Strategies for using Story features on Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook
It’s no secret that the competition between social media apps is reaching a fever pitch. Last summer, Instagram stepped into Snapchat’s territory by creating a Story feature on their app – a blatant copy of Snapchat’s core feature. This past month, Facebook also introduced Stories to its app. Understandably, Snapchat isn’t happy.
However, for social media marketers, this could be great news. After all, Snapchat is geared towards a young demographic that doesn’t fit within many brands’ marketing strategies. Facebook and Instagram, on the other hand, are popular with a wider range of users. Now, more marketers have reason to get in on the Story-telling action.
If you’re unfamiliar with Stories, in a nutshell, they allow you to create a sequence of pictures and short videos for your followers’ viewing pleasure. The catch? Stories disappear after 24 hours.
While the concept behind Stories is simple, we’ve listed a few crucial tips to help you get started. If you’re looking to experiment with Snapchat, Instagram or Facebook’s Story features, here are a few tips for doing so the right way.
Tips for using social media Story features:
- Tell a story. Stories are a great way to set up a narrative for your brand. What events are you attending? What’s your company’s day-to-day like? By giving your followers a glimpse behind-the-scenes, you can humanize your brand and show off your social media skills.
- Be in the moment. Timing is key when it comes to Story features. Your content doesn’t have to be airbrushed and perfectly curated; on-the-fly posts are a major component of the Story experience. As long as your posts are on-brand, you should be able to avoid social media fails.
- “Fun” is the operative word. Having a sense of humour is so important for creating a good Story. After all, Snapchat’s most popular features are its goofy facial recognition lenses and location-based geofilters – and Facebook has followed suit. These filters change every few days; there’s always new inspiration available. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
- Know that Snapchat isn’t for everybody. If the concept of off-the-cuff, light-hearted content truly clashes with your brand’s values, then Snapchat might not be the best fit. Not every platform works for every brand. The most important thing to keep in mind is your target audience – if they prefer Facebook or Instagram, then it’s best to post your stories on those apps instead.
via Social Media Examiner
Finally, here’s a bonus tip for Snapchat users: Promote your Snapchat account on your other social profiles. Searching for users on Snapchat isn’t as simple or intuitive as it is on other social media apps, and this can impact your follower count. Luckily, Snapchat is perfecting its search bar to make it easier for users to find Stories, though this feature is currently only available in select cities. For the time being, try promoting your Snapchat account on your other social platforms to attract followers.
And there you have it! If you’re looking to have fun and get creative with social media, Stories – via whichever platform you choose – provide endless opportunities to do so. Keep our Story tips mind as you embark on this new leg of your social media journey!
Learn more about Instagram Stories.
Buffer explains Facebook’s latest feature, Facebook Stories.
Sprout Social knows a thing or two about the basics of Snapchat.