If you are used to using social networks and consuming digital content, many months ago you would have seen how the use of animated GIFs is becoming more and more popular.
And even people who are not familiar with the term “GIF”, have seen (and even used) one more than once.
Although GIFs are not really anything new, seeing them in a general way in the messages that brands have with their users is something new.
They began using emoticons or emojis, which are already more than accepted by all of us, to later move on to the use of stickers (or stickers) that help us give our digital messages greater expressiveness.
Among all of them, we can find a wide variety of themes. But also, do not think that everything is limited to cartoons that move, they actually have tremendous educational potential when it comes to applying an effective and impactful content strategy.
Do you want to join this trend of animated GIFs?
Today in this article I will tell you all about what GIFs are, where to find them and how you can use them strategically if you have a brand or online business.
What is an animated GIF?
Let’s start by getting to know these small media files in detail. You know, you can’t start applying something to your online marketing strategy if you don’t know everything it can bring you.
I am sure that defining and reviewing the advantages of integrating GIFs into your messages and digital content will encourage you to use them too.
“GIF means “Graphic Interchange Format”. In other words, it is a type of visual file that is made up of several static images that are played sequentially and in a loop.”
These static images can be photographs, illustrations, symbols… Any type of image that adds any meaning to the final result.
Because, just like in the world of cinema, you already know that image sequencing ends up producing an animated sensation.
After all, cinema is nothing more than a montage of static or totally different images that, sequenced, have a meaning. A more than applicable concept in marketing and, specifically, in our web content, don’t you think?
How to use GIFs on your website or online store?
So that you don’t run the risk of misusing these multimedia files, I want to give you some recommendations and examples of how you could integrate the use of GIFs into different web content if you have a website or online store.
But before you add them to your content, you should learn a few good practices about optimizing GIFs at their maximum level.
Specifically in:
- The description of your products.
- The design of your promotional banners.
- The messages that you leave to your users in their consultations.
Remember that my tips are just general ideas that you should adapt to your type of business and communication style.
Product Descriptions
A very good business idea is to include animated GIFs in product descriptions to encourage purchase.
Think that it can be a fantastic way to show how your product works, what is its star feature or the range of colors available.
Additionally, using GIFs in this type of web content is a great alternative to the costly production of commercial video ads.
It will be enough for you to have a sequence of good photographs!
Navigators who make purchases online, no matter how used they are to it, do not usually have time to read long product descriptions (especially if they are not really interested). With this type of GIFs the problem is solved
Banners
This is the most traditional use of GIFs in web content since the Internet was invented.
They are the best way to make a banner stand out among the static elements of a web page.
In this type of files, there are no limits. You can promote everything you want. The only “requirement” is that you be consistent with your corporate identity and your communication style since the banner design must identify your brand.
Answers to users
If your relationship with users is informal, and you like close and daring conversations, you can include GIFs in them.
Here you have a very close way of answering your questions and suggestions (always, of course, with respect).
Be careful and make sure you choose the proper files you are going to share. Use those that are consistent with the conversation and that cannot cause double interpretations or communication problems.
How to use GIFs on your blog?
In a blog content of all kinds is shared; texts, videos, images, infographics… Everything is welcome if it helps to develop the different themes and make the message more understandable for readers.
Also, beyond using animated GIFs on social media, you can make them part of your blog’s editorial calendar.
Of course, all these types of content must always be used correctly. Each piece of content should support the theme, but also follow the usual communication style.
It does not make sense for your texts to be of an academic type for professional users and then use a humorous GIF that goes too far. In this case, it would be best to use GIFs that serve as educational reinforcement.
Visual content
Among the visual content that you can share on your blog are graphics, illustrations, infographics, or photographs.
You can animate all these contents in a GIF to give them more visibility.
