How to Leverage Stories and Ephemeral Posts on Social Media

Capturing and maintaining your audience’s attention is more challenging than ever, and there are so many types of content that can help offer variety, so your audience never gets bored, one is ephemeral content.

Unlike evergreen content that remains relevant indefinitely, ephemeral content is designed to be temporary. This fleeting nature not only creates a sense of urgency but also leverages FOMO (fear of missing out), driving higher engagement rates and fostering a deeper connection with your audience.

In this blog post, we will delve into ephemeral content. By the end, you’ll understand why ephemeral content an essential tool is and how it can help you build a vibrant, engaged community around your brand.

1. What is Ephemeral Content and Why is it Important?

Let’s start with the basics! Ephemeral content is a unique type of media designed to vanish after a short period, typically 24 hours. This characteristic sets it apart from traditional, permanent content that remains accessible indefinitely.

Ephemeral content includes photos, videos, live streams, product demonstrations, narrative stories, and more. The defining feature of ephemeral content is its limited time frame, creating a sense of urgency, exclusivity, and FOMO.

Because it’s not meant to last, ephemeral content often feels more spontaneous and genuine, capturing real, unfiltered moments. Platforms that support ephemeral content, such as Instagram, often include interactive features such as polls, Q&A stickers, and swipe-up links, to boost engagement.

According to some statistics, more than 500 million users on Instagram watch stories every day. This is a significant audience you cannot afford to ignore.

2. Why Should You Use Ephemeral Content?

When Snapchat first launched back in 2011, many people were puzzled by its appeal. What was the point of creating photos or videos that would disappear after 24 hours? It didn’t make sense to invest in content that would not be available after a day.

At that time, the focus for content creators was primarily on evergreen content, designed to capture and maintain interest over the long term. However, although evergreen content remains valuable, ephemeral content offers a unique sense of exclusivity and immediacy. If you miss it, it’s gone forever. And that right there, is the catch.

This urgency can be incredibly powerful in capturing and maintaining audience attention. By making content ephemeral, you can keep your audience engaged and attentive, as they don’t want to miss out on something that will soon disappear.

The fleeting nature of this content also encourages viewers to engage with it immediately, fostering a real-time connection between the brand and its audience. Interactive features such as polls, questions, and swipe-up links make it easy for followers to interact with your content.

As for Instagram specifically, links are not clickable, so using swipe-up links or tags is one of the only ways you can direct your audience to your website to buy your products or read your blogs.
Ephemeral content also allows brands to experiment with different types of content without the pressure of long-term visibility. You can test new ideas and formats, seeing what resonates best with your audience in a low-risk environment.

Sharing behind-the-scenes moments, exclusive content, and limited-time offers can create a closer connection with your audience. This helps build a community around your brand and fosters a sense of exclusivity and loyalty.

3. Which Platforms Offer Ephemeral Content Features?

Ephemeral content is everywhere on social media right now, taking various forms across different platforms. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular types and how they can benefit your brand.

Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories allow you to share photos or videos with your audience for a maximum of 24 hours. These stories come with a range of interactive elements, such as polls, question boxes, stickers, and links, making them highly engaging.

If you want to keep your brand’s Stories visible for more than 24 hours, Instagram provides the option to save them to Stories Highlights. These highlights are prominently displayed at the top of your profile, ensuring easy access for your followers.

Instagram Stories are an excellent way to boost brand awareness and engage with customers. In fact, according to Forbes, a remarkable 96% of U.S. marketers who use Stories in their social media strategy plan to continue doing so over.

Stories have amazing returns, and you can delve more into this in this blog post right here.

Facebook Stories

Similar to Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories appear on your feed for 24 hours. You can find them in a carousel format at the top of your news feed. When creating Facebook Stories, you have the flexibility to choose your target audience, whether it’s friends, followers, or a custom-created list.

This targeting capability allows for more personalized and relevant content. Using a social media management tool, Nuelink, is a great option in this case because it helps you schedule Stories for both Facebook and Instagram, among many things.

Snapchat Stories

This is the OG ephemeral platform. Snapchat Stories offers a collection of images or videos, known as “Snaps,” that are visible for 24 hours. Snapchat also provides an option to save these Stories to Memories, a personal archive of saved snaps. This feature allows you to extend the lifespan of your content beyond the usual 24-hour window.

The platform’s unique filters, lenses, and augmented reality features add an extra layer of engagement, making content stand out.

TikTok Moments

TikTok Moments are short videos that remain on your feed for 24 hours. TikTok Moments also allow you to add links, hashtags, location tags, and tag other accounts, enhancing their reach and interaction potential.

4. How Can You Create Effective Ephemeral Content?

So, how can your brand take advantage of FOMO to boost engagement?

Create Time-Sensitive Content

Share limited-time offers, flash sales, or exclusive discounts that are only available for 24 hours. This can drive immediate action and increase sales.

Host Live Events

Use platforms like Facebook Live or Instagram Live to host real-time events, such as Q&A sessions, product launches, or behind-the-scenes tours. This not only provides valuable content but also builds a stronger connection with your audience.

Share Behind-the-Scenes Content

Give your audience an insider look at your brand with behind-the-scenes footage. This could include sneak peeks of upcoming products, a day in the life of your team, or the creative process behind your projects.

Humanize Your Brand

Authenticity is key to making ephemeral content attractive and engaging. To achieve this, you must first understand and articulate who you are as a brand and what you aim to achieve. When your brand’s identity is clear and consistent, it is reflected in your content.

Craft Compelling Stories

Use narrative storytelling to create engaging and immersive content. Whether it’s a day-in-the-life series, a customer testimonial, or a product demonstration, stories are a powerful way to connect emotionally with your audience.

By leveraging the temporary nature of these content types, you can create a sense of urgency and exclusivity that keeps your audience coming back for more. And, that’s the entire point of social media.