Animated GIF banners are a type of graphic in the GIF89a file format that creates the effect of animation by rotating through a series of static images. Big brands use animated ads for branding, education, and product sales, while Facebook and LinkedIn use them to help explain new features or concepts. An animated ad can be anything from a product demonstration to a moving image, and manufacturers of water, soft drinks and alcohol can make their products look realistic through animation and 3D modeling. These ads come in Gif, HTML and short video clips. But no matter what the format, the key to big brands and startups alike is that ads are getting shorter and shorter.
While pronunciations may vary, the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is an animated image format with more than 30 years of history. The reason GIFs appear animated is that they feature a series of picture frames that are like a digital version of flipbooks. Since their launch in the 1980s, GIFs have developed a lot in terms of their purpose, methods of creation and dissemination. Today, GIF banners are actively used on the Google Display Network and are being actively introduced to social media. Many of today's animated ads are made up of simple text and graphics, while others can be anything from realistic 3D renderings of products to live-action looping videos.
What marketers have found is that animated GIFs work, whether you're looking to drive sales or engagement. GIFs are easy to upload and create excitement for the subscriber, wishing they give you a few extra seconds. GIFs have the upper hand here, as they stand out, and are probably the only solution to banner blindness. Animated GIFs are relatively easy to work with and are widely compatible with web browsers, although they lack some of the features offered by rich media. They cost a fraction of the price of a full animated video and can be more effective because they get the message across faster. Since GIF banners are small and have to maintain a balance between text and GIF, it is always best to keep the text as small as possible and increase the visual language.
GIFs have the ability to prompt the consumer to make a buying decision by incorporating small directional and trigger signals to the CTA and impacting their actions. This is precisely why familiarizing the audience with subtle gif banners and gaining their trust, unconsciously reverses their psychology. One of the biggest challenges of using GIFs, especially in email marketing campaigns, is that their size can cause slow load times. In conclusion, animated GIF ads can be an effective way to engage your audience with your brand or product. They are easy to create and upload, cost less than full-length videos, stand out from other ads due to their animation, and can be used to prompt consumers into making buying decisions.
However, it is important to keep in mind that they can cause slow load times if not optimized properly.
