How to Text a GIF: Simple Ways to Find, Create, and Share GIFs for Your Business

GIFs (Graphics Interchange Format) are everywhere these days. They’ve become the go-to way to show emotion, convey humor, and inject personality into what would otherwise be a bland, boring conversation. When an emoji just won’t do, there’s a GIF for that.

For businesses, GIFs offer a creative way to connect with customers, clients, and more. They make marketing messages more enjoyable and relatable. Combine GIFs with SMS marketing, and you’ve got a powerful combination that can dramatically improve loyalty and even brand advocacy.

Not sure how to use GIFs in your SMS marketing? Worried you’re going to hit the wrong tone or send something that’s supposed to be funny but ends up being lame or even offensive? This guide is for you.

Let’s break down how to find, create, and share GIFs for your business in just a few simple steps.

What Is a GIF?

A GIF is essentially a short, looping animation or video clip without sound. Think of it as a bite-sized way to tell a story or share a moment. Since they’re lightweight and widely supported, GIFs are well-suited for digital communication, including SMS marketing.

In a business context, GIFs can:

• Highlight promotions or new products.
• Make your message more engaging.
• Showcase your brand’s personality.

Why Choose a GIF Instead of an Emoji or Video?

You have a lot of options when it comes to SMS marketing. Emojis and videos are both popular options, so what makes GIFs the better choice? Actually, they’re not better necessarily. They’re just different. You can use a GIF when an emoji just doesn’t cut it and when a video might be too much. Here are a few brief tips:

• GIFs are good for adding quick, visual personality and emotions to your message.
• Emojis are better when you want to send a brief, visual cue or highlight an emotion to clarify the message of your text.
• Videos are better suited for conveying detailed information or in-depth storytelling.

All three (but particularly emojis and GIFs) help you include humor in your marketing. That’s an amazing thing because humor can turn blah into brilliant. GIFs make your audience:

• Relate to your content
• Want to share your content
• Feel like you really “get” them
• Feel more connected to your message and brand
• Tell the difference between your brand and competitors
• See your brand as more human than competitors
• Feel a sense of loyalty to your brand

Sold on the idea of using GIFs in your SMS marketing? That’s great. Now let’s talk about how to (and how not to) use them. It all starts with choosing the right GIFs.

How to Find the Perfect GIF for Your Business

When it comes to finding the right GIF, there’s no shortage of sources, but they’re not all created equal. Here are some of the most popular places to find great pre-made GIFs:

Giphy

The largest GIF search engine, Giphy offers millions of options for every mood and occasion. It’s easy to search, find, and use almost any type of GIF you might need.

Tenor

Another popular choice, Tenor is known for its smooth integration with messaging apps. That makes it a solid choice for business owners or marketers who want a personal hand in their SMS marketing.

Imgur

Imgur is a great choice for trending memes and creative GIFs. You can explore tags, immediately access the most recent viral GIFs, and tailor your searches for the most relevant options on Imgur.

Now that you know where to find your GIFs, we need to talk about how to choose the best options. While the right GIF will add humor and build a connection, the wrong one could drive your audience away.

Tips for Selecting Relevant GIFs

Not sure which GIF is the best for your brand? It’s an important choice because one option might help you add humor and fun while another might be more controversial than you really want to get with your marketing. Here are the most important tips for choosing relevant GIFs.

Keep It On-Brand

Your GIFs should tie in with your brand’s voice and values. For example, a playful, colorful brand can use humorous or cartoonish GIFs, while a professional brand might stick to sleek and minimal options. Remember, the best GIF lets your brand be itself.

Know Your Audience

Choose GIFs that your target audience will get. A younger audience might enjoy pop culture references, while older customers might prefer something simple and straightforward or even something a little retro that taps into their memories or sense of nostalgia.

