Use of Animation in Social Media Marketing
Today’s digital landscape is no doubt extremely saturated. People’s attention spans are diminishing day by day. What does one do to keep one hooked? Well, now more than ever, animation is being integrated into various fields. Whether it’s education, entertainment or marketing, animation has become a powerful tool for engagement and communication. Animation in social media is also a recent phenomenon. Animation is helping agencies break through the visual noise. When traditional content can’t hit the right chords, animation comes to one’s rescue. The invaluable impact it is having in today’s social media marketing landscape is worth discussing. Through this blog, we aim to cover the role of animation in social media marketing.
Types of Animation used in Social Media Marketing
When agencies use animation in their marketing, they particularly use animated visuals to convey messages, tell stories or simply engage with a target group. Unlike static images, dynamic concepts are more memorable and impactful. There are countless ways in which you can utilise animation within your social media content plan. Here are some of the most popular formats:
Explainer Videos
As the name implies, explainer videos are nothing but videos that explain a product or service. Usually, animators condense a broad subject into a concise format between 60 to 90 seconds in length. The narration and imagery together can simplify even the most complex subject. Everybody knows that social media is a saturated space. When explainer videos are streamlined, it’s easier to grab the attention of an audience.
GIFs
If you want to quickly capture the attention of a target group, GIFs work wonders. They’re highly interactive and quick. While GIFs are a default tool of web humour, they have now been fully accepted as an important part of social media marketing strategies. They are also easily shareable across multiple social networks and WhatsApp particularly. You can create personalised GIFs and add it to your texts, emails or direct messages. A lot of brands have also started replying to comments with GIFs. This makes the interaction a lot more engaging. Well-placed GIFs create visual interest and break the monotony of text.
3D Animations
While social media is mainly about using small-format videos, there is room for complex animation too which creates a more immersive experience. 3D animation is particularly used for demo videos. It’s easy to make complex propositions more digestible. Though this is not just for use on social media, it’s perfect to demonstrate new tech or for a website walkthrough. Who doesn’t like consuming content that is interactive? If you want to tell better stories and create shareable content, 3D animation is the way to go. When your brand uses a certain voice, style and colour, it comes across as recognisable. Make sure your content is consistent. 3D animation makes it easier to create highly engaging videos.
Event Highlights
As a brand when you have an event coming up, you want people to know about it, right? The best way to tell people about what’s going to be happening at the event is by summarising it in a video full of motion graphics. This is way more effective than typical static footage. With a series of animated posts, you can create anticipation for the event and your page will get a new, fresh look.
Why use Animation in Social Media Marketing?
Animation is not just visually appealing but also incredibly beneficial. While it can capture and retain the audience’s attention, it has other benefits too which include:
High engagement
Social media platforms reward content that is engaging. According to research, animation is proven to attract users and generate higher views compared to static images.Memorable content
Animated videos are designed to be short, engaging and impactful. Social media is a fast-paced landscape; thus, this format is ideal. Unlike text or static images, animation combines visual appeal and storytelling to leave a lasting first impression. Viewers are more likely to remember a message when it’s told with authenticity.Versatile
Any social media marketer would know that in order to maximise reach, optimisation is key. Animation adapts well to all social media platforms. From creating a quick GIF on Twitter to a captivating reel on Instagram or an explainer video on LinkedIn, with animated formats you can tailor your content to fit any platform.
Conclusion
Animation is a powerful tool for social media marketing. The creative possibilities are endless. By understanding your audience, you can create high-quality content. All brands should harness the power of animation to elevate their brand. However, it’s important to make sure that the videos are short, to-the-point and entertaining from the beginning. Keeping in mind the vast benefits of animation, a lot of aspiring animators are pursuing an undergraduate degree in visual arts. Some of the subjects included in the module are visual thinking, 2D and 3D design practice, digital art, classical animation, lighting and camera techniques, and animation studio management among others.
