*By Conor White* Giphy, the internet's largest search engine for gifs, is turning its attention to advertising ー and it has a simple strategy. "We need to make ads that don't suck," said Adam Leibsohn, the company's COO. "We always say, you should entertain, not advertise." Giphy has worked on six- and seven-figure deals with major brands like [Absolut Vodka](https://giphy.com/absolutvodka) and [Dunkin' Donuts](https://giphy.com/dunkindonuts), as well as a campaign for the film ["Sorry to Bother You"](https://giphy.com/sorry2botheryou). Leibsohn said Monday in an interview on Cheddar the advertising angle is a natural approach for Giphy. "Paid search is our revenue model," he said. "So, you can basically place content in relevant searches, so that your content comes back as the first result, and then people use it a lot more." With 300 million daily active users who serve up 5 billion gifs, Leibsohn said, the platform is looking to turn a profit for the first time in its five-year history. "People really love to use \[gifs\], in messaging, in communication, in social," Leibsohn said. "What we've been starting to do is work with brands to help them get involved in those conversations." Though the company isn't openly discussing its revenue goals, Leibsohn said he expects significant growth, thanks to the new partnerships ー and he doesn't expect the public to get sick of the medium any time soon. "It's not really fatigue because every day a different piece of culture, a different piece of content is what's driving the conversation, so as long as culture remains moving, gifs remain popular." For full interview, [click here] (https://cms.cheddar.com/videos/VmlkZW8tMjE5OTQ=).

Share:
More In Technology
Revel Raises $126 Million To Expand EV Fast-Charging Network
Shared EV service Revel raised $126 million in a Series B round. Revel first came on the map in 2018 with its shared electric moped service in New York City, which has since expanded to other cities on the east coast. The company also operates an all-Tesla ride-hailing service in Manhattan. Now, it is looking to expand its network of EV fast-charging stations, which the company calls super-hubs. Frank Reig, CEO of Revel, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Disney+ to Offer Ad-Supported Tier in Likely Bid to Grow Subscribers
There will soon be another, lower-cost subscription option for Disney+ — but with commercials. Disney will launch the new ad-supported tier for its streaming service in the U.S. later this year and internationally in 2023, but so far there is no word on an exact launch date or price for the new service option. Tal Chalozin, co-founder and CTO of online ad tech company Innovid, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss what the news could mean for the next chapter of the streaming wars. "I wouldn't say that are worried about subscriber growth, but they have big goals to fill," he said. "They need to go to the mid-market or the longer tail. An ad model, always proven that that that's the way to go to mass market in television."
Check Out This Women-Led Grocery Tech Startup Backed by Lance Bass
Katie Hotze, Founder and CEO of Grocery Shopii, joins ChedHER to discuss how she's creating a platform that allows for personalized meal planning and recipes into a grocer's eCommerce platform, and her learnings from one of her very well known investors: Lance Bass.
'Pitch Social' Aims to Change the Way We Meet People Online
Trying to meet people online has become a predictable routine. Now, one app is switching it up by allowing users to swipe right on plans and outings rather than faces. Pitch Social co-founders Daniel Antonio and Ryan Snowden joins Between Bells to talk about their app.
Adtheorent Releases First Earnings Report Since Public Debut
AI-based adtech firm Adtheorent released its first earnings report as a public company Thursday after the bell. The company went public via SPAC deal in December and has since seen strong profit and revenue growth, with connected TV increasing 220 percent in Q4. Jim Lawson, CEO, AdTheorent, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
Load More