Started With Google Web Stories Plugin For WordPress

In order to get started with creating web stories with this plugin, you must download and install the plugin in your WordPress.

An ideal WordPress plugin is available in the WordPress repository. All you have to do is search for it, click install and activate.

But since Google Web Stories plugin is in its beta phase, it is not available in the WordPress plugin repository.

Instead, it is available for download from Google’s GitHub repository.

Once you have downloaded the .ZIP file of this plugin, you are all set to install it in your WordPress dashboard.

Installing Web Stories Plugin In WordPress

There are no advanced steps required in the installation process. Just the upload of .ZIP file…

Nevertheless, here are all the steps required to install Google web stories plugin for WordPress.

Step 1 – Open up your WordPress admin panel and go to Dashboard → Plugins → Add New.

Step 2 – Here, you’d have to upload the .ZIP file that you have downloaded from the GitHub repository.

Step 3 – After the successful upload of the file, your plugin will be installed. All you have to do is click on “Activate.”

The completion of these steps means that you have successfully installed and activated the web stories plugin.

Creating Your First Web Story

In order to create your first web story with the help of this plugin, you must go to the WordPress Dashboard → Stories → Dashboard.

Here, you will be presented with a dedicated dashboard for creating and managing web stories of your site.

Now, you have the option to “Create A New Story” or use any one of the 8 web story templates provided by the plugin.

The 8 categories of topics offered by Google Web Stories plugin for WordPress are –

• Beauty
• Food
• DIY
• Entertainment
• Fashion
• Fitness
• Traveling
• Wellbeing

Choose the one that you like or start a new story from scratch. For now, I am choosing a readymade story template by clicking the “Use Template” option.

Now, you will be entering the web story builder area that comprises of 3 internal sections –

• Elements or building blocks
• Web story canvas
• Block customizer

The left-most section consists of all the elements and building blocks that you require for creating your web story. It included text, videos, audio, shapes, etc.

Choose the required elements and it will be automatically added to the story canvas or the builder area.

Here. you can reposition the block as per your need by selecting it. In addition to this, you also have the option to duplicate or add a new story page in your web story.

And, after selecting the required block, for example, a text block, you can further customize its font size, style, color, indentation, etc.

Lastly, once you are satisfied with the visual appearance of your web story, click on “Publish”.

Don’t Forget SEO For Web Stories

I won’t be surprised if you’d say that you didn’t know about optimizing web stories with SEO.

Well, in all honesty, you’d have to SEO optimize your web stories, unlike social media stories. Now, you would be asking why do we need to optimize it if it’s just a story.

To this, I would say that it is a “Web Story”. Meaning, story of your website, from your website. And, since everything that is on your website requires SEO optimization, similarly web stories too requires it.

You would be amazed to know that the web story is just like your web page. This also means that it has its own URL.

I hope by now you have understood the significance of performing SEO for your web stories.

That being said, here are some key SEO parameters that you must optimize for your web stories –

• Metadata – You have the flexibility to edit and write metadata of your stories. It includes title, description, schema, etc.
• Linking – The most important essence of web stories is to take your mobile readers to an appropriate landing page. Hence, internal and external linking on your web stories is also recommended.
• URL Format – You would be relieved to know that the URL format of your web stories is automatically handled by Google Web Stories plugin for WordPress.
• Image SEO – It is strongly recommended to use proper “Alt” tags for the images used in your web stories.
• Video SEO – You are advised to use short videos with closed captions.
• Canonical – You must make your web story canonical if you are using similar content in the web story that is already present in its linking page.

And, once your stories passes all the guidelines, it will appear at multiple channels and platforms like so –

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Final Thoughts

At this point, I have covered all the latest news about the Google Web Stories plugin for WordPress.

The beta version of this plugin was launched a few days back and the team behind it is claiming to launch the full-fledged version in a few months.

In the meantime, you have the liberty to try this plugin for your site. This would give you an edge over your competitors as it is a new technology and not many users are using it.

With that being said, there is a high chance that you may find bugs with the plugin. In that case, feel free to report it to the Google GitHub forum. You can request for new features as well.

Lastly, feel free to post your queries in the comments section about the same.

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