GIPHY Artists and Influencers: Similarities and Differences
by Federica Rustico
13 min read
Last Updated: May 26, 2023
by Federica Rustico
We all know it, influencers have become a mainstay for marketers seeking to reach new audiences. But as businesses start to include GIPHY art into their marketing campaigns, the following question arises: where do GIPHY artists fit into the influencer ecosystem? That’s right, influencers are to Instagram as GIPHY artists are to GIPHY, at least we think so. If you’re a bit confused about who GIPHY artists are and in what ways they’re similar to influencers, don’t worry — we’re going to dive into their similarities and differences and how your business can collaborate with them to create branded content. But we’re not just talking to marketers here. Graphic designers, if you’re interested in jumping into the realm of GIPHY art, understanding the monetization strategies used by influencers can surely provide valuable insights into how to build a successful career as a GIPHY artist. And for marketers looking to tap into the world of GIPHY art, understanding the unique value that GIPHY artists bring to the table can help create more engaging and effective campaigns. Ready? Let’s get this party started.
Unlike a still image like a JPEG or PNG, a GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) file can have animation and movement. Marketers frequently incorporate GIFs into their social media campaigns, website design, email marketing, etc., due to the attention and emotion they generate compared to that of static images. If you want to make a GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) to share on social media, GIPHY, aka the top search engine dedicated to GIFs, is the place to go. And, you guessed it, GIPHY artists are creators who produce humorous or artistically-inclined animated GIFs for the platform. Just like an influencer, GIPHY artists tend to have a loyal following, which usually allows them to profit from their artworks. I
When it comes to GIPHY artists, it’s pretty self explanatory that they get paid for producing artwork. But where exactly can you find GIPHY artists’ artwork, anyway? There are a number of online marketplaces that specialize in selling royalty-free GIFs from various creators, including GIPHY, where GIFs made by GIPHY artists can be purchased. These GIFs can cost anywhere from a few dollars to over a thousand dollars, with rates fluctuating according to the level of detail and the size of the file. The artist normally takes home 25%-50% of the commission.
But that isn’t all, the part marketers are more interested in is the following: several GIPHY artists, in addition to selling individual works, also provide bespoke services in which they create ad-hoc designs for clients. Examples of this work can be found in the animation industry, such as character design and motion graphics, but also in advertising campaigns. As with individual works, the total cost of a project might vary from several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on its intricacy and on the artist’s reputation and experience. You can search for GIPHY artists available to create GIFs on our Artists Search.
Last but not least, some GIPHY creators charge a recurring monthly fee to subscribers in exchange for unrestricted access to their complete collection of work. This type of service has grown in popularity in recent years because it allows companies to quickly and easily find professional-standard artwork without having to constantly recruit new designers.
Just like anybody can potentially become an influencer, anybody has the potential to become a GIPHY artist, but it takes a special set of abilities to make it big. It all starts with a solid foundation in design, including proficiency with digital art software (like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator) and an understanding of fundamentals like composition and color theory. While making GIFs, it's important to have familiarity with animation fundamentals like timing and key framing so that you can make seamless transitions between frames. Finally, it is crucial that you keep up with technological and design trends so that you know what is popular at any given time; this will guarantee that your artwork remains current despite the rapid pace at which the internet evolves.
In the long-run, just like people follow influencers for their personality and style, brands tend to hire GIPHY artists that have a specific style. For example, Julian Glander has collaborated with companies such as Apple, Google, and The New York Times, and is known for his colorful, playful animations. Sarah Zucker is an author and visual artist known for her bizarre and funny GIFs. The likes of Adobe and HBO are among the companies she has collaborated with. Artist Sabrina Ratte is responsible for the surreal animations seen in ads for Adidas, Spotify, and Gucci. The work of Ines Alpha, a 3D makeup artist and designer whose clients include Dior and L'Oreal Paris, has been featured in ad campaigns for both companies. Pepsi and Dunkin' Donuts have employed Hugo Moreno's comedic and approachable cartoons in their marketing efforts. And these are just some of the many many artists that create branded GIFs for brands.
