Facebook page stories allow businesses and public figures to share photos, videos, and updates in a fullscreen, immersive format. But an important question for many page admins is – are Facebook page stories public? Let’s take a closer look at who can see your page’s stories.
The Short Answer
Yes, Facebook page stories are public posts that can be seen by anyone, even people who don’t follow your Page. There is no way to make Facebook page stories private or limit their audience.
Understanding Facebook Page Stories
Facebook page stories function similarly to Instagram stories – they allow Pages to share ephemeral content that expires after 24 hours. Stories appear in a horizontal scroll at the top of the Page’s feed. Some key facts about Facebook page stories:
- Anyone can view a Page’s stories, you don’t need to follow the Page.
- Stories are shareable – viewers can share a story to their own feed or via DM.
- There’s no way to limit story viewers or make stories “friends only.”
- Stories are not included in the main Page feed and do not get distributed in News Feed.
- Pages can see analytics on story views, exits, replies, shares, and more.
Why Facebook Page Stories are Public
There are a few reasons why Facebook designed page stories to be public:
- Pages are public profiles – Unlike personal profiles, Facebook Pages are intended to be fully public entities. Facebook wants to enable Pages to reach the maximum possible audience.
- Boosting discovery – With public stories, Pages can attract new followers who stumble upon their story content. This helps Facebook pages grow their audience.
- Driving engagement – Public stories may receive more replies, shares, and overall engagement because they are visible to more people.
Best Practices for Facebook Page Stories
Since anyone can see your Facebook page stories, it’s important to keep best practices in mind:
- Carefully choose content that represents your brand appropriately and follows Facebook’s rules.
- Use stories to showcase your products, services, events, employees, and brand culture.
- Keep language professional and avoid anything too personal or private.
- Add relevant context via captions so anyone viewing understands the content.
- Use calls-to-action in stories to drive traffic to your website or prompt follows.
Do Facebook Page Stories Show in News Feed?
No, Facebook page stories do not appear in the main news feed like regular Page posts. Stories can only be viewed by:
- Visiting the Page profile and scrolling stories at the top.
- Seeing a story shared by someone else to their own Timeline.
- Clicking on a notification that a followed Page posted a story.
So stories have less news feed visibility than regular posts. The tradeoff is that stories are more discoverable by non-followers visiting the Page.
Can You Share Facebook Page Stories?
Yes, Facebook page stories can be shared just like regular posts. When viewing a story, there is an option to share to your own Timeline or send to friends via Messenger.
The share button makes stories more discoverable and is a great way for followers to amplify your content to their own networks. This can help increase your Page’s reach and engagement.
Facebook Stories vs. Instagram Stories
Facebook page stories share similarities with Instagram stories, but there are some key differences:
| Facebook Stories | Instagram Stories |
|---|---|
| Only available for Facebook Pages | Available for user profiles and business accounts |
| Always public | Can be private or public |
| Appear at top of Page’s profile | Appear at top of Instagram feed |
| Viewable by anyone | Viewable by followers and close friends only (for personal accounts) |
The core functionality is very similar, but the audience capabilities differ based on the differences between Pages and personal profiles.
Do Facebook Stories Show Up in Search?
No, Facebook stories do not appear in search results on Facebook or external search engines. Only permanent Page posts are indexed for search. Some key points:
- Stories will not appear when someone searches on Facebook or Google.
- Stories are not crawled or indexed by search engine bots.
- The ephemeral nature of stories means they are not captured for search archives.
- If you need content indexed for search, publish a regular post instead of a story.
Overall, stories are intended for real-time sharing and engagement rather than creating searchable or evergreen content.
Should Businesses Use Facebook Page Stories?
Facebook page stories can be a great addition for businesses and brands looking to drive awareness and engagement. Some benefits of using stories for marketing include:
- Showcasing products, services, and events in an eye-catching format.
- Using interactive elements like polls, questions, and sliders to engage followers.
- Generating excitement and hype leading up to a product launch or event.
- Encouraging shares with compelling video and visual content.
- Increasing website traffic by including clickable links and CTAs.
That said, stories should complement your broader social strategy rather than completely replacing permanent posts. But overall they give brands a fun, conversational way to interact with their audience and potentially reach new customers.
Conclusion
Facebook page stories are public, ephemeral posts that help Pages engage their current audience while also enabling discovery by non-followers. There is no option to limit visibility or make page stories just for friends or followers. While this makes them inherently public, it allows businesses to tap into the interactive, eye-catching story format to connect with their broader target audience. With smart strategy and compelling content, page stories can be a valuable addition to a brand’s social media marketing mix.