The title of my blog post is: Facebook stories – you may be missing out! Until very recently, Facebook Stories were something that I had almost completely ignored. In fact, I didn’t really know what a Facebook Story was, where to find one or why I should be using them. I had obviously seen Stories mentioned on Facebook, but I had never taken the time to investigate them properly.
That changed when I started taking part in a 30-day Facebook challenge. The challenge has encouraged me to look more closely at features that I hadn’t used before. Facebook Stories are one of those features, and I am beginning to see why they could be useful.
One thing really caught my attention. Someone in the group told me that a Facebook Story had ultimately earned him $15,000. I found that quite incredible. Of course, I am not suggesting that everyone who uploads a Story is going to make that sort of money. However, it did make me wonder whether I had been overlooking something valuable.
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In the video that accompanies this blog post, I show what I have discovered so far. I explain where to find Stories and how to create them through Meta Business Suite and also show how existing Facebook content can be reshared as a Story. I am still learning, but that is part of the reason I wanted to make the video.
What Is A Facebook Story?
A Facebook Story is a temporary piece of content that appears separately from your normal Facebook posts. You can use photographs, graphics and videos. Stories are normally available for 24 hours before disappearing from public view.
At first, I wondered why I would create content that disappears so quickly. However, I am starting to see the point. Stories can be useful for quick updates, reminders and promotions. They can also draw attention to content that you have already created.
This is different from a normal Facebook post, which stays on your Page unless you remove it. Reels are different again. They are mainly designed around short-form video and can help you reach people who do not already follow you.
I don’t think you need to choose between Posts, Reels and Stories. They can work together and help you get more value from the same content.
If you are still getting to grips with Facebook for business, you may find my complete guide to Facebook Pages useful. It explains how Facebook Pages work and looks at some of the main features available.
Where Do You Find Your Facebook Story?
This was one of the first problems I had. I created a Story through Meta Business Suite, but I couldn’t immediately see where it had gone. Eventually, I discovered that I could click on my Roy Bretton Online profile picture and select the option to view my Story.
Once I did that, the Story appeared and I could see what other people would see. That may sound obvious to someone who uses Stories every day, but I suspect I am not alone. Facebook has so many different features now that it is easy to miss some of them.
There are Pages, Groups, Reels, Stories, normal posts, videos, Messenger and Meta Business Suite. It is very easy to become comfortable with the features you already know and ignore the rest.
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Creating Facebook Stories In Meta Business Suite
I have been experimenting with Stories through Meta Business Suite on my computer. I am actually starting to appreciate Business Suite much more than I did before. It has become a far more useful tool over the years.
You can use it to publish content, schedule posts, view statistics and manage messages. You can also manage Facebook and Instagram from the same place. There is a lot inside Meta Business Suite now, so it can take a little time to become familiar with everything.
From the Meta Business Suite home area, I can choose to create a Story. I can then upload a picture or a video. I can also schedule the Story rather than publish it immediately.
That could be useful if you plan your social media content in advance. It means you don’t have to remember to return at a certain time and post manually.
My Facebook Page and Instagram Business account are now connected. This means Meta Business Suite can give me the option to use suitable content across both platforms.
If you haven’t connected your accounts yet, I recently wrote a guide on how to link your Facebook Page to your Instagram Business account. Having the two accounts connected can make managing social media much easier.
Using Videos In Facebook Stories
One of the things I experimented with was uploading a video directly to a Story. The video I first tried was more than 30 seconds long. In the particular Meta Business Suite workflow I was using, Facebook would not allow me to upload it.
Rather than spend too much time trying to force it to work, I used a thumbnail instead. That actually worked very well. I could use the thumbnail as the Story and give people the opportunity to click through.
I am not suggesting that every Facebook account has exactly the same 30-second restriction. Facebook changes its features regularly, and different publishing methods may work differently. All I can say is that, in my own test, the direct video I tried to upload could not be longer than 30 seconds.
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Using A Story To Promote A Longer Facebook Video
This is where Facebook Stories became particularly interesting for me. I had already uploaded a much longer video to Facebook. The video was around eight minutes long.
Facebook then gave me the opportunity to reshare that existing video as a Story. It wasn’t trying to squeeze the whole eight-minute video into the Story. Instead, the Story became another way for people to discover the original video.
Someone could view the Story, click on it and then be taken to the full-length video. I think that could be very useful.
Creating a good video takes time. You have to record it, edit it, upload it and create the accompanying post. I don’t want that piece of content to have one opportunity to be seen and then disappear down people’s feeds.
By resharing the video to a Story, I can potentially put it in front of people who missed the original post. I don’t have to create another complete video from scratch.
This ties in with something I have written about before in my post about turning your existing content into social media posts. Good content takes time to create, so it makes sense to use it in more than one way where possible.
Resharing Existing Content To Your Facebook Story
While looking through the Content section of Meta Business Suite, I found another useful option. Facebook gave me the opportunity to reshare content that I had already published.
