Chiropractic Marketing with Twitter GIFs Files
On June 18th 20014, Twitter allowed users the ability to post GIFs to its platform and opened a new way to market your business using a bit of creativity. However, many chiropractors still don’t take advantage of the opportunity to do so or even know how, for that matter. In this blog post, I explore why there is so much value in posting GIFs and how to post GIFs on Twitter and make your feed rich and interesting for your existing and potential new chiropractic patients.
What is a GIF?
Graphics Interchange Format. GIFs are image files that are compressed to reduce transfer time. The proper pronounciation of the acronym is a soft “g” sound: like JIF. The creators of the format, Bob Berry & Steve Wilhite, claim that this soft “g” sound is used. At some point one of them said, “Choosy programmers choose GIF,” a play on the peanut butter commercials where “Choosy moms choose Jif.” It can also use multiple images for animated effects (animated GIFs).
An animated GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) file is a graphic image on a Web page that moves – for example, a twirling icon or a banner with a hand that waves or letters that magically get larger. In particular, an animated GIF is a file in the Graphics Interchange Format specified as GIF89a that contains within the single file a set of images that are presented in a specified order. An animated GIF can loop endlessly (and it appears as though your document never finishes arriving) or it can present one or a few sequences and then stop the animation. Animated GIFs are frequently used in Web ad banners.
Why does it matter?
According to a study by Buffer, when Twitter began to allow inline images (that didn’t need to be clicked on to be viewed), those tweets began to receive 18% more clicks, 89% more favorites and 150% more retweets. It stands to reason, then, that if those images were animated they would receive just as much, if not more, attention from users. While animated GIFS are just another option available as you’re creating visual content for your Twitter account, they present the opportunity to highlight products in a different, unique way and humanize your brand by showing some humor and show more in a very short period of time. Human brain likes visual images especially if they are in motion. such as videos and GIFs.
How to post GIFs on Twitter?
1. Find or create a GIF to post
The best and easiest option for finding GIFs to post to Twitter is to look on Giphy. This site allows you to perform keywords searches to find the right animation for your tweet.
You can either share them directly to Twitter, grab the image link or download the image directly.
However, to get the most of these animated images I recommend downloading them directly to your computer. If you don’t, they wont appear as an inline image (in other words, your followers will have to click on a link to actually view the image which means it won’t get as much notice in the news feed). You must note that maximum GIF file size that Twitter allows is 3mb. If for some reason it is larger you can use EZGIF to resize your file. Also this EZGIF allows you to convert any video into a GIF file. So if you have some video of yourself adjusting your patient here is you chance to shine on a Twitter. People love watching other people getting adjusted.
Seated #cevical #chiropractic #adjustment pic.twitter.com/udcUKSaCVE
— Chiropractic Dr Burt (@AskDrBurt) January 28, 2016
The free service GIFSoup allows you to create animated GIFS from YouTube videos. There are plenty of GIF apps for droid and apple products. You can create instant GIFs with your smart phone and post them on Twitter or any other Social media network that supports GIF format. Another option for finding really cool GIFs is to simply go to Google and type in what type of image you are looking for and add GIF to the end.
2. Compose a tweet
Posting a GIF to Twitter follows the same process that you would use for composing any other tweet. Click the Tweet button on Twitter and then click on Add Photo. From there you just need to navigate to the image you want to post.
3. Post your GIF
Once you locate the GIF, post away! Also take note that you can only upload a single GIF at a time. Use the images to share humor, inspire, or just emphasize your message. In many cases, these images have nothing to do with the brand, itself, but instead are used to convey the company culture and inject some personality into your brand.
Turn your power on with #chiropractic. It is no longer an alternative medical field. It is a mainstream #wellnesspic.twitter.com/IvgyDLygvw
— Chiropractic Dr Burt (@AskDrBurt) January 28, 2016
Best Practices for Animated GIFS
If you’re going to use animated GIFS on Twitter, you should treat them as you would any other marketing tactic: establish goals, test to see how they perform, and fit them into the rest of your Twitter content. Will you be using them to promote products, increase brand awareness, humanize your brand or get more clicks through to your website? Choose GIFs that reflect those goals and promote a call to action.
This strategy will not only increase your Twitter followers, but it’ll be far more effective (and will make your tweets far more measurable) than if you just start blindly tweeting GIFs. Are you using GIFS on Twitter yet? If so, tag us in your next Tweet with a GIF (@virtualchirocon), as we’d love to see see your creativity and share it with our followers.
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