Back in July 2020, Google released a WordPress plugin that allows bloggers to create contents very much like Instagram’s Insta Stories. Called Google Web Stories, this new content format allows us to create content that are snackable and visually captivating.
The plugin launched officially in Sep 2020, but before that, I managed to create 2 web stories that complemented my post about navigating Los Angeles Airport (LAX). It took me a day to create 2 Stories of 5 pages each, using photos that I already had. Here’s my take on my first hand experience using Google Web Stories.
Tappable, engaging visual stories
What is Google Web Stories?
According to Google’s official website, Google Web Stories are “tappable, engaging visual stories” that are “powered by AMP technology”.
In human language, it’s meant for bloggers like me to create short, “snackable” content that not only are image/video focused, but are also catered for viewing on mobile devices.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the only format for Google Web Stories is the portrait mode.
Editable, even after 24 hours
Why Did I Start Making Google Web Stories?
Well, it has been known by now that most people surf the internet on their mobile devices now. In fact, 80% of my site visitors are using mobile.
Additionally, with the advent of Instagram and the likes of Tik Tok, people are consuming content in the vertical format, rather than the traditional landscape mode. These are the 2 prominent features of Google Web Stories.
We just have to move with the times, eh?
While Google Web Stories is like Insta Stories / Facebook Stories, it still has distinct features that makes it more like a blog content.
Other than the fact that Google Web Stories remain accessible to viewers after 24 hours, I can also edit my Stories after publishing.
This meant that I can always amend errors or update the content to keep it current.
In this way, Google Web Stories has the best of blogging and social media.
How to Start Creating Google Web Stories?
Google Web Stories is still in beta stage at the time of writing. Therefore, it is still not downloadable on WordPress plugin library. Instead, I downloaded the plugin at https://wp.stories.google/ to start my first experimental content.
Of course, the caveat is that you need to be on WordPress.org or on at least the Business Plan of WordPress.com to be able to download plugins.
Installation of the plugin involved just a few simple clicks and following the default instructions. (I am no programming guru, so I didn’t change any default settings) After installation, a “Stories” tab appears at the side panel of the WP Admin page, ready to take action!
The best content is the one that doesn’t need readers to take much action!
Google Web Stories Made Easy
The official website and some website design gurus gave some guidelines on how to make a good Google Web Stories. Here is a summary:
- Keep content to 5 – 20 pages, with optimal size at 10 – 20 pages
- Limit external links to 1
- External content should supplement the Stories, and not be the main part of the Stories
The guidelines are supposedly to help content producers customise their content to suit the viewing habits of users. However, knowing how many bloggers (like me) are noobs who are not experts in marketing, Google also hinted that Stories that are deemed too unsuitable for mobile consumption (i.e. don’t follow the guidelines) may not be shown in Google search results.
Logical. Since if the initial contents turn audiences off, this format will not take off and Google will have another failed product in its bag.
However, laymen like me who are neither trained in design nor marketing may need more guidelines!
Use Templates
As with every other thing, dummies always find templates to be a very useful tool. There is a library of well-designed templates that suit varied aesthetic tastes.
I found the templates to be a good way to create content straight away. Of course, after getting the hang of it, these templates become a source of inspiration for me.
Photos and Videos in Portrait Mode
Since Google Web Stories is in portrait mode, and it emphasised on visual content, I assumed (at first) that my photos and videos have to be in portrait mode.
However, when I looked at the templates, I quickly realised that it is possible to still use visuals that are in landscape mode. One just needs to be more creative in formatting these assets.
However, as with all content production, it will be better to plan the content beforehand with a storyboard. In this way, the visuals can be captured with the right format.
Go Easy on Words
Another challenge for bloggers like me is that we have to go easy on words in Google Web Stories. After all, this is a visual-focused creation, not a word focused one.
