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Rishabh leads the content strategy at Content Beta, a creative video and design agency for Tech & SaaS companies.
GIF Marketing is a thing in today’s “attention economy”! According to Marketing Sherpa, Dell’s experiment with GIFs in emails showed:
GIFs (an animated image format) use images that run frame-by-frame in a loop. Unlike a video, a user does not have to click on it to start playing it. This is why marketing GIFs are useful for promotions on social media platforms, within email campaigns, and on websites.
Have you considered –
These are questions we’ll dive into as we explore the potential of commercial GIF in the realm of digital marketing.
GIFs can grab attention faster than static images, helping your message to stand out. Here are the benefits of GIF marketing, examined through various lenses:
Using GIF for business marketing can be highly effective, whether you’re working with D2C, B2C, or B2B brands. Here’s how you can use GIF marketing:
Social Media Ads: Use trending GIF to make your ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter more engaging. They can help explain a product or service feature in a quick, digestible format.
#TeamAnywhere means collaborating with team members no matter where you're located in the world. Use the Stand Up Meeting Play to align across time zones and keep your projects moving forward.
— Atlassian (@Atlassian) September 8, 2023
Try it out with your team: https://t.co/FeJDQwd8bf pic.twitter.com/Lda3XwC7gl
Google Display Ads: Animated GIFs are allowed and can catch the eye more effectively than a static image.
Product Demos: Use GIFs to demonstrate how your product or service works. This can be particularly useful for software products where you can show the user interface in action.
Example – The DocuSign landing page exhibits a similar GIF example.
Testimonials: Incorporate GIFs into your customer testimonials to add some dynamism to what might otherwise be a static page.
Newsletter: A GIF can break up the text and make the email more visually appealing.
Product Announcements: Use GIFs ads to unveil new products or features. This can also be used in pre-launch or GTM campaigns.
Connect with our team at Content Beta to learn more about how we assisted 13+ SaaS clients with their GTM campaigns.
Sales and Promotions: A very popular GIF like countdown timer, discount, or a flashing “Sale” sign can catch attention.
GIFs have transformed our email marketing approach, adding a dynamic touch to our campaigns. But have you considered the potential of video content? Dive into our article on How to use video to grow your email list and discover another dimension of visual email marketing.
Blog Posts: GIFs can make your blog posts more engaging, help explain complex topics, or offer quick how-to guides.
Example – Have a look at Content Beta’s blog on video to gif converters.
How-to Tutorials: Create step-by-step GIF guides for more complicated processes. This GIF for business is often used to create post-sale content, especially for enabling the in-house customer success and customer education teams.
Example – This educate GIF by Asana teaches the basics of Cloud App + Asana integration
Story Features: Platforms like Instagram allow for the use of GIFs ads in Stories, great for quick product demos or announcements.
🚨Webinar alert - Register now!🚨
— Druva Inc (@druvainc) August 10, 2023
Topic - 5 Things to Know About Cyber Insurance & Data Protection@heidishey, Principal Analyst at @forrester, will dive into coverage changes and requirements IT leaders and CIOs should know. #dataresiliency #DataSecurityhttps://t.co/qDGYxZmT2E pic.twitter.com/RYbjeR4sFF
GIF marketing has transformed our Instagram story, making it more dynamic and engaging. But what about the technical side of things? Explore our guide on Instagram story dimension and merge it with your GIF knowledge for truly standout story content.
Teasers: Use Advertising GIFs to give a sneak peek of an upcoming product, service, or feature.
Asana is a Leader in @Forrester’s 2022 Collaboration Work Management Report [GG1]
— Asana (@asana) November 17, 2022
We're recognized as “a good fit for organizations looking to link strategic objective with planned work”.
Read the full report: https://t.co/Eak7gOmnac pic.twitter.com/I2kEniKvkQ
Polls and Quizzes: Social platforms such as Instagram have in-built stickers (read: animated GIFs). Those are used to make your interactive posts even more engaging.
GIFs are a trusty tool in captivating social media audiences. But the world of B2B SaaS demands a broader approach. Dive into our article on how to boost your marketing via social media and discover how to seamlessly integrate GIF marketing into your social media strategy.
FAQs: Use GIFs to show how to solve common issues.
Example – This educate GIF was posted on the Hubspot community to solve a common query
Onboarding: Welcome series with customers GIF can guide new users through your platform.
As your business changes, #salestax obligations also change. Together Avalara Tax Research and Avalara Exemption Certificate Management can help you stay a step ahead. https://t.co/TbhRw9Wb50 pic.twitter.com/mNf4ekmoF4
— Avalara (@avalara) July 12, 2023
GIF marketing has set a new standard for visual customer service, but there’s another layer of depth that videos can provide. Our guide on The Do’s And Don’ts Of Creating Customer Service Videos will ensure your video content is as effective and engaging as your GIFs.
