Learn how to stand out with Facebook Stories and create engaging content that captures attention and boosts interaction.
Thomas Haurum
As an entrepreneur investing in marketing, you’re always looking for opportunities to differentiate yourself from the competition.
What if I told you that you have the chance to stand out – and it’s completely free? This opportunity is called Facebook Stories.
Most likely, you’re already familiar with both the functionality and the format. Facebook Stories are nearly identical to Instagram Stories and very similar to the original format from Snapchat.
Facebook Stories
Facebook Stories are user-generated content. They appear at the top of the Facebook mobile app and at the top right column on Facebook for PC. While you can view them on both mobile and desktop, you can only create them with your phone. You can create a story using a photo or video and add various filters and effects such as frames, text and emojis.
There’s no limit to how many stories you can publish. You decide what’s best for you and your business. Your Facebook story will be available for 24 hours, and followers can view it as many times as they want in that interval.
Unlike Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories are not used as often – and you can take advantage of that.
Untapped potential
The fact that this feature is not widely adopted among Facebook users is your window to higher exposure.
I rarely see Facebook Stories from people I follow – and I believe this is true for most people.
Instead of ignoring Facebook Stories, see it as an opportunity. You can use Facebook Stories to showcase new products or offer a behind-the-scenes look at your business. This way, you can be among the few visible in your followers’ Stories tab.
How to create a Facebook Story
1. To create a new story, open the camera in the Facebook app. If you are logged in as a private individual, press “Add” in the Stories section at the top of the app, as shown in the image below:
If you have a business profile on Facebook, you’ll find the Stories section by scrolling down slightly, as shown below. To create a new story, tap “Add to story.”
2. After tapping “Add to story” and taking the photo or video you want, you can start playing with filters and other effects. You can add frames, geo-filters and effects you already know from Snapchat or Instagram. See the example below:
3. When you are satisfied with your content, click “Next”, select the page and press the small blue paper airplane in the lower right corner.
You have now created a story that your followers can view as many times as they want for 24 hours.
Tip – Combine Instagram Story with Facebook
If you feel it’s too time-consuming or resource-intensive to create different stories for Instagram and Facebook, there’s a simple solution. Facebook owns Instagram, so the two platforms can communicate. A useful feature allows you to automatically share your Instagram story directly to Facebook with a simple switch.
To do this, open the created story, then tap the three dots in the lower right corner:
Scroll to the bottom and enable “Share story to Facebook”:
Now you’re ready to make the most of Facebook Stories – good luck!
P.S. If you haven’t turned your Instagram profile into a business profile, I explain how to do this step by step here.
See also:
Facebook advertising – increase brand visibility and sales
Instagram Live Video – why it’s a smart move!
What is Facebook Business Manager? (Guide 2018)
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