Social media marketing continues to evolve with platforms introducing new features and avenues for businesses to connect with their audience. One of the latest trends sweeping across various platforms is the use of social media stories.
Although social media stories have been around for some time, their prevalence across different platforms underscores their importance for businesses. Understanding how to leverage this feature effectively is crucial as it provides a fresh avenue for engaging with followers, and the content doesn’t require the same level of polish as regular feed posts.
Let’s delve deeper into what social media stories entail, which platforms currently offer them, and how businesses can optimize their use of this feature.
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What Are Social Media Stories?
Social media stories originated on Snapchat and have since been adopted by nearly every major social media platform. These ephemeral snippets, typically lasting 10-15 seconds, offer a glimpse into the lives of individuals or businesses and disappear within 24 hours.
Unlike carefully curated feed posts, stories tend to be more spontaneous, allowing brands to showcase behind-the-scenes footage, make announcements, or share informal updates. The temporary nature of stories adds an element of urgency, contributing to the fear of missing out (FOMO) among viewers.
Platforms Offering Social Media Stories
Initially pioneered by Snapchat, the concept of disappearing stories has been embraced by numerous platforms over the years. Here’s a rundown of where you can find stories on various platforms:
Facebook Stories
Displayed prominently at the top of the Facebook app, stories offer a quick way to connect with followers, especially on mobile devices.
Instagram Stories
Positioned in small circles above the Instagram feed, stories provide a dynamic way to engage with followers and are easily accessible with a simple tap.
Twitter Fleets (Stories)
While Twitter experimented with Fleets, a stories feature, it was eventually phased out in favor of other functionalities like audio chat rooms.
LinkedIn Stories
Positioned at the top of the LinkedIn app, stories offer professionals a platform to share insights, updates, and behind-the-scenes glimpses.
Pinterest Stories
Pinterest’s story feature, displayed at the top of the app, allows users to share visual content that remains visible on their profile even after 24 hours.
Snapchat Stories
As the pioneer of disappearing stories, Snapchat remains a popular platform for sharing casual, ephemeral content.
YouTube Stories
While currently limited to channels with over 10,000 subscribers, YouTube’s stories feature offers creators an additional way to engage with their audience.
Ideas for Social Media Stories Content
Now that we’ve covered the platforms offering social media stories, let’s explore some content ideas that perform well:
- Behind-the-scenes glimpses offer a candid look at your business’s operations and processes.
- Polls and interactive stickers encourage audience engagement and feedback.
- Linking to external content directs followers to products, services, or other relevant pages.
- Sharing recent social posts maximizes their visibility and reach.
- Showcasing products and services in action or promoting special offers captures audience interest.
- Announcing company updates, launches, or releases generates excitement and anticipation.
- Repurposing existing content into story format extends its reach and maximizes its impact.
Make the Most of Your Social Media Stories
As social media stories become increasingly prevalent across platforms, integrating them into your content strategy is essential. Their ephemeral and casual nature makes them ideal for experimenting with different formats and content types. Start testing these ideas to see how your audience responds and refine your stories strategy accordingly across various social networks.