Stay Appropriate

Avoid anything that could be misinterpreted or considered unprofessional. There’s a wide world of GIFs out there, and some of them just aren’t suitable for business use. Even if your brand is “edgy” or you’re trying to shock your audience, choose your GIFs with care. There’s no taking it back once you hit SEND.

Use Contextually Relevant GIFs

Make sure the GIF you use ties directly to your message. A well-chosen GIF can amplify your point, but a mismatched one might confuse your audience. The entire point of using a GIF is to make your message more impactful, so don’t dilute it with the wrong image.

How to Create Custom GIFs for Your Business

Sometimes, the perfect GIF doesn’t exist. So, why not make your own? Creating custom GIFs is easier than you think, and it’s a great way to stand out.

Tools to Create GIFs

• Giphy’s GIF Maker: Upload images or videos and turn them into GIFs with ease right through the platform.
• Photoshop: You can use advanced editing tools for professional-looking GIFs.
• Canva: This is an increasingly popular, user-friendly platform with pre-designed templates.
• Mobile Apps: Apps like ImgPlay or GIF Maker make creating GIFs on the go a breeze for anyone at all.

Now you should be armed with the knowledge you need to put GIFs to work for your business. However, you do need to follow a few best practices to make sure your campaigns hit the right note.

Best Practices for Creating GIFs

• Optimize for Mobile: Ensure your GIFs look great on smaller screens. Most people use their smartphones for almost all communications these days, so don’t assume that your GIFs will see many larger screens.
• Keep File Sizes Small: Large files may take longer to load, which can frustrate recipients. This is particularly true for people outside of Wi-Fi.
• Stay Relevant: Create GIFs that directly tie into your campaign or brand message. Going too far off can have negative results or dilute your message.
• Test Before Sending: Double-check how your GIF looks across different devices so that you know your message will hit correctly.

How to Send GIFs in a Text Message

Whether you’re texting friends or sending a marketing campaign, here’s how to get those GIFs into your messages:

General Steps to Send a GIF

1. Open a GIF Platform or App: Start with a platform like Giphy or your device’s GIF keyboard.
2. Search for a GIF: Use keywords to find a GIF that fits your message.
3. Select and Share: Click on the GIF, choose “Share,” and select your messaging app.
4. Choose the Recipient: Add the recipient’s contact info.
5. Send the GIF: Hit “Send” and watch your message come to life!

Sending GIFs on iOS

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap the GIF Search Tool (it looks like a magnifying glass).
3. Enter keywords to find the perfect GIF.
4. Tap the GIF to add it to your message.
5. Hit Send.

Sending GIFs on Android

1. Open your messaging app.
2. Tap the GIF Keyboard icon (usually in the emoji section).
3. Search for a GIF.
4. Tap to add it to your message.
5. Hit Send.

How to Share GIFs in Business Text Messages

If you’re running SMS marketing campaigns, platforms like DialMyCalls make it easy to include GIFs. Here’s how:

Create or Upload Your GIF

Use tools like Giphy to make a GIF or select one from their library.

Log Into Your SMS Platform

Open your DialMyCalls account.

Compose Your Message

Add your text and include the GIF file.

Preview and Test: Double-check how your message appears on mobile.

Send or Schedule

Hit “Send” or set a schedule for later.

Best Practices for Using GIFs in SMS Marketing

• Be Authentic: Use GIFs that feel genuine and match your brand’s tone.
• Don’t Overdo It: Keep GIFs as an enhancement, not the entire message.
• Track Engagement: Use analytics to measure how GIFs impact campaign performance.
• Maintain Professionalism: Always double-check that your GIFs are appropriate for your audience.

Conclusion

GIFs aren’t just fun. They foster a deeper connection with the people who matter most: your audience. By incorporating GIFs into your SMS campaigns, you can create memorable interactions, engage your audience, and show off your brand’s personality. Ready to give it a try? DialMyCalls makes it easy to create and share GIF-enhanced messages that leave a lasting impression. Sign up today to take your SMS marketing to the next level!

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