Insert GIFs from Giphy into an Email

Use Mailchimp's content studio to access Giphy's vast library of animated GIFs and insert them into your emails. And it's completely free!

In this article, you'll learn how to search for Giphy GIFs and insert them into your email.

Before you start

Here are some things to know before you begin this process.

• To ensure animated GIFs display as expected, don't edit them in our photo editor. If you need to edit display properties, such as margins, insert a GIF into a text block and adjust its styles on the Edit Image screen.
• Some email clients, like Outlook 2007 and newer, don’t support animated GIFs and will only show the first frame of the GIF. Check out the Litmus guide on animated GIFs for more information on which email clients support them.

Insert a GIF into an image block using the new builder

To insert a GIF into an Image content block using the new builder, follow these steps.

1. In the Content section of the email checklist, click Edit design.
   
2. On the Design step, click an existing image content block or drag and drop a new one into your layout.
3. Click the Add or Replace drop-down in the Image menu. Then, choose Upload Image or Browse Images from the content studio.
4. Click Giphy.
5. Enter a term into the search bar, then click the Search icon.
6. Click the GIF you want to work with and click Insert to add it to your email.

If you need to make changes after you insert your GIF, use the Design tab in the editing pane of an image content block.

• Click the Replace drop-down, then click Browse Images to select a new file.
• Set your GIF's size and alignment, select a background color for the image block, and add padding, rounded corners, or a border.
• You can also add a URL to like your GIF to a page on the web and add alt text to make your email more accessible

To learn how to make these changes to your GIF, check out Use Image Content Blocks in the New Builder.

Insert a GIF into an image block using the classic builder

The classic builder offers a few image-based content blocks, including Image, Image Card, Image Group, and Image + Text.

To insert a GIF into one of these content blocks, follow these steps.

1. In the Content section of the email checklist, click Edit design.
   .
2. On the Design step, click an existing image content block or drag and drop a new one into your layout.
3. In the editing pane, click Browse or Replace to change an existing image.
4. Click Giphy.
   
5. Enter a term into the search bar and press Enter on your keyboard or click the Search icon.
   
6. Click the GIF you want to use and click Insert to add it to your email.
7. After the GIF appears in your content block, click Save & Close.

If you need to make changes after you insert your GIF, you'll see four options in the editing pane of an image content block.

• Click Replace to choose a new file.
• Click Edit to edit the image file in the photo editor (not recommended for GIFs).
• Click Link to add a click-through link to your GIF.
• Click Alt to add alt text for screen readers.

Insert a GIF into a text block using the classic builder

The classic email builder offers a few types of text-based content blocks, including Text, Boxed Text, and Footers.

To insert a GIF into one of these content blocks, follow these steps.

1. In the Content section of the email checklist, click Edit design.
   
2. On the Design step, click an existing text content block or drag and drop a new one into your email layout.
3. Place your cursor where you want your image to go, and click the Content Studio icon in the editing toolbar.
   
4. Click Giphy.
   
5. Enter a term into the search bar at the top of the screen and press Enter on your keyboard or click the Search icon.
   
6. Click the GIF you want to work with and click Insert.
7. In the Edit Image screen, set optional image properties or add a URL to make the GIF a link.
   
8. Click Save & Insert Image.
9. After the GIF appears in your content block, click Save & Close.

If you need to set optional image properties after you insert the GIF, like add alt text or a click-through URL, open the text content block and double-click the GIF.