What are Google Web Stories? How to Create & Monetize Them in 2023

Short video stories have become the new thing in the social media world ever since Snapchat introduced them a few years back. More and more people are taking advantage of short and creative stories to spread their messages, market their content, and earn revenue through ads. The popularity of stories is not confined to only social media nowadays, however, as Google has also jumped into the game.

Google Web Stories are available for all websites to showcase their content in the short-form style that’s prevalent today. Every website can create “Web Stories“, which can be a great source of extra traffic on blogs and landing pages. Moreover, these stories can be monetized and you can earn revenue through ads and other means.

What are Google Web Stories?

web stories
Google Web Stories | Google for Creators

The purpose of Google Web Stories is to bring the same level of popularity to the web that Stories have brought to social media platforms. Compared to social media networks, where users’ Stories are often tied to that service and their ability to make adjustments is restricted, Google Web Stories gives users more control and the choice to host their content on their terms.

Google Web Stories allow creators to publish their work outside social media networks. Adding CTAs and strategically positioned Google Ads are two additional ways for creators to make money from their Stories.

Creators can make their Stories interactive by inserting photographs, videos, and text into separate Story panels. With Google Web Stories, authors have complete editorial freedom and retain all intellectual property rights to their works.

Imagine getting results from a Google search that includes Stories. Alternatively, you may find stories, articles, videos, and other media online. Google Search, Google Images, and Google Discover can all provide your target audience with Google Web Stories.

This means that Stories will start appearing in places on the web other than social networking platforms. This opens up new streams of revenue beyond a creator’s website. They can diversify their income streams from social media without sacrificing their influencer status.

How to create Google Web Stories

How Web Stories works |
How Web Stories works | Google for Creators

There are only five simple steps required to make your own Web Story. Here is how:

  • Choose a visual editor

WordPress Plugin for Web Stories
WordPress Plugin for Web Stories | Mediavine

A visual editor lets you make and alter visual content, including images, movies, and graphics. You don’t have to be a pro at video editing or design to generate stunning and eye-catching material with the help of these programs, as they typically have user-friendly interfaces and a lot of presets. MakeStories, Newsroom AI, and Google Web Stories for WordPress are just a few plugin choices that could work for you.

1. Draft the Story

If you want to keep your readers interested in your Web Story once it’s been published, you need to tell them the whole story right away. Web Stories are published in their entirety at once; thus, the same care should be taken in crafting the Story as it would be for a blog post or video.

2. Find the visual assets

The next thing to do is to compile media that can be used in the web story. It’s worth noting that, like a mobile phone, the web stories format is vertical. Videos and pictures must also be shot vertically to fit the design.

3. Create the web story

web stories
How Google Web Stories Work | Embed Social

Google suggests starting with one of the pre-existing templates the visual editors offer. After gaining experience, a publisher can expand and experiment with unique templates containing website branding or a distinctive visual identity. You have complete independence in creating the Story.

4. Publish the web story

When the web story is complete to your satisfaction, it is ready to be released. Google says it’s as simple as pressing the “Publish” button, regardless of the tool or plugin used.

Monetizing Google web stories

Google Web Stories are an excellent method for monetizing a website or blog. You can reach more people and make more money if you make interesting visual stories that people will want to share on social media and other platforms.

Your Google Web Story can also feature ads generated by AdSense or other ad networks. You will be paid if someone clicks on the ad (it works similarly to ad monetization on YouTube).

Google Web Stories also allow you to market affiliate products and services using in-text links. You will receive a commission if the customer decides to buy after clicking on your link. You also have the option of receiving direct sponsorship. There are numerous ways to monetize with Google Web Stories.

  1. Display Story Ads
  2. Affiliate Links
  3. Brand Banners

Let’s discuss all three in detail.

1. Display story ads

The plugin makes it simple to use either Google AdSense or Google Ad Manager to place advertisements within published articles on your site.

Monetize using Google AdSense

adsense-home
Google AdSense | Google AdSense Help

Simply insert your AdSense published ID and ad unit code into the appropriate spots in your website’s code to display full-screen advertisements in between the web story slides. It only requires that you:

  • Create an ad unit for display in your AdSense account.
  • Copy the AdSense publisher id and insert it into the ad unit.
  • On the settings page for the Web Stories plugin, under monetization, select Google AdSense.
  • Place your publication id and slot id there.

Ads will display on their screens as soon as people start reading your stories.

Monetize using other platforms

Other platforms and ad networks can support web story advertisements, but they must adopt a similarly structured tagging system.

2. Affiliate links

affiliate links
Affiliate links can be used on Web Stories | Empire Flippers

Affiliate links allow publishers to monetize their content by including outlinks on naturally occurring story pages. Affiliate networks such as Impact, Commission Junction, Admitad, and so on are available. Many businesses use it as a marketing platform so you can expect many advertisements. Don’t spam your post with multiple affiliate links.

3. Banner ads

Sponsored banners allow you to advertise brands and their products in your online stories. If you have a sizable fan following, you can get sponsored by various companies.

You may increase your total earnings and assist your audience in locating relevant items and services by securing premium brand sponsorships. They’ll give you the media to use if you’re writing online stories for the brand.

Final thoughts

To increase profits across the board, companies are now starting to utilize Google Web Stories. Creating, publishing, and monetizing these stories is as simple as doing so on Instagram or YouTube. Web Stories might turn out to be the next big thing. With the advent of ChatGPT and the likes, Google needs something to stand out in Search, this might just be it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kamil Anwar


Kamil is a certified MCITP, CCNA (W), CCNA (S) and a former British Computer Society Member with over 9 years of experience Configuring, Deploying and Managing Switches, Firewalls and Domain Controllers also an old-school still active on FreeNode.