It’s pretty hard to avoid GIFs online – these animations are just about everywhere you look (and just about every other post on social media).
But GIFs aren’t just for playtime – you can also use GIFs in your online marketing strategy to liven up your content. They’re an easy and accessible way to infuse some fun into just about every facet of your online marketing.
Where to Find GIFs
Luckily, finding GIFs is pretty simple. There are a number of websites that host them, but here are some of the best sources:
You can also find GIFs right on Google – just use the image search, type in your desired GIF (like “dancing” or “party”), then click on “tools” under the search bar and choose “animated” under the “type” menu. Now you’ll only see GIF results.
Once you’ve found your GIF, save it to your computer or copy the direct URL.
How to Make Your Own GIFs
You don’t have to be a Photoshop wizard to make your own GIFs. There are a number of websites that let you turn YouTube videos into GIFs, but by far the easiest is GIF It! This browser extension for Chrome lets you instantly make GIFs from any YouTube video and save it to your computer.
This is a great way to leverage your existing video content. Try repurposing some of your videos into bite-sized GIFs.
How to Use GIFs in Your Online Marketing
There are several ways you can weave GIFs into your online marketing content.
Email Marketing
With a tool like Constant Contact, you can insert GIFs right into your emails to create an eye-catching banner or featured image.
A word of caution – try to stick to only one GIF. Too many GIFs will overwhelm your readers and may cause the email to load slowly.
Social Media
Social media is one of the best (and easiest) places to work GIFs into your marketing strategy. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram all support GIFs.
Try using GIFs to express a mood, celebrate a holiday or promote a product.
Blogs
Try channeling your inner BuzzFeed and tapping into the GIF craze with a themed blog post. A GIF roundup is a simple way to make your posts fun, without getting too clickbait-y. Example: HubSpot’s 22 Writing GIFs All Content Marketers Will Understand is fun and relatable, but still related to their industry. Brainstorm some ideas that your audience will relate to.
Oh, and as a final note:
Want even more marketing tips? Don’t miss our Measuring Your Marketing BizzyWebinar on April 19. Can’t make it? Catch it on our YouTube channel anytime after broadcast.
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