Adweek: That GIF You Just Shared? It Might Actually Be an Ad

There’s a new type of ad that brands are engaging in place of traditional photos or videos: GIFs. According to Adweek, GIFs offer marketers a unique opportunity to get their message playing on a loop through an increasingly popular medium. That’s why brands like Amazon, Bubly, Converse and Gatorade have already used GIFs to tell their stories.

Quynh Mai, founder of digital shop Moving Image and Content, told Adweek, “Clever marketers are creating GIFs to help consumers express themselves through these humorous, snackable videos which make them a shareable utility versus an ad. GIFs are an economical way for consumers to express their moods, and smart brands are creating GIFs as a utility for that purpose, making these shareable personal expressions and not just a six-second video.”

Because they’re still relatively new, GIF ads offer brands a lot of different opportunities, including creating content that fits into YouTube’s bumper format or apps that are seeking shorter spots. For franchise brands, this means that now is the time to consider how to integrate GIFs into your marketing strategy, both on social media and beyond.