Information technology all moves and so fast, doesn't it?

Every day at that place's a new app, feature, or tool to learn about – similar Facebook Stories.

I mean, what is it? Do yous demand information technology? Is information technology the same as Instagram Stories and Snapchat? Heck, what'southward the whole "Story" thing about anyway?!

I feel ya.

Stories creation and consumption is upwardly 842 percentage since they launched in early 2016 , and Facebook expected sharing via Stories to surpass sharing through feeds in 2020.

In Facebook's Q1 2018 earnings report , CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, "Stories is a big part of the future of video sharing, which is why we're all in on information technology across our family."

So similar it or not, Stories are the future of social media.

This presents an incredible opportunity for those willing to acquire the ropes before the majority realize the potential and leap on the bandwagon.

Is that you?

In this article, you'll learn all most Facebook Stories – what it is, why you demand it, how to get started, and how it works.

Permit's dive in.

Post Contents

  • What is Facebook Stories?
    • Where Tin can You View Facebook Stories?
  • The Ability of Facebook for Businesses
    • The Rise of the Stories Format
    • Facebook Stories is Replacing the News Feed
    • The Ability of Facebook Stories for Marketers
  • How to Use Facebook Stories as a Folio
    • How to Share Your Instagram Stories to Your Facebook Page
  • How to Create Content in Facebook Stories
    • The Facebook Story Photographic camera
      • Use Both Cameras
      • Choose Your Lighting Setting
      • Automatically Save Your Content
    • The four Facebook Story Content Formats
      • The Normal Setting
      • The Video Setting
      • The Boomerang Setting
      • The Live Setting
      • Add together Media from Your Device
    • 6 Means to Customize Your Facebook Stories
      • Add Furnishings and Animations
      • Go Creative with 3D Drawing
      • Add together Stickers and Emojis
      • Add Text to Your Story
      • Apply the Drawing Tool
    • Saving, Publishing, and Reviewing Your Content
  • How to Gather Insights from Your Facebook Stories
  • Facebook Stories: FAQs
  • Facebook Stories: A Summary
  • Desire to Learn More?

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What is Facebook Stories?

Facebook Stories is a feature which allows users to share photos, videos, and animations that disappear after 24 hours. It'southward very similar to Snapchat stories, which was introduced back in 2013 .

Facebook released a promotional video to showcase the benefits of Stories – "Let your camera do the talking".

Unlike most social media posts , Facebook Stories doesn't take comments or likes. Instead, when viewers respond to Stories, the interaction happens through Facebook Messenger .

Where Can You View Facebook Stories?

Content shared via Facebook Stories doesn't announced in the News Feed. Instead, Stories appear at the meridian of the Facebook app or Messenger app.

Facebook Stories

And on Facebook desktop, Stories appear at the top of the right-hand sidebar.

Facebook Stories Desktop

To view someone's Facebook Story, simply tap on their contour picture. If there'south a Story that you haven't all the same seen, the user'southward profile picture will have a blueish ring around it.

Facebook Stories appear in full-screen. You can skip backward or forwards by tapping the left or correct side of the screen.

So why should your business use information technology?

The Ability of Facebook for Businesses

Facebook is King.

With more than two.7 billion users , it's the largest social network in the world .

how many people use facebook But are these users engaged?

Yes. More than one billion people log in to Facebook every day, and according to comScore , the average user accesses Facebook eight times a 24-hour interval.

These users are and then valuable that Facebook Ads totally dominates social media advertising, with a massive 93% of social media advertisers using the service.

Facebook Ads Rule

But what about Facebook Stories?

The Rise of the Stories Format

When Snapchat launched Snapchat Stories in 2013, the world watched and waited to come across if the concept would take off. Snapchat evangelist Gary Vaynerchuk fifty-fifty denounced the Stories format as a bad thought.

But Snapchat Stories were a huge hit.

Just a few months after the launch, Mark Zuckerberg saw the potential and offered to purchase the company for a cool $3 billion. However, the offering was turned down every bit Snapchat'due south growth exploded .

Still, if you lot can't purchase them, you can always re-create them, right?

Fast forward three years. In August 2016, Facebook launched Instagram Stories , and then but six months later, Facebook WhatsApp Condition .

Finally, Facebook Stories was launched in March 2017 to complete its all-out assault on Snapchat.

So who's winning?

