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Quick question: What is the best way to engage your audience when you send a text message? If you’re like most people, you probably think it’s with a short message.

Wrong!

The brain processes visuals faster than text, so you’re missing the mark when you adopt a text-heavy approach for your SMS marketing campaigns.

In this article, we’re going to show you how to send GIFs in a text message to make your customer interactions quick, concise, and personalized.

Get your answers for these questions:

• How to text a GIF
• How to text a GIF on Android
• How to text a GIF on iPhone
• How to send GIFs in text messages: FAQ

How to text a GIF

GIFs have revolutionized digital communication, making it easy for users to express their feelings and emotions in a visual manner rather than with chunky text. GIFs are popular for a reason, and as long as you have a phone that can access the internet, you can easily send them too.

Below are general guidelines on how to text a GIF:

1. Open the SMS messaging app on your phone
2. Find a conversation and start a new message
3. Tap Images and find your GIF
4. Tap the GIF to add to your message
5. Send your message

Still finding it difficult to add a GIF to a text message? Then check out the instructions for iPhone and Android below.

How to text a GIF on Android

Here’s how to send GIFs through the messaging app on your Android phone:

1. Download and install the Gboard (the Google Keyboard).
2. Open the messaging app you’ll use to send the GIF.
3. Find a conversation or start a new one and ensure Gboard has loaded. You may have to switch to Gboard if it isn’t your default keyboard.
4. Find the emoji icon on the keyboard and tap on it.
5. Find and tap the GIF icon when the emoji page opens up.
6. Search for your desired GIF from the search bar. Alternatively, scroll through the themes till you find what you’re looking for.
7. Tap your desired GIF when you find it to load it to your message.

How to text a GIF on iPhone

Sending a GIF on an iPhone is similar to sending it using an Android phone. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Download and install the GIF Keyboard app.
2. Open Messages and start a new message or go to an existing one.
3. Tap the Apps icon next to the text field
4. A menu will pop up with different elements. Click the “#images” icon to access the GIF library.
5. Browse or search for the GIF you want.
6. After choosing a GIF, you can add some text to it or send it as is.

Where to find GIFs to text?

Besides the two apps mentioned above, there are other places you can find GIFs, including:

GIPHY

GIPHY is one of the best platforms for those who looking to send a GIF in a text message. The site has a large database of more than 1 million GIFs that have been indexed to make them easy to find. Most of the GIFs have also been pre-sized for quick insertion into text messages and social media.

Tenor

Tenor is a GIF platform that allows you to add emotion to your conversations and personalize your text messages . Besides the millions of GIFs and videos available on the site, Tenor also allows you to create your own GIFs and stickers to express what you’re trying to say.

Tenor even offers a GIF keyboard that you can install on your smartphone to add GIFs to your messages.

Gfycat

Gfycat is a top destination for users who want to learn how to text a GIF. With millions of GIFs in different categories, Gfycat allows you to search and communicate using images and captivating phrases. Along with a dedicated app for iOS and Android. It also has a GIF Brewery application for macOS.

How to use Omnisend to send GIFs in marketing text messages

While GIFs are a nice way to communicate with your friends and family, you can also add them to your marketing messages when engaging your customers. GIFs allow you to add a light touch to your MMS marketing and show your personality.

This section is for marketers who want to learn how to text a GIF. We will show you how to use Omnisend to send GIFs when engaging your customers through SMS or MMS marketing .

With 5-star reviews on Shopify, Omnisend is the best tool for ecommerce marketers who want to automate their sales processes and engage their customers with highly-relevant personalized messages. Omnisend helped Divatress truly embrace SMS marketing. The brand was able to generate 70K SMS subscribers in just 8 months with exceptional ROI.

You can effortlessly include a GIF in your SMS using Omnisend by following these simple steps:

• Write the text message
• Add a GIF to the text message
• Choose recipients
• Estimate sending costs
• Save the campaign and send

But first —

You need an app.

Create a free Omnisend account for your SMS campaigns.

Next, go to Campaigns > Create SMS

1. Write the text message

To get started, name your campaign and write the message:

2. Add a GIF to the text message

Click ‘Select File’ at the bottom of the bottom of the screen and choose a GIF for your text message.

You can select a file from the image library or add one from your computer. Omnisend also provides an image and GIF library for your convenience.

Next —

Choose how to upload your GIF. You can do so by uploading a file on your computer or by using a URL link.

Next —

Upload the file. The GIF will be displayed in the preview of the message.

Once you’re done, click Next .

3. Choose recipients

Indicate the subscribers who will receive the message. You can send the text message to all contacts or to specific segments:

👉 Related: Managing SMS subscribers

4. Estimate sending costs

Next, determine the sending costs by using Omnisend’s text message length calculator. All you have to do it to copy-paste the text message in the “Message” input field, choose the destination country and add the number of contacts to calculate the cost of the campaign.

👉 Related: SMS length & pricing calculator

5. Save the campaign and send

With everything set, save your campaign and send it to your recipients. The full-size GIF will be displayed when the recipient opens the message.

Sending GIFs in text messages: FAQs

1. Does sending GIFs use data?

It depends, but your operator will charge you a standard fee for an MMS message.

2. Are GIFs free to use?

Yes, GIFs are free. Under fair use principles, it costs nothing to create and use GIFs in your marketing campaigns.

3. Why is my GIF not playing?

If your GIF is not playing, it could be because the file is too large. Use a resizing tool to reduce the size of your GIF and it should start playing or looping.

Wrap-up

GIFs in text messages allow businesses to reach customers and clients with the greatest amount of context. You can sprinkle a touch of delight, add personalization, and lighten the mood with GIFs tailored to everyone’s needs.

Omnisend allows you to add GIFs to enhance your business communication. All pricing plans come with templates you can customize to create the right message for your audience. Add email marketing and web push notifications to the mix and you’ll have the perfect strategy for engaging your audience and generating sales for your business.