As a social media consultant for small businesses, I often get asked how to delete Snapchat stories. With over 90 million daily active users creating over 5 billion snaps per day, Snapchat is hugely popular. But that leaves a lot of room for mistakes, like posting stories you later regret.
Fortunately, deleting Snapchat stories is easy once you know how. In this comprehensive guide for small business owners and entrepreneurs, I‘ll cover everything you need to know.
What Are Snapchat Stories?
Before learning how to delete stories, let‘s review what they are:
- Stories allow Snapchatters to share multiple snaps that appear together in a slideshow format.
- They last for 24 hours before disappearing.
- Average Snapchat users spend over 30 minutes watching stories every day.
- 71% of Snapchatters have posted stories.
Step-By-Step Guide to Deleting Stories
When ready to remove a story, follow these steps:
On iPhone
- Open Snapchat and swipe left to access stories
- Press and hold the story thumbnail
- Tap the trash icon
- Confirm deletion
On Android
- Open Snapchat and swipe right to get to stories
- Tap and hold the story thumbnail
- Tap the trash icon
- Confirm deletion
Pro Tip: Accidentally deleted a story? Unfortunately, there is no way to recover it. Consider saving important stories before posting them.
Removing Individual Snaps from Stories
Don‘t want to erase the whole story? Delete specific snaps instead:
- Open the story and press/hold the snap
- Tap the trash icon
- Confirm deletion
Warning: Friends who already viewed the snap will still have access to it.
Common Issues and Alternatives
Some users report issues like stories not deleting. Before contacting Snapchat support, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Check your internet connection
- Update the Snapchat app
- Restart your phone
- Clear the app cache and data
If you can‘t delete a story, consider:
- Hiding it from viewers
- Using privacy settings to limit views
- Screenshotting snaps before posting to stories
These methods prevent stories being shared while keeping them intact in your memories.
The Power of Snapchat Stories for Small Businesses
As a consultant for startups and small companies, I always advocate for using Snapchat stories:
- 33% of users say stories influence buying decisions
- Brands see 2x the engagement rate on stories versus feed posts
- Vertical video ads in stories have up to 9x completion rates
For small businesses lacking advertising budgets, free organic content like stories is essential for reaching new Generation Z and millennial customers.
While Snapchat stories may feel risky or vulnerable to post publicly, the good news is they can easily be deleted. I hope this guide gave you the knowledge and confidence to start sharing stories that resonate with your ideal followers!
*Statistics from Oberlo, SignalFire, SocialPilot
