How to use Facebook Stories for Marketing Success by @kerijaehnig

by Keri Jaehnig | Featured Contributor

Are you a marketer not yet sure about Facebook Stories?

Every marketer can relate to the importance of storytelling in branding success. Great brands are made of stories, not just of products and services.

In this article, you will discover how to leverage Facebook Stories as a tool to maximize your marketing outreach.

Facebook Stories – The Story So Far  

Facebook launched ‘Stories’ in March 2017.  Social media evangelists hailed it as a strategic move by the social networking leader to rival Snapchat.

In the past, Facebook had tried to acquire Snapchat, but that deal did not mature. Snapchat went on to build its own social fan following with a unique gamification plan called Snapchat count – A score reminding users how many snaps they have sent and received.

But, Facebook never backed down and eventually launched Facebook Stories allowing Facebook users to share their images with fancy filters with their friend connections. Facebook Stories was first found on Instagram – the Facebook owned image sharing behemoth.

Facebook Stories for Marketing

Believe it or not, Facebook Stories are an excellent way to market on the social network. A more recent development, Facebook finally got it right and has made it possible for users to share their stories to specific friends, all friends, or to public.  

Public sharing of Facebook Stories has the potential to boost the activities of influencers and celebrities. Sharing Facebook Stories publicly gives multiple times reach compared to posts shared in privacy mode.

In case you have yet to start using Facebook Stories for marketing, perhaps there is no better time to start than now! 

Below, we’ll discuss how to use Facebook Stories for marketing success…

Share Valuable Content

Facebook stories disappear in 24 hours. Unlike status posts and image sharing, they don’t remain for long. So, you have a very short span of time during which an impact has to be created.  

How to create value? Share valuable content. While Facebook Stories offer a splendid way to grab the viewer’s attention quickly, it should not be misused for pushing marketing content alone. Share ‘valuable content’; content which is educative, informative and engaging for anyone who sees it. When they derive value from your Facebook Stories, they stay loyal to your feeds thereby increasing engagement.

Post When The Time Is Right

The clock is ticking and time is short to capture the market. But, that should not force you shoot out Facebook stories every minute. There is a specific time span during which the viewers’ attention and engagement levels will be at its peak.

Hootsuite suggests the following timeframe as ideal for posting on Facebook.

Between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  And on Saturday and Sunday between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. (Source: Hootsuite Blog)

You can follow the same with some adjustment to fit your followers’ behavior.

Maintain Brand Consistency

Every brand has a story of its own, an identity, and a persona. It is this identity which distinguishes it from rest of the world.  So, when you are using Facebook Stories, it is best to be consistent in telling your brand’s story. Do not deviate from your core message by putting random posts just to keep your face at the top of the Facebook Home screen.

Instead, show customers using your product, a quick run through behind the scenes action at work, maybe an assorted picture slide of your products, as well as celebrating a milestone.  And more – This is really your blank canvas.

Keep It Real

Facebook Stories for marketing is basically content marketing in practice. A core principle of content marketing is that you stay true and sincere in your sharing with your users. If you share stories that are too complex, negative, or difficult for the viewers to understand, you will likely lose them or turn them off.

On the other hand, let’s assume you run an online homemade chocolate business. You can easily win your customer’s attention using Facebook Stories with images of the chocolate making process, different chocolate types, chocolate sculptures, people enjoying chocolate on a random time of the day, and so on.  

Once you are comfortable with the above concepts, try having your customer themselves submit or share images to keep your brand image more real and personal.  A brand which feels real and personal is bound to become a part of the customer’s everyday life. Think: Coca Cola, Nestle, Hershey’s, etc. 

What Next?

Now you know how Facebook Stories can boost your brand image.  Why wait any longer?  Get started and start owning your social media presence!

Can you add ideas or tips?  Please let us know your thoughts in comments.

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Keri Jaehnig is the Founder and CMO at Idea Girl Media, an international Social Media Marketing Agency. Keri helps business brands, public figures, and non-profits achieve and positive online reputation. You may have seen Keri online at Forbes, Social Media Today, Search Engine People, Business Insider, AOL Small Business, TabSite, WiseStamp, SteamFeed, and other social media marketing websites. She also writes for her own blog at ideagirlmedia.com. In 2013 Keri received a Small Business Influencer Honorable Mention Award, and a commendation for Outstanding Attainment in Social Media from the State of Ohio Senate. Non-fat lattes, travel & quick wit make her smile, and Keri is always enthused to meet new people!

Connect with Keri on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Keri Jaehnig