Being Relatable: Using GIFS in Your Content
Social media and blog posts receive more engagement and reach when they are relatable and comical. Using humorous GIFS can accomplish this effortlessly in your content writing. There's so much personality, excitement, and nuance that GIFS can show to an audience! Plus, everyone loves to see priceless scenes from their favorite movies and shows on their newsfeed. Who wouldn't share a hilarious GIF from The Office when they see one? It's an overall great tactic for marketing to Millennials, as they are on the cusp of trends in online humor.
GIFS can make your brand more personable and approachable, too. Websites like Buzzfeed have pioneered the trend of online listicles that incorporate hilarious images and GIFS to captivate and entertain readers.
Becoming #relatable
So, how can your business adopt the trend? Start by understanding your industry. If you work in a field that necessitates a high level of professionalism and trust, such as a law firm or hospital, it's recommended to completely avoid using GIFS or a relaxed tone. However, companies with consumable products such as food, cosmetics, flowers, or toys can benefit from being playful and experimenting with them! A GIF database like GIPHY can help you find the perfect GIF to deliver your message and accompany your writing.
The GIF or “JIF” Debate
There’s a popular and heated debate on how to pronounce the word, with some people using a hard G like "gift" or a soft G as in "jiffy." The creator of the file format, Steve Wilhite, has responded, "The Oxford English Dictionary accepts both pronunciations," Mr. Wilhite said. "They are wrong. It is a soft 'G,' pronounced 'jif.' End of story.”
Let’s settle this… the "G" in GIF stands for Graphics, which is pronounced with a hard G. The acronym, "GIF" stands for Graphics Interchange Format. Would you say Jraphics Interchange Format? We didn’t think so.
Whatever your stance, GIFS are a valuable marketing tool for your business. They can provide humor and help your business relate to your audience. Try using GIFS in your content!
Contributor Morgan Swenson
Morgan Swenson is a Social Media Specialist for Atwill Media. She has a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Arkansas State University with a concentration in Management. Currently, she is studying to receive her Master's degree in Strategic Communications.
In her free time, she enjoys painting, watching YouTube videos, and drinking iced coffee.
It’s tough to appear by educated folks on this matter, however you seem like you really know what you’re referring to! Many thanks