How to Create Engaging Facebook Stories
Despite the boom of TikTok and the rise of YouTube Shorts, Facebook still commands a lot of attention. This is particularly due to their answer to the short-form craze, which is their Facebook Story feature.
Facebook Stories are short 20-second videos that disappear after 24 hours. It can also be a series of photos that last 5 seconds each.
According to Facebook, half a billion people use Facebook Stories every day. You read that right, half a billion! Those are such a high number of potential customers that your business can reach.
If you want to tap into this feature, you are in the right place. In this article, we’ll dive deep into why you should use Stories (and if it’s the right fit for you), and of course, share some tips on how to create more exciting Stories – all made easy with our Facebook Story maker tool.
Let’s get started!
Why Use Facebook Stories For Your Business?
While Facebook is typically known for its Feed, did you know that Facebook Stories is actually more popular compared to Snapchat and Instagram stories? Indeed, 70% of US users say that Facebook Stories was their preferred platform. So if you’re thinking of dipping your toes into Story marketing, consider trying it out on Facebook first since they have a bigger reach.
Speaking of reach, Facebook Stories tend to have better organic reach compared to other features of the site. Why? This is because the feature is located right on top of the Feed. Your audience doesn’t need to wade through multiple posts just to find you. You don’t even need to pay for ads or boost your posts. With just one click, they can immediately see your content.
Lastly is the engagement. People love watching Stories of friends or celebrities since they offer a more unfiltered and closer view of a person.
The same goes for your brand. Your Stories are seen as more organic and “real” compared to other types of posts. Stories are also more interactive especially if you add polls or stickers. All of these lead to a higher engagement.
9 Tips for Creating Engaging Facebook Stories
Convinced by the power of Facebook Stories? Then add them to your content marketing strategy now!
But just plain old boring Stories won’t do. You need to make them as fun and compelling as possible to capture your audience’s attention.
Here are some best practices that you can do to optimize your Facebook Stories:
1. Know your audience
The first (and most important) step is to know your audience. What do they like and dislike? What kind of content do they watch? Would they prefer a funny video or an informative one? Do they like day-in-the-life videos or behind-the-scenes? Do they prefer short or long videos? And so on.
Research their demographics, psychographics, and their content viewing habits. Analyze what kind of content performs better for your audience. You should also take a look at your competitors to see what kind of content they do.
All of these should give you a better idea of what kind of Story to post.
2. Optimize for mobile
Stories are mainly viewed on mobile. Keep that in mind when creating your video. Make sure it looks good in a vertical format – ensure that all important elements are in the center so it won’t get cut off and that the camera perspective and angles look good vertically.
Try checking your Story using different devices too, as some mobile phones are smaller or bigger.
3. Create it with “sounds off” in mind
While great music and sound effects have a positive impact on your content, the sad truth is that a lot of people watch Stories with the sounds off. This is because a lot of people may not be wearing earphones or they are watching in public so they don’t turn on the sound.
The solution? Create your Story with that in mind. Don’t be too reliant on the sounds. Make sure it is still engaging and understandable even without it. Add captions or subtitles as well.
4. Make it interactive
Incorporate elements such as polls and voting stickers. This makes your posts more interactive compared to just a simple video that people will watch. Try asking them questions or giving prompts which your audience will then respond to.
5. Always have high-quality visuals
Great visuals can elevate a story. Make use of the different effects that Facebook already provides. These could be stickers, emojis, or GIFs. You can also insert text overlays. You can even add template animation such as bounce, zoom, or slide.
Your content should also be high-quality enough even without the added effects. That means using high-quality photos and videos. Make sure these are not pixelated, and that they are well-lit. For videos, make sure they are stable and not shaky. Check your transitions if they are seamless. If you’re feeling more creative, you can even add more transition effects or digital animations to them.
6. Have a cohesive story
Have a friend that loves posting random or vague photos that we don’t know the meaning of? We do.
However, brands can’t really do that. You need to provide a proper and cohesive story in your content. This is so that new customers can understand your content even without context.
Make sure your Stories have a clear concept. For example, is it a post about your Spring Sale? Is it about your new product? Or is it a day-in-the-life video?
Great brand storytelling also has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Try doing a storyboard first to have a cohesive direction in your Story.
7. Always have a CTA
You might get tired of hearing the “Like and Subscribe!” spiel of YouTubers. But there is a reason why they keep doing it.
Those spiels are essentially a CTA or a Call to Action. CTA’s can come in different formats. They could be a button, a clickable link, or those reminders on videos.
These CTAs have a dramatic impact on the conversions of your marketing content. According to studies, adding a CTA in a video can give you 380% more clicks. While CTAs in emails can give you 371% more clicks. Yes, these are insane numbers!
So there’s no reason for you not to include a CTA on your Stories to make them even more effective.
How? Add a button or a clickable link. Add action words such as “Swipe Up” “Tap to learn more” “Get started now”, or “Cast your vote now!”. If you’re using a button, try using a red button as they are found to be more effective. Lastly, always place your CTAs at the end for maximum impact.
8. Experiment and test
It’s crucial to monitor the performance of your Stories to help you create better and more compelling content.
Track and analyze your metrics. Try to also experiment with different content types. You may find that your aesthetic videos get more views or that you get more engagement when posting polls. You might also discover that posting at 7pm is more effective compared to posting at 9pm. You can also try creating a Boomerang and see if it’s more effective.
The key is to keep experimenting. This can help you find that perfect content that your audience will enjoy while at the same time keeping your marketing fresh and not repetitive.
9. Add your branding
Lastly, always add your branding!
Make sure your logo is always present. Use your color scheme and typography. And always make sure your content adheres to your brand identity. These should help you form a recognizable “look” that your audience will associate with you.
Don’t have a logo yet? Check out our AI logo maker or head on to our logo design tool to see our various designs.
How to Create Stories with BrandCrowd Story Maker
Creating Stories might be difficult if you don’t have any editing skills. But don’t worry, we are here to help!
Our Facebook Story Maker offers thousands of beautiful premade templates that you can use. Since these are premade, you don’t have to start from scratch. You can just add on details or swap out design elements to better suit your tastes. Perfect for beginners and non-designers!
To get started:
- Head on to our Facebook Story Maker.
- Enter keywords related to your brand or business to find a suitable template. For example, “coffee shop”, “laundry”, or “automotive”. You can also use keywords based on design such as “pink florals” or “red and white stripes”.
- Click the template that you like.
- You can immediately use your chosen template or customize it further. You can change the colors, font, layout, icon, animation – the possibilities are endless!
- Click “Download” and you’re done!
Boost Your Social Media Marketing with BrandCrowd Today!
There you have it! We hope the tips above have helped you create better Facebook Stories.
If you want to take your Facebook marketing to another level, why not try using paid ads? Our guide to Facebook Ads can help you get started.
But make sure you don’t neglect your other social media platforms! We also have templates available to help you create fun TikTok Videos, aesthetic Instagram Posts, or professional LinkedIn covers. And yes, all of these are customizable as well.
What are you waiting for? Level up your online presence with BrandCrowd now!
