When were stories created?
It all started back in 2013 with the rise of Snapchat, which is now one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. Snapchat created a unique “story” feature that everyone could see, but only for a short period of time: the post would disappear after 24 hours. It became a huge success and users started to interact with Snapchat even more than before. This has led many current businesses to start using social media stories in order to create a bond with their customers and promote quick, creative content.
The rise of Snapchat influenced both Facebook and Instagram to develop story features on their platforms. They are particularly successful in this context because users react quickly to posts that are only available for a limited time period. Facebook has 1 billion active users daily and Instagram has 300 million, therefore using stories for your business is an effective method to interact with your customers. In combination with releasing the usual posts, you can also create questionnaires, polls and interactive quizzes.
Are stories effective in the business world?
It is very easy for businesses to engage with their followers as stories create more emotive and interested reactions from people. It has become one of the most popular ways for interaction, due to the majority of users watching stories on a daily basis. However, it is important to focus on your target audience’s needs and wants. Ask yourself the question, what did they follow you for? Depending on your business, this could be for important information, retail promotions and discounts, health advice, relationship tips or simple humour. You will therefore need to tailor your content to your audience. Do not post stories all day, every day, as it will become less effective and a waste of time, not just for you, but for your followers also. To promote your product, you need to create unique content and make sure to use visuals too, as users respond well to captivating pictures. Furthermore, there is an option for your stories to become featured on your brand page, so visitors can re-watch old content.
Facebook Stories
Speaking for all social media platforms, Facebook stories allow your post to be visible for a total of 24 hours before it disappears. If you are using Facebook for your business, stories will be a great addition to your online presence. However, users will not be able to like or comment on your stories; instead, they will be given the option to open a conversation on Facebook Messenger. If you already use stories for your business, then you are on the right track. One tip would be to avoid using the same content for each platform, as it may not get the same amount of views or reactions that you expect.
Instagram Stories
Instagram has around 500 million daily active users of the stories feature. A lot of people use Instagram stories to interact with their followers, whether it be businesses, personal accounts or social influencers. It also differs slightly to Facebook, as you can react to stories with emojis and leave likes and comments. Instagram has unique features for their stories, where you can ask followers questions, quizzes or create polls. This can be particularly useful to find out which products or services they like most or for new customers, are most likely to buy. More than 25 million companies are already using Instagram stories for their business to interact with their customers, so if you aren’t, you better jump on the bandwagon!
Snapchat Stories
Snapchat is the social media platform that started the stories craze! It has since escalated across the world, and now almost every platform of social media is using stories to connect with users. For the best effectiveness, you should reply to your followers as this can create a solid connection and customers will become more loyal to the brand. However, although Snapchat is a great platform for entertainment, it may not be ideal for corporate businesses and clients. Furthermore, you need to really know your audience in order for it to be effective, as you will have to choose an appropriate tone, formality and level of humour or seriousness when addressing your target customers.
Related insights
Is Facebook Dead?
Everyone knows Facebook as a fun website where you can catch up with friends and share photos and posts to the world. It started as the original place to make friends. Nowadays, some people say that it has become almost a clickbait with its multitude of paid articles and advertisements.
get more insightThe Importance of Mobile and Responsive Web Design
Did you know that in 2019, approximately 52% of users worldwide use a mobile device for internet browsing? This is in comparison with desktop browsing at 45% and tablet browsing at 4%. Although just over half of the population leaning towards mobile devices may not seem very drastic, this figure compares with one of 2015, when desktop browsing was the principal method, holding around 60% of user preference.
get more insightHow to Use Organic Social Media for your Start-up Business
Social media has become one of the most effective tools for marketing your business. It is evidently very powerful and proven to be useful and inexpensive when used organically. However, it can feel very overwhelming for start-up businesses to use social media at first, especially with no knowledge of how to attract followers and customers.
get more insight