If we embed a Stories in a blog post, like the ones I did for my LAX post, the Stories will start running like an Insta Stories slideshow once the user clicked on it. Each page will run for 6 seconds. This means readers most likely don’t have time to read grandmother stories on Google Web Stories.
On the other hand, if the Stories is viewed in a new tab, then there’s a button to pause the slideshow. Alternatively, one can tap and hold to stop the page from moving forward.
But then again, the best content is the one that doesn’t need readers to take much action!
A lot of planning needs to be done…
Google Web Stories Limitations And Workarounds
Notwithstanding that Google Web Stories is still in beta stage, every product is bound to have features that either do not meet expectations, or cannot meet expectations of everybody.
Photos of landscape And Web Stories Aren’t Perfect Match
For me, the greatest limitation arose from the fact that the pictures I take are mostly of landscapes. And landscapes are best captured in the landscape mode.
So if I try to use the landscape picture as a Stories background, the whole context of the scenery would be lost. Additionally, unlike in Canva, we can’t shift the background photo to bring its focal point into the Stories canvas. This adds to the challenge of finding a suitable landscape photo for the background.
Although I mentioned earlier it is still possible to use photos in landscape mode as elements on a page, a scenery photo will become too small. The details of the landscapes will then be lost.
In fact, a Google Web Stories page is about 2.4 times higher than its width (I have not found a source that stated the official dimensions). This is even taller than that of an Insta Stories at 1080×1920, or 1.7 times higher than the width. A typical photo taken in portrait mode will most likely be cut off at the sides.
Therefore, a lot more planning needs to be done if one wants to be precise about the images they use on Google Web Stories.
Unwieldy and Slow User Interface
The weird dimensions aside, the WordPress plugin is still a little laggy. But I suppose my 2 year old laptop’s graphics card could also be the culprit.
As a Canva user, I found the interface for Google Web Stories very similar to the former. That being said, the features of the latter are definitely lacking.
Like I mentioned, I couldn’t shift the photo when I set it as a background. Therefore, if my vanishing point is not dead centre, the photo will become a textured background instead.
Google Web Stories is also smart enough to snap photos to the alignments of other elements on the page. Or snap to the centre lines. However, it went a little gaga when I had more than 5 elements.
It also suffered the problems of old versions of Microsoft Powerpoint. Small elements just couldn’t be aligned/centralised properly.
I guess I have to be disciplined to limit my page contents to 5 large elements…
Limited Templates
The templates are beautiful. I doubt I can create such pleasing visuals on my own. However, at this stage, the number of templates is limited. Therefore, I have to edit existing templates heavily to avoid my Stories looking too much like another blogger’s.
Publishing
Unlike usual blog posts, the Stories do not show up on my blog page after publishing. Therefore, whenever I need to share my Stories, I need to go into the Stories editor to copy the URL.
However, it is easy to embed the Stories into a regular post. From there, one can also copy the link for sharing too. On the other hand, as mentioned earlier, embeded Stories run on auto slide show format, unless we set it to open in new tabs after users click on the Stories.
Formatting Issues In End Product
During my tests, I found out that when my Stories is viewed in FB web browser, the formatting would go haywire. That issue was overcome when I chose to “Open in Chrome” instead (see comparison below). The weirdest part was that my friend using the same phone did not face this issue.
Unfortunately, I do not have a workaround for this issue, since it is not something that happens across the board.
Parting Words
Google Web Stories is an interesting content format. Given what I know about the trend of how people consume content online, this seems to be in the right direction.
The creation process consciously reminds me that my readers would want more visuals and less words. It also opens up more ways for me to share my travelogues and food reviews.
Unfortunately, Google Web Stories still suffers from many bugs, even after 2 months since its beta launch. I only hope Google iron out these issues and launch a more elegant and user-friendly Google Web Stories soon!
Check out the 2 web stories I created below.
Till then, stay curious!
Thanks for sharing. I didn’t even know that such plug-in exists 😛
You’re welcome!
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