To wrap up, GIFs that are generated by skilled artists on GIPHY play a significant part in helping brands differentiate themselves on social media and other digital platforms. They can make money off of their work in a variety of different ways, such as through direct sales, commissioned work, or subscription services; however, each of these approaches requires a separate and distinct set of abilities in order to be successful. To become a successful GIPHY artist requires more than just creativity; it requires dedication, research into current trends and practices, and staying up-to-date with advancements in technology so that your artwork can remain relevant over time.
Now that you know the fundamentals of a GIPHY artist, we can go back to discussing the influencer scene. Those who have amassed a sizable number of followers on a social media site are considered to be "influencers" on that platform. Usually, they will cater to a specific niche of the general public by publishing information exclusively on that subject. A common way for influencers to earn money is through paid endorsements of brands' products or services on their social media channels. Others may engage in advertising or provide direct services like consulting or coaching.
Before you go on and buy thousands of fake followers for your Instagram account, let’s discuss the major factor that determines whether a person is an influencer or not: their reach and engagement rates. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that all it takes to become an influencer is to gain a large following. The most important thing for any brand is to know that whether you have 10k followers of 1m followers, you actually have a reach and can engage that audience. Reach refers to the number of people seeing an influencer’s content, while engagement rate looks at what percentage of followers interacting with a post (by liking, commenting, or sharing). The higher these numbers are for an influencer, the more attractive they will be to potential sponsors or brands looking for advertising partners. This is because it means that the influencer has a larger audience who will see whatever message they choose to promote. So the strategy of buying fake followers is actually a very bad idea. Not only will Instagram ban you if they catch you, your engagement rates are going to be so low (since the people ain’t real) and you’re going to ruin all chances of brand partnerships.
It’s extremely important that you gain your followers in an organic way, and not in a paid way. By paid I mean not by purchasing fake followers, you can of course sponsor a content that went well with the objecting of getting more followers, totally legit. So the bigger an influencer’s reach and engagement rates, the greater their earning power.
The authenticity and quality of the content produced by an influencer are the second aspect that determines how much money the influencer can make. It is essential for the success of any campaign that involves an influencer that both parties understand that the campaign must be authentic. This means that the sponsored content needs to feel natural within the context of what else is being posted by the influencer, rather than appearing as though it was simply thrown in there for no reason other than money. Also, the information ought to be of a good quality. This requires the usage of images and videos that are crystal clear, in addition to captions and descriptions that are produced effectively. Poorly produced material can do more harm than good because it reflects poorly on both the brand that is paying for the sponsorship as well as on the influencer themselves; as a result, it should always be done well!
Finally, an influencer's earnings from sponsored posts and other forms of marketing are affected by the platform they choose and any loyalty programs they enroll in. Making a well-informed decision on which platform to use can enhance future earnings. For example, Instagram may provide more monetization opportunities than Twitter or TikTok. Further motivating artists to stick with certain businesses is the popularity of loyalty programs that award top-performing creators with additional bonuses depending on factors such as the amount of posts or engagements made over time.
In a nutshell, the amount of money that an influencer makes through sponsored posts and many other promotional activities is determined by a number of different criteria. They include the amount of people reached and engaged, the quality and authenticity of the material, the platform choice, and loyalty programs. Marketers who are astute enough to comprehend these aspects and devise methods for strategically capitalizing on their opportunities will be able to maximize their revenue potential. In the end, it doesn't matter if you're just starting out as an ambitious creative or if you're already recognized as one of today's top names - just keep in mind that the effort you put in and the dedication you show will always pay off in some manner! I hope you have success out there!
