Yes! You can now liven up your Facebook posts with some GIF animations and I’ll show you a few ideas below.
When the announcement came a few days ago, it seemed as though the Internet collectively shouted…
FINALLY!
And of course, there are also those who are cringing because they fear a more cluttered newsfeed.
Nevertheless, you can share images like the one below…
With so many other social networks already supporting animated GIFs, Facebook is finally catching up.
To post the animation to your page, you have to grab the URL of the file and paste it into your status update box. You cannot use the Upload Image feature as of yet.
Have you tested it yet? It’s working on my page, but others have reported no luck yet. It seems to be rolling out in waves. So if you don’t see it yet sit tight…. it’s coming your way.
You’ll be able to copy images from Giphy, Tumblr, etc. right into your feed and it works on the mobile app too.
Where to Make Animated GIFs From Your Own Images
You can go to sites like Picasion, Gickr, and EZGif.com just to name a few. And no doubt there will be plenty of Facebook apps coming to a mobile device near you.
I took two photos from ThinkStock, uploaded them to Picasion and this was the result. Took me all of 2 seconds…
You could take a few different poses of yourself and upload your thoughts along with it to make your comment more interesting.
The possibilities are endless and this can be great for promotion. Let’s say you’re having a sale on a product and want to create a banner with an animated call to action.
How to Create an Animated Promo
Just create two or more images using the image editor of your choice. To create a “flashing text effect” just add the text to one image and leave it off the other.
Upload both to Picasion and copy the the link to the GIF. Here’s an example…
You could also do something like this…
Use the same technique to create animated text…
Picasion even lets you choose the speed of the animation.
Notice two of my examples have kids. That wasn’t a coincidence. People love cats, dogs and babies. So use them when you can!
The Pros and Cons
Animation will no doubt make everyone’s feed more entertaining, and get ready to see some creativity in action if you haven’t already.
However, just like anything else animation can be overused, and people can become immune to them. I can see some people uploading random dancing objects just because they can. 🙂
Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to seeing how creative people get.
How Animated is Your FB Feed?
I’m not seeing too much animation in my feed as of yet. Either the people I follow are slow adopters, aren’t interested or don’t have the capability yet.
How ’bout you? Will you be using this much?
I have always wanted to make such GIFS as facebook updates but thought they are very time-consuming and even hard to create. Now I think I would give the sites for such creation a try.
Wow! I’m going to try to make an animated gif for my blog. You are a great teacher and you have helped me with all my blogs. I love Genesis 🙂
If I grab my own website URL containing gif image and paste it on my FB status update box it will work?
It’s nice seeing those animated images. However, its a problem for those who have slow internet connection. It takes several minutes before those images gets completely loaded. Maybe this is the reason why a plain image is much preferred by many.
good point!
Okay, this is useful post for everyone, it also a funny tutorials. Thanks for this Lisa.
Ha, thanks for the tip Lisa, that looks really cool. I should try those GIFs out some time on Facebook 🙂
What happened with the forum?
Hi Lisa,
I first heard this big news on TechCrunch and was very excited thinking now online businesses and marketers can draw more attention and make more reach on Facebook.
However, in to the opposite of the good side, we need to be careful that we are not going too much aggressive with them, otherwise soon they will start to lose their potential.
Thanks for your post. It came into the right time as I wanted to know how to easily create GIFs for facebook posts.
Have a nice day!
– Abrar
Hi Lisa,
I did not realize how easy it was to create these animated images. Thanks for the step by step on how to do it.
However, for me the jury is still out as to whether I am a fan of the animated pictures or not.
I hope Facebook doesn’t turn into an animated frat house like MySpace did!
LOL! I just saw this post, Darren. So true, so true! That site had things flashing everywhere!
I love this, I must also try these animated promo’s. Love that one. Haven’t done so yet, but I’ll definitely try it soon.
Be blessed
Facebook don’t support GIF’s..but now it does
Hey Lisa,
To be honest, I am not really into GIF’s. Ever since it was first introduce into the internet, I seldom use such things. But even so, I am still thankful that you have shared this information specially the sites where I can get these GIF’s for free. It’s worth sharing to my friends who are more active in Facebook than I am. Also, who knows I might get to use such GIF’s in the future just for a change.
Hi Lisa- I tried it. Fun tool, not sure how much I will use it, but handy of rteh back pocket! Here are my results. http://www.eastcoastmum.ca/how-to-make-mummy-money-picasion-web-animator/
Cute, Helen! I likey! 🙂
Great post, was wondering how to make these damn gifs. funny I was just search again yesterday and then this morning I got your newsletter in my inbox. Thrilled to get this post. Thank you. Putting this bad boy to work for me today!
I find this very useful for creating GIFs http://www.tutdesks.com/software-tip-tricks/create-animated-gifs-with-giftedmotion
Thanks for that – agree with Eden’s sentiment – might grab attention initially but could get way too much!
Seems like the fad is back. Just when everyone thought that animation was being frowned upon, someone just re-justify the need to have it and now Facebook is accepting it.
Question is will Google accept this fact? 😉
Yeah. It’s interesting to see the mixed results. Some are happy. Others are dreading the crap in their feeds. lol
Perhaps I’ve found a new toy to play around with. Will certainly love it.
Thanks for this article Lisa . . . Now off to Facebook to have some fun.
Anytime, Virginia. Have fun!
Lisa,
I went to several sites and tried to download .gifs but I could not get them without the names of the source sites very large and obvious. I could not get them as you have them. What is the secret? Thank you.
It seems to be hit or miss. When I tried one, I got a static image preview instead of the animation but others the animation came up. So I’m not really sure why it works sometimes and sometimes it doesn’t. Maybe it’s a bug FB has to work out.
Thanks Lisa your posts are always so helpful…
Awesome Lisa!
I already have some ideas in my head for future animations 🙂
It’s funny, i’ve been watching some animated comments on FB for a while now but it’s only until someone pointed out to me that “gifs are working on FB!” that i actually noticed it and thought that it’s something new, lol.
Yeah and actually FB put the GIF functionality in place back in 2013 but never officially implemented it for whatever reason.
Thanks Lisa for that tip, actually I was not aware for that
Waiting for your 13th Podcast episode , Super Excited … Thanks so much!
Sorry I slacked off on the podcast last month. Been kinda crazy and I didn’t want to put something out JUST for the sake of putting something out. I hope to resume them soon.
Fair enough, but too bad you missed your first anniversary!
LOL, Oh I sure did didn’t I? Ooooh weellll! 🙂
Hi Lisa,
I always like reading your posts, they have helped me allot in the past and still do.
I love this, I must also try these animated promo’s. Love that one. Haven’t done so yet, but I’ll definitely try it soon.
Be blessed
Linda
Thanks Lisa,
This could be great in the short term but I would expect it to be a annoying within a month. Thanks for the heads up though. Much appreciated. Now to head to my brainstorming lab to work out how to work it;-)
Eden
Ha ha! Yeah I think a lot of people share your feelings on that.