The process was simple. I could find the existing content, choose the option to reshare it to my Facebook Story and then add it. There was no need to start again from the beginning.
For me, this may become one of the most useful parts of Stories. I already create videos, Facebook posts, YouTube content and blog posts regularly. I don’t particularly want another feature that demands a completely separate stream of new content.
However, if Stories allow me to give existing material more exposure, that becomes much more practical. The same piece of content can reach people in several different ways.
Could Facebook Stories Generate Traffic?
From an online business point of view, the obvious question is whether Stories can generate traffic, leads or sales. The person I mentioned earlier certainly had an impressive result. He told me that a Story had ultimately generated $15,000.
I think it is important to keep that in perspective. I don’t know every detail behind his campaign, and I would never suggest that everyone can expect the same result.
However, it does show that people pay attention to Stories. More importantly, they can take action after viewing them.
If a Story encourages someone to watch a video, visit a website or investigate an offer, it has done something useful. Like any form of marketing, results will depend on the audience, the message and the offer.
I have looked at other ways of generating traffic from Facebook in my post about a different way to get Facebook traffic. I now see Stories as another tool that could become part of the overall strategy.
Facebook Stories And Instagram
Another feature that interests me is the connection between Facebook Stories and Instagram Stories. I have only recently connected my Roy Bretton Online Instagram Business account to my Facebook Page.
Meta Business Suite now allows me to manage content for both platforms from one place. When I create a Story, I can choose where I want that content to appear.
This could save a considerable amount of time when the same piece of content is suitable for both audiences. Of course, I don’t think everything should automatically be posted everywhere. Facebook and Instagram are different platforms, and people may respond differently on each one.
However, having the accounts connected gives me the choice. I would rather have that option than manage everything separately.
Facebook Stories, Reels And Normal Posts Can Work Together
I am beginning to see that Stories, Reels and normal posts do not have to compete with each other. They can work together.
For example, I might create a longer video and publish it on my Facebook Page. I could then produce a shorter Reel based on the same subject. After that, I could use a Story to bring more attention to either piece of content.
That gives me several opportunities to reach people from one original idea. It also makes better use of the time spent creating the original content.
This is important for anyone running an online business alone. Our time is limited, and creating completely new content for every platform can quickly become overwhelming.
A more sensible approach is to create useful content and then look for ways to reuse it. Facebook Stories appear to offer another opportunity to do that.
Why I Had Been Ignoring Facebook Stories
Looking back, I think I ignored Facebook Stories because I didn’t understand them. I knew the feature existed, but I had never really investigated it.
Taking part in the 30-day challenge has encouraged me to look at areas of Facebook that I would probably have continued ignoring. I think that has been useful because it has pushed me outside my normal routine.
It is very easy when working online to become distracted by the latest software, platform or marketing system. Sometimes the useful tools are already sitting in front of us. We simply haven’t learned how to use them properly.
Facebook Stories may turn out to be one of those tools for me.
Don’t Expect One Facebook Story To Transform Your Business
Hearing about someone generating $15,000 from a Story certainly caught my attention. However, I think we need to remain realistic.
Online businesses are rarely built through one post, one video, one Story or one clever trick. Sustainable results normally come from consistency, useful content and testing different approaches.
The same principle applies to Facebook Stories. One Story may receive very little engagement, while another could produce clicks, comments, enquiries or sales.
The important thing is to experiment and then look at the results. Meta Business Suite gives us useful statistics, so we can see what people are actually viewing and interacting with.
If you are at the beginning of your online journey, you may also find my article on how to start building an online business helpful. Building an online business is a process, and consistent action matters far more than chasing shortcuts.
My Next Step With Facebook Stories
Having largely ignored Facebook Stories until now, my next step is to use them more regularly and see what happens. I want to experiment with different types of content.
That will include images, thumbnails, short videos and existing Facebook posts. I also want to make better use of the option to reshare longer videos through Stories.
Most importantly, I will be watching the statistics. I don’t want to assume something is working simply because I am using it.
Meta Business Suite now provides a lot more information than Facebook used to offer. That should help me see which Stories people are viewing and which ones lead to further engagement.
Final Thoughts: Are You Missing Out On Facebook Stories?
Until a few weeks ago, I would probably have struggled to explain what a Facebook Story was. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to show someone how to create one.
After spending some time experimenting, I can now see why Stories could be useful. I particularly like the ability to reshare content that I have already created.
That means I can potentially get more exposure without continually producing something completely new. For someone running an online business, that makes a lot of sense.
I am certainly not claiming to be a Facebook Stories expert. I am still discovering what works and what doesn’t. However, that is part of running an online business. We learn, test new ideas and then look at the results.
For the moment, Facebook Stories are definitely something I intend to explore further.
If you are already using Facebook Stories for your business, I would be very interested to hear about your experience. Have Stories helped you generate more views, website traffic, leads or sales? Alternatively, if you have been ignoring them just as I was, perhaps now is a good time to experiment.
Thanks for reading.
Roy Bretton Online