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In Instagram Stories, you can use moving stickers called ‘GIFs.’ It’s crucial for corporate accounts to actively utilize them as they enhance the quality of stories, making them more noticeable to users, and also help convey messages effectively.
So, in this article, we’ll focus on GIFs, and the moving stickers available in Instagram Stories, and introduce the benefits of using them for corporate accounts as well as how to find stylish GIFs. Please feel free to take a look and consider implementing them in your strategy.
What are ‘GIFs’ in Instagram Stories?
A “GIF” refers to “animated stickers” that can be used in Instagram Stories. It’s called GIF, taking the initials of Graphics Interchange Format. GIFs often consist of simple animations or a combination of several photos, often characterized by a flip-book-like movement. They offer a more vibrant and lively impression compared to static image stickers, making them effective as accents in Stories.
The benefits of businesses using GIFs in Instagram Stories
On Instagram, there are various types of GIFs available, ranging from unique and stylish ones to text-based or live-action ones, providing a diverse selection. Simply adding these to your Stories can instantly elevate their quality by adding vibrancy and movement. While you can use the pen feature to draw symbols like hearts or stars yourself, it’s challenging to achieve the same level of quality as GIFs. Therefore, it’s beneficial to actively utilize them.
Increased Eye-catching Ability
As mentioned, GIFs have movement. Therefore, adding them to Stories makes it easier to capture users’ attention! Consequently, you can also expect more reactions. Since many users scroll through Stories quickly, incorporating GIFs to make them pause and pay attention can be effective in optimizing your Stories.
Enhanced Message Delivery
While it’s possible to emphasize a message by simply decorating the text, adding GIFs can make it even easier to convey the message. Some GIFs feature designs like speech bubbles or highlighting marks, which, when incorporated effectively, can turn your Stories into ones that encourage users to read the text as well.
How to Find Stylish GIFs for Instagram Stories
When creating Stories, it’s convenient and enjoyable to find stylish GIFs effortlessly. So, here are three methods to find stylish GIFs.
Try searching not only in Japanese but also in English
When searching for GIFs, most people tend to use Japanese While it’s possible to find the desired GIFs using Japanese, searching in English can yield different results, increasing the likelihood of finding GIFs that better match your preferences. Therefore, for example, if you searched for ‘ハート’ (heart), it’s also a good idea to try searching for ‘Heart’ in English.
Search using onomatopoeia
If you find it difficult to verbalize the GIF you have in mind, searching with onomatopoeia is recommended. Terms like ‘もぐもぐ’ (mogumogu), ‘ぽかぽか’ (pokapoka), or ‘ドキドキ’ (dokidoki) will yield GIFs corresponding to each onomatopoeic expression, making it easier to find GIFs that match your mental image.
Search by creator names or characters
You can also search for GIFs by creator names or characters. If you have favorite GIFs like ‘I love this design, it’s so stylish!’ or ‘I want to use GIFs of my favorite character!’ try searching for the creator or character name. You can search on search engines like Google for terms like ‘stylish GIFs,’ which may also provide information on representative GIFs along with creator names. So, it’s recommended to search thoroughly and then try searching on Instagram.
Creating original GIFs for your company is also recommended
The GIFs available on Instagram are stylish and cute, but if you want to add originality, creating custom GIFs for your company is also recommended.
All GIFs that can be used in Stories are registered with ‘GIPHY,’ a GIF creation service owned by Facebook. Therefore, by registering with GIPHY and creating GIFs there, you can use them in Instagram Stories!
| The general process for creating GIFs on GIPHY is as follows 1.Register on GIPHY. 2.Create and upload your GIF. 3.Apply for a channel. Once your application is approved, you can use your original GIFs in Stories. |
Although an application is required, the actual creation process isn’t too cumbersome, so it might be a good opportunity to give it a try.
Stories that can be viewed using GIFs
GIFs are a convenient feature available to all Instagram users. Unlike regular stickers, they add motion, enhancing the quality of stories and making them more eye-catching to viewers. This makes it easier to convey messages through stories, making it essential for corporate accounts to use them actively. Take this opportunity to incorporate them into your content!
Furthermore, if you want to analyze Instagram Stories, we recommend using the specialized Instagram management system called ‘Slooooth‘! With Slooooth, you can easily check metrics such as impressions, reach, and replies for each post, allowing for efficient analysis. It’s sure to be a valuable tool for social media management, so be sure to give it a try!