At first glance, there might not appear to be much overlap between these two sorts of individuals; yet, there are actually some key similarities between the two. Both GIPHY artists and influencers need to be creative in order to be successful. GIPHY artists need to come up with fascinating GIF designs, while influencers need to generate posts that are both interesting and compelling in order to attract followers and keep them coming back for more. In order to convert prospective consumers into actual ones, both parties need to be aware of how to cultivate relationships with their audience, whether it be through the use of humorous GIFs or by establishing trust through the production of helpful information. So to make the most money possible from their efforts, both GIPHY artists and influencers need an understanding of how marketing works. This requires them to be familiar with the most effective methods for reaching their target audiences as well as the appropriate prices to charge for any particular project or product promotion.
In order to generate income from their respective works, both of these groups must rely extensively on various methods that are shown to be profitable. For GIPHY artists, this typically involves selling goods showcasing their GIF designs or seeking out sponsorship arrangements with brands trying to market themselves via animated GIFs; as an alternative, they can set up donation pages if they're looking for more direct assistance from fans. When it comes to influencers, monetizing their following typically involves partnering with brands for sponsored posts as well as running ads on their account; however, some influencers may also offer direct services such as consulting or coaching if they have an area of expertise that is related to the niche they're targeting. It is essential that these strategies be geared particularly at the audiences that each of these groups is trying to reach in order for them to be successful in maximizing earnings while minimizing the risk of turning off potential clients.
When it comes to marketing, marketers truly have so many ways to market their products and services to consumers. Depending on their campaign budget, businesses can opt for an influencer marketing campaign, or a micro-influencer marketing campaign with influencers promoting their products and generating content to be used by the brand in a second moment. This channel will surely continue to be a great one. But when we’re talking GIFs, GIPHY artists are people to turn to. As we’ve seen, every platform has its own influencer, and if you want to be on GIPHY with amazing branded content, GIPHY artists are the people to hire. If you’re interested in having someone not only produce great content for your brand but you need the equivalent of a social media manager on GIPHY, Gifyard is your best bet—they’ll take your GIFs to the next level. Contact them to see how they can help you out.
GIPHY artists and Instagram influencers have a lot in common, including the fact that in order to make money off of their networks, they need to be creative, have good networking abilities, and be knowledgeable about business. On the other hand, their particular strategies for generating income from their work are similar but also different from one another. GIPHY artists, for instance, generally monetize their work by creating commissioned pieces for customers, selling their art on multiple marketplaces, or licensing their art to brands for use in branded content campaigns. Famous GIPHY artists like Adam J. Kurtz, Helen Green, and David McLeod have worked with companies like Apple, Adobe, and Nickelodeon to develop captivating animation advertisements for the companies' audiences. These campaigns help the companies interact with their audiences in fresh and original ways.
On the other hand, influencers typically monetize their content through a combination of sponsored posts, relationships with businesses, and affiliate marketing. Influencers can advertise items and services to their followers while receiving a fee for each sale made through their unique referral link if they collaborate with brands to do so and promote those products and services. However, as the landscape of social media becomes increasingly competitive, influencers are finding new and unique ways to differentiate themselves and engage their audiences. One example of this is the creation of their own branded merchandise or the provision of exclusive content to paid subscribers.
GIPHY artists and Instagram influencers both give value to brands that are wanting to interact with audiences in new and innovative ways. Despite their differences, both offer this value to brands. By drawing on the ingenuity and distinct points of view of these creators, brands have the opportunity to produce content that distinguishes itself from the competition and strikes a chord with their intended audience. Understanding the similarities and differences between these two groups can help you better position yourself for success in the ever-changing landscape of social media and digital marketing. This is true whether you are a graphic designer looking to make a name for yourself on GIPHY or a marketer looking to partner with Instagram influencers. And if you're a marketer, you can leverage both influencers and GIPHY artists to take your brand's marketing campaigns to the next level.
Artists on GIPHY make money through brand partnerships and license deals in addition to selling their own creative animated GIFs on the platform.
GIPHY artists may work with businesses to produce branded material, such as animated GIFs for use in advertising campaigns.
Earning money on Instagram can be done in a number of ways, including through paid promotion, affiliate sales, and direct sales to followers.