Product Comparison: Use GIFs to switch between ‘before’ and ‘after’ images.
Example – you will quite a few such examples on our article about ecommerce product videos.
Wanting GIFs for GIF marketing purposes? Here are some ways to create them:
Capture a part of your software or website in action. Convert this recording into a GIF to demonstrate features or guide users.
Tools –
Trim short, impactful sections from existing videos. Convert these into commercial GIF for social media teasers or email campaigns.
Tools –
Use tools to first create custom, high-quality animations. Then, convert them into GIF format.
Tools –
Convert PowerPoint or Google Slides into GIFs. This approach works well for presenting data or step-by-step guides in a more engaging format.
Tools –
Add short, compelling text to static images and animate them into a GIF. Useful for adding context or calls to action to visual content. This is relevant for SaaS and Software Tech companies where they often use screenshots of their product user-interface.
Have a look at the GIF Content Beta created for Nectar HR’s website
Tools –
Collect and edit videos or images from satisfied customers. Transform these into customer GIF to use in testimonials or social proof sections.
Tools –
Take a series of photos and string them together into a GIF. Useful for showing the making of a product or a quick how-to guide.
Tools –
GIF marketing is only as good as the GIFs you produce. While we have discussed popular ways to create a GIF, it is essential to have the right tools to craft them. Check out our handpicked list of GIF Maker Apps that will set your content apart.
GIF marketing requires a lot of time and effort. Finding pre-made GIFs for your business can be a time-saving strategy, especially if you need something quick and effective.
But always be sure to respect licensing and copyright laws when using pre-made GIFs, especially for commercial purposes. Here are some sources:
Huge library of GIFs that can be used for various purposes, from humor to reactions.
Cost: Free
Restrictions: Check for licensing if applicable
Offers high-quality, business-oriented GIFs that you can pay to license.
Cost: Subscription-based pricing
Restrictions: Licensing required
A blogging platform, suitable for finding niche or unique GIFs.
Cost: Free
Restrictions: Ensure you have permission from the original creator if not under a free-to-use license.
Popular image hosting site with a vast community-driven collection of GIFs.
Cost: Free
Restrictions: User-generated content; ensure you have the right permissions before use.
Similar to Giphy, they integrate with many messaging apps, offering a wide variety of GIFs.
Cost: Free
Restrictions: Check for licensing
Here you can find high-quality, professional GIFs, suitable for professional marketing.
Cost: Paid
Restrictions: Licensing required
Sites like Make a Meme or Meme Generator have GIF options, often with humorous or trending content.
Cost: Free
Restrictions: Likely not for professional use, check licensing
Online communities sometimes create and share free-to-use GIFs. Great for sourcing niche or trending GIF.
Cost: Free
Restrictions: Always ask for permission from the original creator and check for any licensing restrictions.
You can find unique, creator-made GIFs that you can purchase.
Cost: Pay-per-GIF, prices set by individual creators.
Restrictions: Licensing required, always check the terms before purchasing.
If you have a specific need, you can hire an agency to create custom GIFs for you.
Cost: Varies based on the requirements of the project
Restrictions: Depending on the agreement
Content Beta is your go-to partner for all things creative, including the realm of GIF marketing. From video production, which can be turned into engaging GIFs for social media and email campaigns, to design tasks for informative GIF infographics, we do it all.
Our Creative as a Service (CaaS) plan ensures you have a dedicated video and design team at a monthly rate. By choosing Content Beta, you benefit from:
Having collaborated with over 150 B2B brands, we have gained the expertise for video (product explainers, testimonial videos, product demo, etc), design (whitepapers, datasheets, infographics, etc), and even Podcast editing needs. Content Beta is simplifying the process for businesses.
Ready to elevate your GIF marketing strategy? Schedule a call now for an in-depth discussion.
GIFs have changed the way we communicate in the digital age. By integrating GIFs into your business marketing strategy, you can –
Perfect platforms for GIF marketing include social media platforms, email campaigns, and even your own website. These dynamic visuals can make your content stand out in a crowded digital space, leading to increased engagement and brand recall.
So, the next time you’re brainstorming marketing strategies, remember to give GIF marketing a try. They might just be the answer to your business needs!
GIF marketing is the use of GIFs in promotional and branding materials to engage audiences, convey messages quickly, and enhance digital content.
It’s popular on social media, emails, and websites due to its ability to capture attention and convey information in a dynamic way.
Using GIFs in your marketing strategy can:
GIFs differ from videos in marketing in the following ways:
Yes, GIFs are mobile-friendly. They are widely supported across various mobile platforms and apps, making them effective for marketing campaigns targeting mobile users.
Platforms that support GIF marketing include:
