Since their introduction, GIFs have become a vital means of communication. What is even better is that they have enabled an untapped way for brands to market themselves. This is especially true when using branded GIFs.

If you are a brand looking to use GIFs for social media marketing, branded GIFs are the best way of doing that. In this article, we take you through the steps of using them to market your brand and make it stand out from the competition.

What are Branded GIFs?

Branded GIFs are lossless image file formats that support static and animated images featuring the elements of a brand, such as its colors, logo, and personality. They are a good choice for increasing engagement and promoting brand awareness. The GIFs are designed to be used and shared on social media platforms, providing an engaging and fun way for brands to connect with their target audience without appearing overly intrusive.

Branded GIFs can be a good way to showcase your brand, engage with your target audience, and increase brand awareness. However, they aren't just about your branding and logo elements. They can also reflect your personality and brand vibe. If you have to add a logo, do so subtly.

Benefits of Using Branded GIFs

GIFs aren't fun and eye-catching. These twirling, flashing, and color-changing stickers can help you gain followers and increase your social media engagement. These features can help entice your followers to click the next slide in your story, click a feed post, and act on your call to action, whether it's buying a product, visiting your feed post, or following you.

While Instagram offers a variety of GIF stickers, some may be unsuitable for your brand. That is why you need to create a bespoke branded GIF. You can then include your brand keywords in the GIF to make them searchable.

How to Use Branded GIFs

After making your branded GIFs, you may be left wondering how to use them to market your brand. Here are some top ways of using them:

Branded GIFs in X (Twitter) Replies 

One of the features that sets X apart from other social media platforms is the conversational style, making it an excellent platform for using Branded GIFs. By adding them to your X replies, you can draw attention to your brand. Since not many brands do this, you can make it stand out from the competition. Additionally, this will save you time that you would have spent replying to tweets.

Add Branded GIFs on Facebook

Facebook is another brand that offers a range of ways for creating branded GIFs, such as:

• In comments or replies.
• As short videos on the Facebook page. However, you will need to start by converting it to a video file.
• Adding GIFs to posts in your Facebook group to increase engagement.

While you can combine the two, you can begin with the basics: use the GIFs in the comments. When your target audience comments on your post, you can reply with a GIF of it, helping to showcase your personality. Just as on Twitter, this can be a great way to use GIFs to respond to your audience’s comments and provide feedback on a Facebook page.

When using GIFs in your Facebook replies, you don't have to add a comment unless you feel it will be necessary for providing context. Even in such an instance, you will need to keep the comment short and sweet. Start by considering the most common comments you make, such as "Thanks for sharing" or "Glad to hear your insights." You can then start by creating GIFs for these standard replies and even adding an element of humor.

Here are different ways to add your branded GIF to Facebook:

1. Include a GIF in the Facebook Pages status update. Remember that a GIF can't be dragged the same way a video or a photo can. That means you need to start by converting the GIF into a video/movie format before posting it on your Facebook page as a status update. From the options that appear, select Video/Photo editor, then upload the converted GIF as a video.
2. Posting GIFs as Facebook group status updates. Unlike pages, you can add your converted video GIF to posts in the form of pages. However, with GIPHY integrated on Facebook, you will have an option to choose from a myriad of images. All you need to do is click on the Status update, select a GIF from a drop-down menu, and enter the search term in your GIPHY to select your preferred GIF. You can choose the GIF, add some description or text to the post, and then add it to the group. You can then wait for replies to the GIF.
3. Adding branded GIFs in a comment. To add a GIF to a Facebook comment, you will need to do it in the same way you comment. Once you begin typing, check the GIF icon located on the right side. When you click on this icon, you will be given an option to search for your preferred GIF. You can search using a specific keyword, and once you find one, click on it to post. Facebook also allows you to add a link to the GIF sites, such as Giphy or Imgur. These GIFs will then appear in the comment section as an animation. You can also upload your branded GIF as a video in the comment section. 

Using Branded GIFs in Messaging Apps

Messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Slack allow you to add branded GIFs. In fact, according to Facebook data, billions of GIFs were sent last year, and this number continues to rise. Branded GIFs can be a good way of adding a human touch to the interaction. With people having a soft spot for humor, this can be a good way of bringing the tone down when conversing with your audience.

When your customers see you add a unique, custom GIF to a conversation with them, they will definitely feel special. If you are a team working on a platform like Slack, you can create some custom GIFs to use for your team’s interactions. With GIPHY already integrated into Slack, the whole process is more straightforward.

Final Thoughts

Branded GIFs can be a good choice for increasing brand visibility and engagement because they make your brand more fun, human, and relatable. They can also help your brand stand out in a crowded digital space by injecting some personality. Because of their high shareability, they can help your brand reach more consumers. You can also read our guide on building a personal brand voice on Threads.

Therefore, they are an effective social media marketing tool due to their versatility and higher engagement level. Since they come in an easy-to-share format, you can use them to explain concepts, share stories, and add emotions to your social media engagement.