Create the Web Story: Your Gateway to SEO-Driven Engagement

Welcome to the world of Web Stories, where captivating visuals and concise narratives meet to engage audiences in a mobile-friendly format.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to create, optimize, and drive organic traffic to your website through Web Stories.

Whether you’re a seasoned blogger or just starting, this guide will help you harness the power of this immersive storytelling format.

Table Of Content

1. How Web Stories appear across Google
2. Create the Web Story
3. Make sure the Web Story is valid AMP
4. Verify the metadata
5. Check if the Web Story is indexed
6. Follow the Web Story Content Policies

How Web Stories appear across Google

On Google Discover

Carousel on Google Discover: Web Stories can appear on Google Discover on Android and iOS via the latest Google app in the form of a carousel near the top of the feed. The carousel is available in the United States, India, and Brazil.

The example Web Stories carousel is geared towards lifestyle content. Some examples of other carousel categories are: Beauty, Fitness, Celebrities, Wellness, Entertainment, and Opinion.

Single card on Google Discover: Web Stories can also appear in the Discover feed as a single card where you can tap through the story. While this appearance is available in all regions and languages where Google Discover is available, it’s most likely to appear in the United States, India, and Brazil.

On Google Search

Grid view on Google Search: Web Stories can be included in a grid view on Google Search. When people search for “things to do in New York”, the grid view shows Web Stories from multiple publishers. When people search for a specific publisher, the grid view shows only Web Stories from that publisher’s site. The grid view appearance is available in English in the US.

Single result on Google Search: Web Stories can display as a single result on Google Search. This appearance is available in all regions and languages where Google Search is available.

Google Images

Google Images: Web Stories can appear in Google Images as an image card with the Web Stories icon. This appearance is available in all regions and languages where Google Search is available.

1. Create the Web Story

Engage Your Audience with Compelling Visuals:

Begin your Web Story with eye-catching visuals that immediately capture attention. High-quality images, graphics, and videos are key to keeping your audience engaged. Use a mix of multimedia elements to create a dynamic and visually appealing narrative.

Craft a Concise and Compelling Storyline:

In the world of Web Stories, brevity is key. Keep your narrative concise, focusing on a single, compelling storyline. Use short captions and text overlays to enhance the user experience and convey your message effectively.

Utilize Web Story Creation Tools:

Explore Web Story creation tools to streamline the process. Platforms like Google’s Web Stories plugin for WordPress or dedicated apps make it easy for bloggers to create visually stunning stories without extensive technical knowledge.

2. Make Sure the Web Story is Valid AMP

Understand AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages):

Ensure your Web Story is built on the AMP framework for lightning-fast loading times on mobile devices. AMP is designed to optimize the user experience, and Google prioritizes AMP pages in search results.

Validate Your Web Story with the AMP Validator:

Before publishing, use the AMP Validator to check the validity of your Web Story. Address any issues flagged by the validator to ensure your story meets AMP standards and provides an optimal user experience.

3. Verify the Metadata

Optimize Title and Description:

Craft a compelling title and meta description that accurately represent your Web Story’s content. Incorporate relevant keywords to improve search engine visibility.

Utilize Open Graph and Twitter Card Tags:

Enhance social media sharing by including Open Graph and Twitter Card tags in your metadata. This ensures that when your Web Story is shared on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, it appears with the intended title, description, and image.

4. Check if the Web Story is Indexed

Submit Your Web Story to Google Search Console:

Accelerate the indexing process by submitting your Web Story to Google Search Console. This step ensures that search engines are aware of your content and can index it promptly.

Monitor Indexing Status:

Regularly check Google Search Console for the indexing status of your Web Story. If any issues arise, address them promptly to maintain optimal visibility in search results.

5. Follow the Web Story Content Policies

Adhere to Content Policies:

Ensure your Web Story complies with Web Story Content Policies to avoid any potential issues. Maintain a high-quality standard for content, and be mindful of guidelines related to explicit material, misinformation, and other policy considerations.

Monitor Updates to Policies:

Stay informed about any updates to Web Story Content Policies. Regularly check official documentation to ensure ongoing compliance and prevent any negative impact on your search engine rankings.

Conclusion:

Congratulations! You’ve now crafted a compelling Web Story and optimized it for search engines. By following these steps, you’re not only engaging your audience with visually appealing content but also ensuring that your Web Story ranks high in search results. Embrace the power of Web Stories, and watch your organic traffic soar. Happy storytelling!