How To Make Animated Social Media Posts

If you want to create animated social media posts to grow your business, you’re in the right place! Video Igniter’s FAQ about creating animated social media posts answers all of the questions we receive about how to create and use this kind of content to grow your business. In this FAQ, we cover:

1). How to create animated social media posts

2). Why businesses use animated social media posts to grow their business

3). How long does it take to create animated social media posts

4). What does it cost to make animated social media posts

… and more!

Examples of Animated Social Media Posts You Can Get From Video Igniter

Video Igniter can create any kind of 2D or 3D animated video for you. Check out our animation portfolio here. Request access to our demo reels and price sheet here.

Contact us or schedule a call to start making your video.

Are you looking for an example of a different style of animation? Send us a message to let us know what kind of animation example you want to see and we will follow up with relevant production samples.

 

How to create animated social media posts

1. Pick a Producer

Who is going to be making the content? Either you can make the content or you can hire someone to create it for you.

If you want to create the animated social media posts yourself, check out services like Canva and Powtoon. They have libraries of pre-created content that you can layer together and add text & motion elements before exporting animated video posts for your social media.

On the other hand, if you don’t want to create the animated social media posts yourself, you can hire an animation studio, freelancer or Video Igniter to create them for you. Here are some animated video production resources that will help you pick the right producer for your project:

• How to hire an animator?
• 9 Things to Look For When Hiring An Animator.
• How to outsource an animated video project?
• Pros and Cons of Different Animation Styles
• What goes into production cost of an animated video?
• Learn about the types of online animated video makers.
• What’s the difference between hiring an animation studio, a freelance animator and Video Igniter?
• What is Video Igniter Animation?

2. Kick Off Call/Questionnaire

Once you’ve picked out a producer for your animated social media posts, your producer will schedule a kick off call, send you a questionnaire or both. This is your opportunity to communicate important details like:

What do you want to say?

Who are you trying to reach with your content?

What sort of visual style do you want to use?

What aspect ratio should your producer use? Square? Vertical? Horizontal?

Do you want to include text overlays so that people can understand what the voiceover narrator is saying, even if they don’t have the sound turned on?

3. Develop The Concept

Now that we understand what kind of content you want to create, we will develop a script or an outline for all of the content you want to create. In many cases, this will come in the form of a voiceover script with annotations explaining what sorts of visuals will accompany each part of your script. Sometimes, animated videos won’t have a voiceover; in this case, we will just provide a written description of the visuals.

You will get an opportunity to review all the scripts and visual concepts and share your feedback. We’ll incorporate your revisions and let you review the content again before approving it for production.

4. Conceptualize the visuals

Next, it’s time to create specific instructions for the production team so that they know what to create. Usually this is called the storyboard phase of production.

The storyboard includes a rough mockup of the visuals and a description of the motion design. This way we can get everything on paper and run it by you for your feedback before the animators and designers spend time creating your animated social media posts.

5. Create the illustrations

The first time we create an animated social media post, we’ll spend a little extra time creating the concept art. This is where we develop the custom visual style for your animated social media posts.

Our art director will review your branding, style references and storyboard. Then, they’ll select a key scene from the storyboard and design it using one or more original visual styles.

Share your honest feedback with the art director. They will work with you to refine your preferred visual concept until you love it!

After the concept art is approved, we’ll develop custom illustrations for each of your posts and run them by you for review before you approve them for production.

6. Record the voiceover

If your videos include a voiceover, we’ll audition multiple voiceover artists and let you pick your favorite audition. Then, we’ll have the selected voiceover artist record the scripts for all of the animated social media posts that have been approved by your team.

You get to review the full voiceover and request revisions before approving it for production.

7. Pick out some music

Music is a great touch to enhance the presentation of your animated social media posts. We’ll select a few options for you to consider. You pick out your favorite and we’ll handle the licensing so that you can legally use the music in your animated social posts.

8. Animate

Now that everything is approved, we can start animating your social media posts! We’ll send you each one as we finish the first draft. Review the animations with your team and send us your feedback. We’ll incorporate your edits and send you the final draft(s).

