If you're looking to gain more visibility on Twitter, consider using GIFs from Twitter in your tweets. I was first introduced to this idea by Ryan Biddulph, who used them to express gratitude for sharing his content back in 2016.
The impact was immediate - the colorful, animated images caught my eye and made me take notice.
Later, Melissa Stuart used a GIF to get my attention, and I was hooked. Incorporating GIFs into your tweets shows that you care about engaging your audience and are willing to put in the extra effort to do so.
What Are GIFS From Twitter?
GIFS are bitmap (CompuServe) GIF, or Graphic Interchange Format, is a file extension for an often animated raster graphics file and is the second most common image format used on the World Wide Web after JPEG.
A GIF uses the LZW compression algorithm and is owned by Unisys. Twitter GIFS look very catchy in the Twitter feed. You can't help but notice Gifs from Twitter.
How To Use The Twitter GIF Feature
It's easy and is available both on desktop and on mobile. You can create GIFS in a jiffy on the go with your mobile or on your desktop.
You can see the example below on how easy it is to insert a GIF into your tweets.
Good Sunday Morning. Anxiously awaiting sunshine today. #sundayvibes pic.twitter.com/wuD4HxExdH
- Lisa Sicard 👩💻 (@Lisapatb) June 11, 2023
Visuals - Another Reason To Use Twitter GIFS
An article by Steve Olenski on Forbes illustrates why images are so vital to brands. Think about this one:
Our brain processes visuals 60,000 faster than text - Steve Olenski
If that doesn't make you think why using images in social media and blog posts is a must, nothing will!
Images can tell a story and invoke emotions. Someone once said "A picture is worth a thousand words" - Tess Flanders back in 1911.
Increased Engagement
Twitter conducted an internal study and discovered that tweets containing GIFs generate 55% more engagement than those featuring other forms of content.
To obtain retweets, replies, or likes, supplementing your strategy with branded or thoughtfully selected GIFs can be beneficial. It's a great way to shake up your marketing on Twitter.
Some Examples of Fun Twitter GIFS
Sorry, I couldn't resist 😂 pic.twitter.com/bEGAGCEilG
- Melissa Stewart (@MelissaOnline) June 8, 2023
Other Ways To Make Your Tweets Pop Out
Besides GIFS you can also try the Twitter Stickers. They are another way to generate some fun attention in the Twitter feed. This tweet below shows off the sticker feature with a video.
Videos are another great way to stand out in the Twitter feed. One word of caution - don't get too carried away and use GIFS, videos, or stickers in all of your tweets.
Use them when you want a tweet to pop out to your followers or to a special follower when you are engaging with them.
How To Make Your Own GIFS For Twitter
Discover the means of crafting your own GIF images for Twitter and differentiate your tweets from others. You can easily create these with the aid of Canva.
You can turn any jpeg or png image into a GIF with Canva. This will really personalize your Twitter feed and increase your engagement on the social network further.
Your Turn: Twitter GIF
In what ways are you trying to make some of your tweets pop out in the Twitter stream?
Have you tried the Twitter GIFS feature often? I'd love to hear about your experience with GIFS on Twitter.