Is it pronounced with a “j” like the peanut butter company or with a hard G? These are the questions that keep digital marketers up at night.
These animated images have taken over the internet since their inception and have transformed into a form of communication all their own. Users have found that GIFs can be utilized in a number of different ways including to express an emotion or reaction, tell a story, and draw more attention.
With so much success among our personal interactions, it is no wonder that digital marketers are trying to find the most lucrative approach to integrate GIFs into their overall marketing strategies. If you are considering giving GIFs a go, here are a few different ways they can be implemented.
Showcase Your Products or Services
While GIFs are a great way to entertain your audience, they are also a great tool for you company. Use a GIF to showcase your products or services in a unique way that easily catches the eye of new and existing customers. Show followers how your products work or give them a sneak peek of an upcoming launch or a recap of an event. GIFs are a great way to highlight what is going on behind the scenes or your brand.
Add More Interest to Social Media Platforms
Static content can be a bit boring for your followers, especially if that is the only type of content you are regularly posting. Try mixing up your social feed with some GIFS, since most of the major platforms already support them. This gives you another avenue to create connection between your content and your followers. It also makes your brand more appealing to new visitors who stumble upon one of your companies’ social media outlets, making them more likely to stick around or follow you.
The Same Goes for Websites
Just because GIFs are predominately shared on social media, doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other places you can use them. Try using GIFs on your website pages to make the space more visually appealing, without effecting the loading time. A high-quality image with brief movement is a small way to make a big impact on website users right off the bat. Choose an image that accurately represents the brand, provokes an emotional connection and is unique to really wow your website visitors.
Increase Chances of Going Viral
GIFs go viral ALL THE TIME! If there is a trending topic, you can bet that there are already an abundance of GIFs on the subject that people are sending to their entire contact list and posting on social media or their blogs. This form of content has more potential to go viral than static content because it is more relatable, entertaining, and share-worthy. If you are looking for an engagement boost – try a GIF!
Thinking of using GIFs in your digital marketing strategy? Do a little experimenting with the message and placement to see what your audience really responds to. Who knows, your next GIF just might go viral.
With the rise of smartphones, the now archaic smiley face made from an assortment of symbols on your keyboard, known as an emoticon, has graduated into a full range of sophisticated-looking emojis that seem to represent every person, place or thing on the planet. Today nearly everyone is using emojis to create more entertaining conversations and personal interactions across every mobile platform. Like every other popular trend, brands are implementing smiley faces, tacos and cats into their digital presence as much as possible – some better than others.