If you've been looking for ways to create content that's more attention-grabbing, creative, and engaging, useInstagram storiesGIFs could be the answer!
earlier this year, Instagram has partnered with GIPHY to create a library of high-quality GIFs on Instagram Stories. Now you can add fun and expressive GIF stickers to any photo or video in your story.
GIFs are also a great tool for businesses to create perfectly branded Instagram Stories that are guaranteed to wow your followers!
Ready to start? Here are 7 creative ways to use GIFs in Instagram Stories:
How to Add GIFs to Instagram Stories
Add GifInstagram storiesIt is easy! When you tap to tag a photo or video in Stories, you'll now see a new GIF option. Tap on it and you'll find a library of hundreds of thousands of moving stickers powered by GIPHY.
To access the GIF Stickers, tap the Add Stickers button at the top of Stories as usual. From there, select the new GIF option and a GIF library will appear.
Here you have the option to search for trending GIFs on GIPHY or to search your entire library. When you've found the perfect GIF, select it to add to your photo or video:
with the newGIPHY-IntegrationNow you have a library full of blinking, blinking, and spinning animations to keep your viewers hooked for more!
Consistent use of this feature can add a lot of personality to your Instagram Stories and help you build a loyal following.Here is a step-by-step Instagram guide on how to add GIFs to Instagram Stories.
Tip #1: Use Instagram Stories GIFs to grab the attention of your followers
Using Instagram Stories GIFs is a great way to grab your viewer's attention and highlight certain elements in your story.
For example, you can search for GIFs with call-to-action keywords like "swipe up," "link in bio," "sound on," and other cues to tell your audience exactly what to do:
You can also add arrows and other cues to direct your followers to the next slide.
While many people tend to sift through Instagram Stories, viewers are far more likely to stop when a flashy, moving sticker catches their eye.
Tip #2: Pin your Instagram Story GIFs
Want to add an element of surprise to your Instagram Stories? You can "pin" GIFs from Instagram Stories to a specific location in your video so that they only appear at specific times. This will make your story stand out and keep it more interesting!
Pin your GIF to the desired location by touching and holding the screen until a small bar appears at the bottom that says "Pin".
Find the topic in the video that you want to pin by scrolling down the bar, moving the GIF to where you want it, and then clicking Pin.
If you're not happy with the placement, you can tap and hold the GIF and repeat the process.
By pinning GIFs to Instagram Stories videos, you can ensure they appear at the perfect time and keep your viewers engaged.
Tip #3. Resize and Reverse GIFs on Instagram Stories to Create Different Effects
Changing the size and direction of your GIFs on Instagram Stories is a great way to add some creativity to your content.
You can increase or decrease the size of any GIF by pinching or expanding it with two fingers, just like you would with Instagram Stories tags or text.
The GIPHY library has tons of cool effects to add to your story; For example, by enlarging your GIF, you can easily create a snowy background for a winter scene:
Would you like to add some magic to your picture? Add some sparkle with a glowing animation:
If your GIF isn't in the right position, just tap it to reverse its direction. Changing the direction of your GIF is a great way to make sure it goes well with your image or video.
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Tip #4 – Use Instagram Story GIFs to make your text stand out
If you want your text to stand out, Instagram Stories GIFs are a great way to grab your viewer's attention and prevent them from skipping over your story.
Artistic Director,liza cloeHe often adds some glitter to the edges of his text to grab his audience's attention:
Enter keywords like "sparkle", "stars" or "highlight" in the GIF search bar to find GIFs that can make your text stand out.
If you're looking for a common word or phrase, the GIPHY library also offers a wide range of text-based GIFs to add to your story. While it may take a little searching, there are hundreds of different options to choose from! Be sure to try different keywords in your search to find exactly what you're looking for.
Tip #5: Use GIFs to bring your pictures to life
Bring your images to life by adding an animated element to your photo. While your GIF shouldn't interfere with your image,Adding movement to your story is a great way to engage your followers.
Here's an example of a cute cafe, including a small GIF in the scene. As you can see, the GIF doesn't take anything away from the photo, but it does add a fun element to the story:
While adding different GIFs to your Instagram Stories can be a lot of fun, make sure you use them sparingly. Only add GIFs to your story where they make sense and go well with the content you're sharing.
Since GIFs are moving stickers, adding too many can be distracting or confusing and will likely win over your followerscomes from your story.
As with anything you post on social media, you should make sure that the content of your story aligns with your company's branding and overall marketing goals — and now that includes choosing the right GIFs!
Tip #6: Take your selfies to the next level with GIFs on Instagram Stories
We all love a good selfie filter, and now you can make your own with Instagram Stories GIFs!
Now sure how?
The GIPHY library offers hundreds of animated accessories like sunglasses, mustaches, hats, jewelry and more to add some fun to your selfies:
GIFs via Instagram
Fashion designer,Bring themrecently shared this selfie wearing GIF sunglasses:
While you should avoid spamming your followers with too much content of this nature, don't be afraid to have fun! Instagram Stories are a great place to showcase your personality and give your audience a behind-the-scenes look.
Instagram Stories are a free, simple, and effective way to stay connected with your Instagram followers even when they don't see your regular posts.Learn how stories in ours can help you grow your businessfree 30 minute class:
Tip #7: Make your own Instagram story GIFs with GIPHY
Did you know that you can create your own GIFs in Instagram Stories?
Creating your own collection of stickers is a great way to increase brand awareness and add a fun branding element to your Instagram Stories!
This year,girl bosscreated a series of GIFs during the Girlboss rally, giving attendees a fun new way to share their event content with their Instagram Stories viewers:
Gary Vaynerchukalso created a collection of GIFs that can be searched in Instagram Stories' GIPHY library by searching for "garyvee" alongside other popular business-centric keywords:
Gary Vaynerchuk GIF Collectionincludes various icons and text stickers to match your brand; By doing the same, you connect with your audience and promote your brand in a fun way.
CorrespondingGIPHY, “A good sticker is simple, eye-catching and fun. They can be created from video content or illustrated. Because the decals come in a relatively small size, it's important that they remain visually sharp and well-defined; small details are lost.”
To make your GIFs searchable on Instagram Stories you need a verified brand page, you canclick hereLearn more.
With its GIPHY integrationInstagram storieshas continued to introduce new features to help you showcase your brand personality. With a few simple tricks and a little creativity, you can use Instagram Stories GIFs to stick in the minds of your followers and keep them coming back for more.