When you log into Facebook, you can’t miss the Stories that are at the top of your feed. And that’s the whole point of Stories. They can get you a crazy amount of visibility.
Facebook Stories are very short videos that you can create and post. When you post them, they are at the top of your feed along with any other stories your Facebook friends have posted in the last 24 hours.
They can be as long as 20 seconds, which is longer than Instagram and Snapchat. While they disappear after 24 hours, they remain on Facebook Insights for 28 days.
To create one, click the plus sign at the top right of your screen. Today (I say today because if you’re reading this 2 months from now, it will probably look different.), you have the choice of a photo story or a text story.
Choose text story and in the left box type in something like “Happy Wednesday!” Select the font style and background that you want from the left menu options and then click the Share Your Story button. You’ve just created your first story!
To post a Story from your Business page, you need to use the Facebook mobile app. It won’t work from the PC. Facebook stories have been around since 2017 but I still don’t see too many accountants using them.
Here are some ideas for Facebook Stories:
- Make a story about an upcoming deadline: “Tomorrow is the deadline to get your paperwork to me if you don’t want to file an extension.”
- Make an announcement: “I just completed my QuickBooks Online Certification.”
- Make a marketing story: “Need help with your taxes? Call us.”
- Show off a testimonial: “ABC Firm was great! –XYZ Customer”
Just about anything you can do in a post, you can also do in a story. The key is to be very, very brief. It can’t be too complicated.
And don’t worry too much about the video aspect. A lot of people simply upload a graphic and add text to it. Think your logo, team headshots, certifications, your office, and other photos like that.
Once you’ve mastered the basics of Stories, play around with the bells and whistles. There are a lot of them: stickers, filters, audience settings, privacy setting, and more.
The key to Stories is to keep doing them. Since they have such a short shelf life, it’s a good idea to create a content calendar just for stories. Try to do at least one a week, if not more.
For incredible visibility in Facebook, try your hand at Stories. They are easier than you think.