Although simply 10% of Facebook's i.45 billion daily agile users take adopted Facebook Stories, Statistica reports that "Facebook's Snapchat clones are beating the original."

Facebook Beats Snapchat

Information technology'south true that Facebook Stories is currently the least used out of these apps, merely with Facebook determined to push the Stories characteristic, that seems set to alter.

"The way people create content is irresolute to exist from text to photos and videos," said Connor Hayes , product manager for Facebook Stories. "This is, in turn, changing the way they're sharing with one another and interacting online."

He added: "This is something that Snapchat has really pioneered."

Plainly.

Facebook Stories is Replacing the News Feed

Let'due south be real for a moment: Facebook's organic reach sucks .

It's been declining for years .

Facebook Page Organic Reach

To make matters worse, this trend looks set up to continue.

In Jan 2018, according to Facebook's Head of News Feed Adam Mosseri, Facebook began to "shift ranking to brand News Feed more nearly connecting with people and less about consuming media in isolation."

Pitiful, what?

Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post : "As we curl this out, you'll see less public content like posts from businesses, brands, and media. And the public content you lot meet more volition be held to the same standard – it should encourage meaningful interactions between people."

*Eek*

Essentially, this means that marketing content is to take a backseat to content by friends and family – an earlier Facebook value that information technology's trying to return to.

So what can marketers do?

Start harnessing the power of Facebook Stories. This format provides a way for yous to bypass the News Feed and reach your target audience organically. Remember, sharing to Stories was expected to surpass sharing through feeds onetime in 2019 (and it probably did).

Plus, your Stories volition be featured above user's News Feeds.

Just that'south non all.

The Power of Facebook Stories for Marketers

Today, Facebook Stories has more than 150 million daily agile users , and as users drift from the News Feed to Facebook Stories, this number will keep to grow.

Plus, because Facebook Stories disappear after 24 hours, they possess an urgency that most forms of social sharing don't.

There's goose egg similar a niggling FOMO to catch people's attending.

And as Gary Vaynerchuk explains , "It's not how many followers you have, it's how many care. Information technology's not width, information technology'due south depth. Information technology'southward not how many impressions you go, it's how much attention you go."

Facebook Stories

Facebook Stories is also perfect for sharing authentic content in real-time.

This level of connection and actuality tin be incredibly powerful. In fact, 94% of consumers say they're likely to exist loyal to a brand that offers complete transparency.

Plus, it'south free , in a time when many marketing tools aren't.

What'southward more, there'll soon exist the option to identify paid advertisements in Facebook Stories – which will likely contribute to Facebook's potency in social media advertisement.

Lesser line: Facebook Stories is the future.

It gives you the opportunity to communicate more intimately with your audience throughout the solar day.

So how tin can you beginning using Facebook Stories to build your brand?

How to Utilize Facebook Stories every bit a Folio

Commencement things first: If yous're a business or brand, you need a Facebook Page – not a profile.

To share Facebook Stories, yous must exist an admin or editor of your brand'south Folio. Now, allow's run through how to share Stories to your Page :

Footstep 1: Open the Facebook App ( iOS / Android ) on your mobile device.

Stride 2: Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom-right of the screen to bring up your Pages and Groups. Then tap your Folio.

Step 3: Once you're on your Page, tap the three dots in the top-right of the screen indicating a menu, and select "Open Camera." Alternatively, scroll down your Page, and tap "Create Story."

Create Facebook Story

In summary: You demand to admission the Facebook Story camera from your Page to share Stories to your Page's followers.

Do you already create and share Instagram Stories? If so, you don't take to as well manually upload each mail to Facebook Stories.

Instead, you lot can link your accounts and so that your Instagram Stories are automatically posted to your Facebook Folio.

Absurd, correct?

To share Instagram Stories on a Facebook Folio, you demand to take an Instagram Business profile.

At present, if you need to catechumen your normal Instagram account into a business organisation profile, just scroll down the Instagram settings and tap "Switch to Business organisation Profile."

Instagram Business Profile

Then, follow the instructions and Instagram will prompt y'all to connect your account to your Facebook Page.

Instagram to Facebook Integration

If yous've already got an Instagram Business organization profile, tap the three lines at the acme-right of your contour indicating a menu, and so tap "Settings."

Instagram Menu

Next, scroll down and click "Story controls."

Instagram Story Controls

Then, gyre to the bottom and enable sharing to your Facebook Story.

