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Benefits of using stories on Facebook and Instagram

Did you know that social media stories are one of the most popular storytelling methods out there? It’s hardly surprising when storytelling and content marketing are peas in a pod! Using stories on Facebook and Instagram is a brilliantly visual way to share your content with the main purpose being to drive engagement, grow your followers, build your brand and enhance brand engagement with your friends, business contact and wider audience.

Rachel Wicks of Electric Footprint showing an example of a Facebook & Instagram story whilst wearing a face mask

This particular feature allows you to get creative with your posts through a range of filters and effects that will make your stories more fun for your audience as opposed to ‘just posting an image’.


Some of the creative tools available for customising your stories are adding effects and animations, 3D drawing tools, stickers and emojis, adding text to your story and using the drawing tool. But, if you really want to blow someone’s socks off, take a look at these Apps that add extra ‘oomph’ and get your audience excited!




Here's a few to get you started:

  • Adobe Spark Post - design app using animated effects in your photos

  • Videoshop - record a new clip or import from camera roll

  • Filmmaker Pro - iOS app to you edit portrait (9:16), landscape (16:9) and square (1:1) video clips

  • Hype Type - iOS app allows the addition of custom animated text over video clips and boomerangs

  • InShot - make photo collages from built-in templates, vary the speed of videos, and

  • add backgrounds to photos

You’re not alone if you feel stuck for ideas on what to post to your story, but one thing to remember is that your news feed only has a certain shelf life depending on how many people you have following you. By posting to your story, your chosen audience will never miss an update from you again. Stories are also a great way to really connect and show off your personality and let people understand you and your brand better; by being relatable you will get consistent and better quality engagement.


Let me share with you some great content ideas of what to post to your story:


  • Non-edited photos or videos

  • Behind the scenes of your business

  • Client reviews

  • Competitions and promotions

  • Daily advice and life hacks

  • Promotion codes or coupons


Stories can really add quirky value to your marketing strategies giving you new ways to promote yourself, your business and any events or promotions coming up…and it is still a relatively new method of posting on social! Why not give it a go using my 10-step do’s and don’ts checklist!



The 10-Steps of Do’s and Don’ts:


1. Do create new content, give your audience an insight to you

2. Do tell a pictorial or video story

3. Do add geo location / hashtag / poll / selfie stickers to your stories

4. Do be systematic and consistent

5. So save important stories for later

6. Do remember to include a call to action

7. Don’t just duplicate the content used in your posts - however, you can make it look different/fresh by simply creating a screen, adding a few headlines and animations!

8. Don’t put text too close to the edge

9. Don’t post a once in a blue moon and expect people to remember you!

10. Don’t over-do it!


Happy storytelling!

If you'd like to start using stories and need social media training get in touch. I'd love to help you become more social media savvy!


Drop me a DM on Electric Footprint

Call 07958 231817 for a no obligation chat


I'm here to help.

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