Google web stories and why they are important

Whether you are a publisher, a marketing manager, or a content creator you should always be on the lookout for new ways to promote your content. In most cases, this boils down to following ongoing trends and seeing which ones correlate best with your brand. Those that are up to speed with ongoing trends, already know what Google web stories are. But, if you are not, don't worry. In this article we will take a more in-depth look into web stories and why they are so important.

Understanding Google web stories

Google web stories are visually based, bite-sized formats of online content. They can be as short as a single page. Or have multiple pages one after another (a story carousel). In essence, story content can contain any other type of content. From written content to images, sounds, animations, photos, videos, ads, and even interactive content. As such, there is essentially no limit to what your stories will look like, and what elements they will entail.

What makes story content worthwhile?

At first glance, it may seem that Google web stories don't offer anything new. After all, they are a combination of various other types of content. Therefore, why in the world should you use them instead of standard content? Well, the best way to consider story content is that it is more than the sum of its parts. And once you understand the nuance of it, you'll soon appreciate why it is so effective.

The idea behind story content was to make use of the shortened attention span of modern viewers. When a person goes online nowadays they rarely have an attention span longer than 8 seconds. While this number can be argued, it doesn't paint a decent picture of how easily bored modern people are. Of course, if they watch something they already consider interesting, they will pay extra attention. But, even if you have them watching their favorite movie, they will still be hard-pressed not the check their phone.

Well, web stories make full use of this short attention span. Because they combine different types of content, they are able to be both entertaining, engaging, and informative in a short span of time. The idea behind web stories is that there is no fluff content or superfluous explanations. You show only what needs to be shown. Nothing more, nothing less. In the modern day and age, people value this straight-to-the-point demeanor of content promotion. And this is a big reason why story content, both on social media and on Google, is so effective.

The importance of Google story content

As we've elaborated in our previous articles on what makes web stories so effective, we won't go into further depth here. Instead, we shall turn our attention to the importance of Google story content for publishers and marketing managers alike. In our view, every person that wishes to grow their online presence should be aware of Google web stories. For some, it is the prime-rib content that will help their brand ascend to new heights. For others, it will be another marketing tool to help their content. But, in either case, it is paramount that you are aware of what Google web stories bring to the table.

SEO management

The first thing to note is that Google web stories do wonders for SEO management. In standard SEO practice, you need to optimize your website, create good content, and hope that Google's algorithm will value it. While this practice is by no means obsolete, it is a bit outdated. If you were to create a new website, you would have an incredibly hard time overcoming the established competition. Even with ample keyword research and proper long-term planning, you'll still have to go through months if not years of SEO management in order to see results. Well, Google web stories can help you jump-start your SEO campaign.

There are two reasons for this. Firstly, when compared to other types of content, web stories are still fairly new. While plenty of companies use Google story content, many still don't. This makes your competition much easier to deal with in this regard. Even with a few stories you can already be ahead of your competition, and enjoy a great SEO rating in no time. Secondly, Google places great value on web stories. Keep in mind that Google has its own showroom where you can see what web stories can look like. And that they even provide their own guidelines on how to create web stories. This should be a clue enough to how valuable story content is for Google, and how beneficial it will be for your online presence.

Marketing tool

Google web stories, when used properly, can be a terrific marketing tool. They capture viewers' attention with surprising ease and make it possible to guide the users as needed. You can promote your blog posts, share important information about your company, and provide helpful CTAs. The key thing here is to understand what your audience is like and what type of web stories they would find interesting.

As we mentioned, there is essentially no limit to what you can use in a Google web story. But, in order for your web stories to actually be effective, they need to cater to a certain demographic. Everything from the content type to the style and the tone of the story should be oriented toward your target audience. Ideally, you will also be careful about branding and ensure that it is properly woven into your content.

Omnichannel presence

The final aspect we will mention is the omnichannel presence that story content brings. Google web stories especially can be a great way to connect various aspects of your online presence into a single format. In the same piece of content, you can mention your website, your online store, and your social media profiles. This not only benefits your SEO but also gives your viewers an easy way to explore your brand. In modern marketing, omnichannel presence is a necessity. So, you'd be smart to start using Google web stories as soon as possible.

Final thoughts

By now you should have a fairly good idea of Google web stories and why they are important. As always, we invite you to start creating your own and explore what they can bring to your online presence. StorifyMe provides an easy, intuitive way for you to create story content. And seeing that the process is free, there is really no reason not to try. But, before you start posting your web stories, we do have a word of warning. Keep in mind that web stories, like any other type of content, will be a part of your SEO. Therefore, it is in your best interest to only start posting once you have a clear idea of what you will post and how often. The better you follow Google's SEO guidelines, the better your content will perform.