Google announced that their Web Stories WordPress plugin is now out of beta and available for download through the WordPress Plugin Repository. This plugin allows WordPress publishers to effortlessly create content in the Google Web Stories format, thereby helping to attract more visitors.
Previously, the plugin was available on GitHub as a beta version. It is now offered as a fully functional WordPress plugin.
Be Seen in More Places on Google
Web Stories provide a way to repurpose existing content into snackable, short-form content. This format is designed for quick consumption, hence the name Web Stories.
Screenshot of a Single Web Story in a Google Search Results Page
If users find the short content interesting, they can click through to access the full article. Content in the Web Story format can appear at the top of normal Google searches, but it can also be discovered in other places.
Google displays Web Story content in:
- Google Search
- Google Images
- Google Discover
- Google App
Web Stories WordPress Plugin Simplifies the Format
There are specific formatting requirements for Web Stories. For instance, videos need to be in a vertical layout, and the minimum font size should be 24 pixels. Each Web Story page should not exceed 200 characters.
Google’s Web Stories WordPress plugin simplifies this process, allowing publishers to create a Web Story without needing to read a manual.
The plugin features a drag-and-drop interface and templates to streamline the creation process.
Google has partnered with stock image and video providers to offer free images and videos to plugin users.
According to Google:
“…we’ve collaborated with Unsplash to make their extensive high-quality photo library just a click away, as well as Coverr, giving you high-quality, free stock video right from the editor.
We’ll add more templates, stock media integrations and features in the near future.”
These are the Web Stories WordPress plugin features:
“…make the production of stories as easy as possible from a technical perspective.
The Web Stories format comes with preset but flexible layout templates, standardized UI controls, and components for sharing and adding follow-on content.
…can be shared and embedded across sites and apps without being confined to a single ecosystem.
Supports analytics and bookend capabilities for viral sharing and monetization.
Web Stories enable monetization capability for publishers using affiliate links.”
Web Stories WordPress Plugin Requirements
Google’s Web Stories WordPress plugin requires a minimum WordPress Version of 5.3.1 and a minimum PHP version of 5.6.
These requirements are modest and should be within reach for the majority of active WordPress publishers.
The Web Stories WordPress plugin is available at the WordPress plugin repository for download. It can also be installed more easily through your WordPress admin dashboard via the Plugin admin page.
Web Stories Citations
- Google’s WordPress Plugin Announcement
- What are Google Web Stories?
- Web Stories for WordPress Page
- Web Stories WordPress Plugin Repository
