In my opinion, one of the best decisions that Twitter made in recent months was making it easy for you to add GIFs to your tweets. The short, simple animated files have a unique way to add another dimension to tweets to display emotion, humor, and personality within the 140-character constraint we all have to abide by.

Coaches have been using GIFs for years for a variety of things including to relay emotion after a recruit commits, or to simply show off their personality, and that’s exactly what they should be used for. However, there are a number of coaches who aren’t comfortable using GIFs as a part of their tweets yet, and it is for them I decided to put together a 7-step guide for coaches to effectively use GIFs on Twitter, by pointing out a number of coaches and personnel guys at the FBS level who do an exceptional job using them in the right context.

1) Use them to show emotion and reactions

This is probably the most common theme among GIFs used by college coaches. When a recruit commits, nothing illustrates emotion like a well selected GIF.

It's a great day when you land a state champion baller & state champion sprinter! #GoCoogs! #JackBoyz! #Buckets!🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/uXKpdU8z7S — Alex Brown (@alexm_brown) May 28, 2016

2) Show your sense of humor and personality

Getting to know recruits is a major part of the recruiting process, but just as important to forming that relationship is allowing recruits to see the real you. Show off your sense of humor and personality with your GIF choices.

Booommm!!! 💥💥💥

Extra excited about this one! Got me moving around the house like… pic.twitter.com/TW6cPCTow0 — Drew Mehringer (@DrewMehringer) April 30, 2016

It's Friday & I'm off the road‼️……….. pic.twitter.com/u6PtyzNSfh — Jason McEndoo (@JasonMcEndoo) May 20, 2016

When our whole staff watched our latest commit at camp and again on film: #Legen17ary pic.twitter.com/mQvR9AeQA6 — Coach Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) June 9, 2016

3) Use GIFs that recruits and your players can relate to

Whether it’s a GIF from a very popular, and quotable movie, or something from a musician that kids are listening to, finding a way to relate to them and show them that you can relate to them on their level is an important step in creating a rapport.

Coaches hitting the road tomorrow, 100 local schools in 2 days #StripeEmUp #TigerFam #901 honk when u see them… pic.twitter.com/EbgC3xBWfR — Mike Norvell (@Coach_Norvell) April 15, 2016

Another big time commit?? pic.twitter.com/sdSdTEkzE5 — Drew Mehringer (@DrewMehringer) June 1, 2016

I can hear @washjwash screaming with joy all the way in San Francisco. This latest corner from CenTex got him like: pic.twitter.com/HF6wfOT9yo — Coach Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) May 28, 2016

4) Don’t be afraid to get creative

Use recent events to get your point across, or integrate a fun hashtag you and your staff have created to maximize exposure. The possibilities with GIFs are only limited by your imagination

Great day in the #979! Saw some ballers and great programs! #PartyInTheEndZone #TXST pic.twitter.com/XhGIAoF0Kf — Adrian Mayes (@CoachMayesTxSt) May 23, 2016

5) Rep your school

Whether it’s new uniforms or a catchy new phrase the staff is using while on the road or during the season, GIFs can be the perfect way to communicate the message

6) To brag

Because sometimes nothing really gets a point across like a GIF.

.@pnctd_eqlbrm @TheBenchCal I'd throw "academic" shade on Twitter too if I had to live through this 👊🎤haha #HillMary pic.twitter.com/rlzQRsWxcu — Matt Dudek (@AZ_Matty_D) May 4, 2016

7) To highlight a big play, or monster hit

With a number of great GIF creators available out there, you can take highlights and easily cut them up into GIFs for later use in recruiting…or to brag (see #6 again).