Why you should be using GIFs for public relations

Spice things up with some GIFs

Whether they are used for social media or to improve press releases, images are a very handy tool in public relations. You can even use them to directly improve your website’s SEO! But, have you been using GIFs?

For those who are unfamiliar, GIFs are simply animated images. GIFs can originate from anywhere, including TV shows, movies, or other media. They can have captions or just show someone doing something.

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Why use GIFs? They offer several benefits that can help improve your public relations efforts, particularly online. Some of the benefits of using GIFs include:

• Content is more lively
• Your company is a fun place to work at or has a sense of humor
• Stay current on pop culture and other trends
• Add some lighthearted content

In short, GIFs are a great way to add humor and fun to public relations content.

However, you shouldn’t feel pressured to use GIFs if you feel they don’t fit. For example, if you’re responding to a crisis, including a GIF from a recent TV show would undermine the seriousness of your company’s response. Think about if a GIF is appropriate before including it in content.

Still, used correctly, GIFs can be powerful resources. They can be used to demonstrate that you’re a fun-loving company that can create lively content and is in the know about trends. On the other hand, there is a time and place for GIFs, so don’t use them inappropriately.

Interested in adding even more fun to your PR content? Learn how memes can be used to create your company’s image.

Clients love Jacob’s speed. Jacob is an inbound marketing-certified webmaster. He earned an integrated communications degree from Florida State College at Jacksonville. Jacob joined Axia PR as an intern in August 2015 and earned his way into a critical role at our PR agency.