9. Post

When the animated posts are ready, syndicate your videos across your social media channels.

10. Repeat

Social media success comes from consistently posting quality content. When you work with an animated video production company to create short social media clips, you’re typically engaging with them to help you consistently post 1-2+ animated posts each week.

You can save time and money by producing multiple videos at once. You can develop and approve a bunch of ideas and have our team produce them sequentially so that you always have a few new animations ready to post each week. Or, you can work with our team on an on-demand basis, making requests for specific new pieces of content when you want them.

Why do businesses use animated social media posts to grow their business?

Get People’s Attention

Animated content stands out from all the oceans of live-action video content that pervade the internet and social media apps. By creating your content in animated form, you increase the odds of catching someone’s eye long enough for them to watch your short animated social media post.

Animation has also been shown to hold attention longer than live action content. Animation also helps people remember new information longer. All important things to keep in mind when creating social media content. If you want people to pay attention and remember your content longer, consider making animated versions of your most popular pieces of educational content.

How long does it take to make animated social media posts?

The initial set up for animated social media posts can take a few days or weeks. During this time, we’re learning what your goals are, understanding who your target audience is, and developing a script, storyboard and concept art to present your messages.

After we’ve figured out the core messages and the visual design, we can very quickly create new posts using your custom branded visual style. Typically, when we make this kind of content, we get into a cadence of producing 1-5 new pieces for your social media channels each week.

Most clips under 15 seconds can be created in a few days to a week – but we also know some companies want to produce content quicker than that. That’s why we offer rush delivery animation!

Contact our production team to let us know how quickly you want to be able to produce short animated videos and we’ll develop a custom production pipeline to help you rapidly develop multiple custom animated posts within 12-48 hrs.

What does it cost to create animated posts for social media?

It depends on the quantity and length of the content. Many animation studios won’t work with you if you just want to create one 15-second animation; it’s a lot of work and conversations for just one short animated video. If you do want to make just one piece of short content (under 30 seconds) we can still help you but the cost might be equivalent to creating a slightly longer 20 or 30 second clip.

What works best is to create multiple pieces of animated content for your social media. After all, you’re not planning on just posting one thing on social media and calling it quits, right?

We recommend ordering up 2 or more +10 second animated social media posts per week for the best pricing. Visit this page to access our newest price sheet.

How long should my animated social media posts be?

In many cases, animated social media posts are usually 5-15 seconds, 30 seconds or 60 seconds long. It all depends what your goal is.

If you just want to get someone’s attention, be quick. 15 seconds or less.

If you want to introduce something new, a 30 second explainer video is a good amount of time to show something new and get people interested in learning more.

Otherwise, if your goal is to explain something in depth, you can make your video 60 seconds or longer.

Why Animated Social Media Posts Outperform Static Content

Animated social media posts grab attention in a way that static images rarely can. On platforms where people scroll quickly, motion is the hook that makes users pause. A well-designed animation, even something as simple as moving text or an illustrated loop, creates curiosity and drives higher engagement. Studies show that posts with movement can achieve significantly more likes, shares, and comments compared to still graphics. This makes animated social media posts a smart investment for brands that want to cut through the noise and get their message seen.

Benefits of Animated Social Media Posts for Brands

1. Increased Engagement: Motion draws the eye. Users are far more likely to stop and interact with a moving post than a static one.
2. Better Storytelling: Animation allows you to show progression—whether it’s a product demo, a transformation, or a before-and-after sequence.
3. Memorable Branding: Repeated use of unique animated styles can make your posts instantly recognizable, reinforcing your brand identity.
4. Higher Shareability: People love sharing creative, entertaining animations. A clever looping GIF or short animated clip can go viral.
5. Cross-Platform Versatility: Animated content can be repurposed for Instagram reels, TikTok loops, LinkedIn posts, YouTube Shorts, and even in paid social ads.

Popular Types of Animated Social Media Posts

There’s no one-size-fits-all format. Depending on your goals, you might experiment with:

• Animated GIFs: Short, looping animations that work perfectly for reactions, announcements, and fun moments.
• Motion Graphics: Stylish animations with text and graphics that help explain complex ideas quickly.
• Character Animations: Great for adding humor or personality, especially in storytelling campaigns.
• Stop Motion: Eye-catching handmade animations that stand out in crowded feeds.
• Cinemagraphs: A still image with one moving element, creating a subtle yet mesmerizing effect.