Share Your Instagram Story to Facebook

Side by side up:

How to Create Content in Facebook Stories

Now that you lot're gear up to share Facebook Stories on your brand's Page, let's run through a quick overview of the Facebook Stories content creation features.

The Facebook Story Camera

The start time you employ the Facebook Story photographic camera, yous'll need to enable access to your camera and microphone.

Facebook Story Camera

Use Both Cameras

As usual, y'all can utilize your front-facing camera or your rear-facing camera.

But here's the absurd part: Unlike nigh other video recording apps, y'all can change cameras while yous're recording. But like you lot would on a Facebook Live stream or video call.

This is awesome .

Now, when recording a Facebook Story video, you'll want to capture both what's happening and your reaction and comments.

So don't forget to switch it up!

Facebook Story Camera View

Choose Your Lighting Setting

The Facebook Story photographic camera provides 3 lighting settings:

  1. Lighting bolt: The flash is on.
  2. Moon and 'ten': The flash is off. (Information technology looks like a moon to me anyway!)
  3. Moon and deject: This will burnish upward darker settings.

Facebook Story Camera Options

Only tap to cycle through the options:

Facebook Story Flash

Automatically Save Your Content

The Facebook Story creator allows you lot to automatically download the content you create to your device.

This will enable you to upload it to other social media sites, or simply re-employ your photos and videos in future content.

To practise this, tap the cog to open your Facebook Story settings.

Facebook Story Settings

So, simply opt to "Salvage shared photos."

Facebook Story Save Settings

The 4 Facebook Story Content Formats

At that place are 4 dissimilar content formats that you lot can capture:

  1. Normal
  2. Video
  3. Boomerang
  4. Live

Permit's take a quick look at each of them.

The Normal Setting

This is the setting kickoff shown when you open up the Facebook Story camera.

Y'all can use Normal to take a photo by tapping the large white circle. You can also tape a video on this setting, but you need to hold your pollex downwardly to keep recording.

Normal Facebook Story Setting

The Video Setting

This setting allows you to take videos without belongings your thumb on the white circle. Facebook Story videos can last upwardly to twenty seconds in length.

The Boomerang Setting

Boomerang creates an blitheness from a flare-up of photos similar a GIF.

Facebook Story Boomerang

Simply tap the main icon once and the screen will wink as the photos are taken in quick succession. While this happens, brand a small movement, such as taking a stride frontwards or winking to the camera.

Here are some fun Boomerang ideas!

If this characteristic becomes a favorite of yours, you can download the dedicated Boomerang App ( iOS / Android ) to create animations to share on other platforms.

Boomerang for Instagram

The Live Setting

To go Live on Facebook, just tap "Start Live Video," and Facebook volition notify your followers that you're live.

To learn more than about Facebook Live check out our total guide, " The Ultimate Guide to Facebook Alive Video ."

Add together Media from Your Device

If you've already captured content, you can post it to Facebook Stories by borer the media icon in the bottom-right of the screen.

This is particularly useful if you lot e'er want to share content with a higher production value than the Facebook Stories creator allows.

Upload Facebook Stories

6 Means to Customize Your Facebook Stories

It's fourth dimension to become artistic.

Add together Effects and Animations

Facebook Stories provides countless animations and furnishings to help you create center-catching and engaging content.

Facebook Story Stickers and Effects

To admission the animations and furnishings, tap the magic wand icon in the bottom-left of the screen.

Facebook Story Effects

Now, at the very bottom of the screen, there are five icons that represent each category of furnishings and animations. And simply above them are the effects and animations in each category.

Facebook Story Effects

Simply roll through them to find i you like!

A lot of these furnishings and animations react to your movements while you capture your content. Merely y'all can also add furnishings subsequently you've captured content, just utilize the same method.

Add Effects Facebook Story

Become Creative with 3D Drawing

To access this innovative feature, simply tap on the icon that looks like a spring at the top of the screen.

Draw Facebook Story

This feature allows you to draw something on your screen that will stay in the same place even when yous move the camera.

To see 3D cartoon in action, watch this video from Techcrunch :

Now let'south take a look at some of the ways you can customize your Facebook Story afterward you've captured your content.

Add Stickers and Emojis

To do this, tap the smiley sticker icon at the meridian of the screen.

Facebook Story Stickers

There are tons of stickers and emojis to choose from .

Facebook Story Stickers

One of the about useful is the new poll sticker .

