Animated GIFs are often seen as a personal, funny or offbeat addition to a comment or message used on personal social network accounts. Although they are often used in this way, it is often wrong to think that their use is limited to that. However, the reality is very different. Animated GIFs are a powerful marketing tool that, when used properly, can bring great opportunities to businesses.
People are hungry for personalization and over the last decade, B2C personalization of products and services has become increasingly popular. Leading companies, such as Nike, have jumped on this evolving customer experience with their Nike By You Custom Shoes. They allow their customers to customize every aspect of their product, from the color of the laces to the typography on the heel, and use GIFs as a powerful marketing tool to advertise their best-selling shoes.
This growing and popular demand for personalization has led to a change in the way we connect with our audience, using more informal and fun marketing methods such as animated GIFs, a real asset for successful commercial advertising.
There are many reasons why your business should use gifs, but here are some of the main ones to consider:
It’s cheaper than animation
Animations are an excellent form of marketing communication, but if budgets are tight, animated GIFs are a quick and easy alternative without having to empty your wallet!
They are easier and quicker to process by the brain
The brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text. Images are universal and often easier to understand by a range of cultures and languages.
A picture is worth a thousand words, but a GIF is worth much more.
What animated GIFs give your brand is a sense of belonging to the Web culture. Your message may be serious, but the way it’s delivered indicates that you understand how the Web is consumed and that you’re using a platform that emphasizes that you’re creative and maybe even a little playful in your approach.
Of course, animated GIFs are very shareable. Make a good GIF and you might find that it has a very wide reach on social networks.
GIFs give excellent results
Large companies such as Amazon, Twitter and Dell to name a few and even NASA use animated GIFs in their content marketing to explain important information on social networks. Laptop manufacturer Dell has seen impressive results from its first email campaign using animated GIFs:
- 6% increase in the opening rate
- 42% increase in click-through rate
- 103% increase in the conversion rate
- 109% increase in revenues
- They take care of a short attention span…
GIFs are known to be short, so people don’t hesitate to give 5 seconds to look at them. Also, if done well, they should be entertaining and catchy, which often encourages viewers to watch more. Research shows that users only have the time to read 28% of the words per visit to a web page on average, which means that just under three-quarters of your message could be read. So, to make sure your message doesn’t go unnoticed, why not turn your “call to action” button or your “product benefits” paragraph into an animated GIF!
GIFs are lightweight and compatible with mobile phones.
Thanks to the lightweight files that make up GIFs, viewing is much faster. So, instead of running the risk of losing your audience’s attention by using a slow loading video, why not grab them in an instant with an animated GIF?
They’re fun and connect your audience
Animated GIFs are a great way to help brands keep that personal touch and share authenticity. Fun and original GIFs can help brands create a meaningful relationship with their audience. A simple emotional connection can be more powerful than you think!
They are more attractive
Researchers have found that the use of visuals increases the willingness to read by 80%, colourful images help increase your audience’s engagement and animate them, and grab their attention more quickly.
If you want to take your marketing to the next level, visit Gifing.com now and discover highly engaging Gifs to take your marketing to the next level. We can help you bring your e-mail campaigns, newsletters, and publications to life.