Each type of animation can serve different marketing objectives, from boosting brand awareness to explaining product features.

How to Use Animated Social Media Posts in Marketing Campaigns

When creating animated social media posts, think strategically about where they fit into your marketing funnel. At the top of the funnel, animated teasers or brand messages can drive awareness. In the middle of the funnel, animated explainer posts can show how your product solves problems. At the bottom of the funnel, animated testimonials or special offer posts can nudge people to convert.

You can also integrate animation into seasonal campaigns, product launches, or user-generated content. For example, a clothing brand could animate user-submitted photos into a fun, fast-paced showcase video. Meanwhile, a SaaS company might use animated posts to highlight new features in an update.

Best Practices for Designing Animated Social Media Posts

• Keep It Short: Attention spans on social media are brief. Aim for animations that are 15 seconds or less.
• Focus on the First 3 Seconds: The opening frames should hook viewers immediately.
• Optimize for Sound-Off Viewing: Many users scroll without audio, so use text overlays and clear visuals.
• Stay On-Brand: Use consistent colors, fonts, and styles that align with your overall brand identity.
• Test and Measure: Experiment with different animation styles and track engagement rates to see what resonates with your audience.

Tools for Creating Animated Social Media Posts

You don’t always need a professional animator to get started. Several tools make it easy to design animated posts:

• Canva & Wideo: User-friendly templates for animated social content.
• Adobe After Effects: Advanced tool for custom motion graphics.
• LottieFiles: Lightweight, high-quality animations for web and mobile.
• Animaker / Renderforest: Drag-and-drop video and animation templates for beginners.

For brands with bigger campaigns or custom needs, working with a professional animation studio ensures polished results that truly stand out.

Why Algorithms Love Animated Content

Social platforms prioritize posts that keep users engaged. When viewers pause, re-watch, or share animated social media posts, algorithms take notice and reward that content with broader reach. This means animation doesn’t just help your audience—it helps your brand earn organic visibility without extra ad spend.

The Future of Animated Social Media Posts

As platforms evolve, animations will only become more important. Short-form video content is dominating feeds, and AI-driven design tools are making animations easier to create than ever before. Brands that adopt animated social media posts now will have an advantage as audiences increasingly expect dynamic, interactive content.

Still have questions about animated social media posts?

Do you have a question about animated social media posts that wasn’t addressed in this FAQ? Use this form to send us your question and we’ll follow up with an answer. We’ll also post the question and answer to this page so other people can benefit from the knowledge.

What is Video Igniter Animation?

Video Igniter Animation is an online animated video production service. By working with our team online, you can get your custom animated video produced faster and for less than hiring a brick and mortar animation studio.

We can help you create any kind of 2D animated video or 3D animation you can imagine. Check out our animated video portfolio!

Watch our explainer video on our home page to learn more about how we can help you create an animated video. For examples of the kinds of animation our team can produce, check out the demo reel below:

 

Looking For An Animated Video Company In The U.S.?

Video Igniter is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Success Stories & Testimonials

“Video Igniter offered us the critical combination of creative value, clear communication, and patience with stakeholder feedback. We ended up with truly high-quality design assets for our video series largely due to the extra level of commitment — and the right balance of efficiencies with flexibility in the process when called for.”

Larry Schlessinger – Sr. Creative Program Manager, Amazon Web Services

“Video Igniter came to us with a number of creative and engaging ideas and were able to create an exciting, impactful video in a short period of time. And the best part was that it cost much less than other options of similar quality. The video they made is a great marketing tool for us.”

Alex Raymond – Founder, Kapta Systems

“I am beyond satisfied with my experience with Video Igniter. The first drafts of the work were almost exactly what I had in my head when developing the concept. After that each step along the way was seamless until arriving at a perfect finished product. And all this at a tremendous value. Anyone who has considered creating a marketing video should check out Video Igniter.”

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