This allows you lot to directly engage your followers past posing a question and having viewers voice their opinions.

Poll Stickers Facebook Story

Add together Text to Your Story

Compared to 3D drawings and poll stickers, adding text to your stories might be old schoolhouse, but information technology'southward still an essential tool.

To add text, simply tap the "Aa" icon.

Add Text Facebook Story

Plus, Facebook lets you customize the position, orientation, font, colour, and size of your text.

Facebook Story Text

Apply the Drawing Tool

Once again, it might not be 3D, but if you desire to add together a static drawing to your Story after you've captured your content, tap the squiggle icon in the top-right of the screen.

Facebook Story Draw

Yous can customize the size, color, orientation, and position of your drawing.

Facebook Story Drawing

Saving, Publishing, and Reviewing Your Content

If you oasis't set up Facebook to automatically download your content, tap "Salve" to salvage your Story content to your device.

Save Facebook Story

Next, share your content apace by tapping "Your Story."

Facebook Story Share

Or if y'all'd prefer, tap "Side by side" to share your Story to your Page'south News Feed.

Facebook Story Sharing

Lastly, you lot can easily view your Facebook Story history on the mobile app. Just tap on "Your Archive" in a higher place the Stories at the top of your News Feed.

Facebook Story Archive

How to Gather Insights from Your Facebook Stories

Facebook provides a few different ways to learn about the performance of your Stories.

To see who'due south viewed your posts, navigate to your Facebook Story and tap the middle icon in the lesser-left of the screen.

Facebook Story Views

This volition bring upwardly a list of the people who take viewed your Story.

You tin also keep track of how your Facebook Stories perform using Stories Insights on your reckoner.

To find Stories Insights, navigate to your Page, click the "Insights" tab, and then click on "Stories." Then, to kickoff gathering Facebook Stories data, click "Turn on."

Facebook Story Insights

Stories Insights has four columns:

  • Published: The date and fourth dimension that your Page'southward Story was published.
  • Story items: A thumbnail of your Page'due south Story.
  • Status: Whether your Page's Story is nevertheless active or not.
  • Unique times story was opened: How many different people have seen your Page'south story.

Facebook Story Insights

Although Stories disappear after 24 hours, Stories Insights remain visible for 14 days.

Facebook Stories: FAQs

What is Facebook Stories?

Facebook Stories is a characteristic which allows users to share photos, videos, and animations. The shared content volition terminal 24 hours before disappearing.

When was Facebook Stories launched?

Facebook Stories was launched on March 28, 2017.

How long do Facebook Stories last?

Facebook Stories concluding 24 hours before disappearing. Later 24 hours, yous take the pick to proceed the content you've shared in your story archive, which volition only be visible to yous.

What are the Facebook Stories Camera effects?

Facebook Stories Photographic camera effects include filters, masks, and frames that you can add to your content to make information technology more than fun. This also includes the reactive effects which allow you to interact with the filters in real time.

Can I select who to share my Facebook Stories with?

Yes. You can select the audience that you would like to share your Facebook Stories with.

How can I select who to share my Facebook Stories with?

You tin can select who is able to view your Facebook Story before you share information technology. Once yous've created the content y'all want to share, click on "Share to" on the bottom correct corner. At that place is a downwards facing pointer side by side to "Your Story" which allows you to select your audience. You can and so select from options such equally sharing your Facebook Story with the public, with your friends, or customizing your audition by manually choosing who will be able to see the Story, or who won't be able to see information technology. If someone is on your "Restricted List" they won't exist able to see your Facebook Story.

What is Facebook Stories straight sharing?

Facebook Stories direct sharing allows you to choose specific people that y'all would like to share your Facebook Stories with. The friends that you lot choose to share your Facebook Stories with, will be able to view the shared content in one case, replay it, and reply to it.

Can you reply to Facebook Stories?

Yes, yous tin reply to Facebook Stories. Click on "Write a directly reply", which allows y'all to transport a private bulletin to the person who has shared the Facebook Story.

Facebook Stories: A Summary

The Stories format is the future of social media.

Snapchat'south innovation has enabled people to connect more finer in real-time.

And with Facebook pushing Stories beyond all of their main platforms, you tin can look this social format to continue growing at a fast pace.

So get started now.

Leverage Facebook Stories to connect with your customers and build your brand.

Is your business using Facebook Stories withal? Let us know in the comments below!

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