As social media continues to grab the attention of younger age groups, Google has been working on its own easy-to-digest content form: Google Web Stories.
What are Google Web Stories?
When it first launched, Google only displayed websites on its search engines. In recent years, it is increasingly adding videos to its Search Engine Result Page (SERP).
Now, it has introduced its own format, similar to the stories feature seen in social media apps such as Instagram and Snapchat: Web Stories.
Web Stories use a combination of images and text. Swiping takes the users to the next panel, in a similar way to social media stories.
It can be used in different ways. Content created in the format can be embedded into an existing article, and be shown in the SERPs.
It is created using the Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) framework that Google announced a few years ago for longer articles to make them faster. This ensures that Web Stories load in a flash.
How to create Web Stories
Existing websites have the option to create Web Stories content through an add-on, such as the plugin for WordPress. For standalone projects, there are Web Stories creation platforms such as MakeStories and Newsroom AI.
This is a suitable feature for those who are looking to explore new formats of telling stories and appropriate for younger viewers who prefer fast-paced news.