In order to generate more social media buzz, the Tampa Bay Lightning are slightly tweaking their approach on photo activation. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Amalie Arena featured a “GIF photo booth” that allowed fans to take an animated GIF and share it on social media, simultaneously capturing consumer information and promoting media engagement.

GIFs are computer images that are animated through flashing frames that loop endlessly, like a mini movie with no sound.  They are popular on the Web due to their wide support and portability on media platforms like Twitter, Tumblr and email. Facebook, one the largest social media sites in the world, just announced its support for animated GIFs. So get ready to see more of them, as they are a bright light for brands in the future of social marketing.