Instagram Stories: The Simplest Step by Step Guide to Make Brand GIFs & Stickers
One of the tricks to win brand authority is to show your followers that they can find your GIFs and stickers on Instagram. Or you can show them in your stories :)
I experimented with the Surfpreneurs IG and after a few weeks (and many mistakes), we finally have our own!
There are plenty of online guidelines, BUT they are super complicated and don’t explain the process step by step. I dare you that the one you are reading here is the simplest 🖖
PS: If you can prove me the contrary, I’ll offer you a beer at the next Surfpreneurs meet-up 🍻
Let’s start!
Find a graphic designer
The first thing to do, if you don’t have logo’s images already, is to research for a graphic designer. The Surfpreneurs Crew enrolled Jozef Arpa and we 100% recommend him!
Alternatively, you can both ask advice to other surfpreneurs in our private FB group (only if you are a member) or check out the artists below:
Pro Tip: Ask the designer to create images with at least 20% of transparent background, you will need it later on.
Jozef Arpa’s work for the Surfpreneurs Club
2. Create the brand channel on GIPHY
Go on GIPHY, the platform where the magic happens 🔮, and apply for the brand channel.
Fill all the information required. Few things are important here:
Set the profile public
Use the business email
Upload your business logo and write a brief description
3. Upload 5 GIFs
To transform your new images into GIF format I used this free tool. Upload two images that could look nice together and then click on “Download the GIF” on the right bottom column.
Nice animation, right? 👌
In the meantime, your brand channel should be approved by the GIPHY team. Once activated, go on the GIPHY’s homepage and click on “Upload”. You must upload at least 5 GIFs. Below the steps:
Choose “GIF”
If you did all the steps correctly, the GIFs are shown on your dashboard.
4. Create stickers for IG stories
You should receive a congratulation email by GIPHY: you officially sent the application! 🎉
It should take a few days or a week before you see your profile fully approved.
Now let’s make the stickers!
Once approved, go on the GIPHY homepage and click “Create”.
Choose “Sticker” and then upload the images with JPG or PNG format, the ones the graphic designer made for you ;)
The background must have 20% of transparent background. Have fun and animate the sticker as you like, finally “Upload”. No need to add tags at this stage, you can do it later on.
The sticker will be reviewed by the GIPHY team to ensure it meets content safety & quality standards. Go to check the status from time to time.
The sticker is available. Click on the “rainbow pen” on the bottom right.
Add the tags that you want to be searched on the main Instagram search bar.
Kind-Tip: tag the artist to give them free promotion
Go on Instagram and search the tag, in this case “surfpreneurs”.
Booooom, the cool seagull is there 💥
5. Track the impression on GIPHY
Look at our dashboard: in one month the Surfpreneurs stickers had +30k views and the most successful one is the “chasing the right wave”. In case you would like to produce real stickers, this statistic could be helpful to evaluate which ones are a trendsetter.
IG stickers can be a good way to impress your followers and to reinforce your brand identity. Also, you may get visibility from another platform and eventually, this will generate more traffic.
If you’re having trouble to bake them - and you’re part of our Surfpreneurs community - just send a DM to @surfpreneurs for support!
Of course, feel free to share the Surfpreneurs stickers!
Written by Irene Vannucci
Human rights enthusiastic, wipe-out lover and chocolate addict, Irene is collaborating with Surfpreneurs Club as Content Creator to inspire you with the most exciting ventures in the surf community.
