Most folks think of GIFS as an animated photo found in their email box. But this GIFS is a system that could be just what is needed to add consistency and structure to a radio show. It’s what we use with clients to build a balanced, high-ranking show.
GIFS is an acronym that stands for Game, Information, Funny, and Story, fundamental content elements that help listeners use the show.
G is for Games: Radio shows should be designed so listeners can play along. Games represent all interactive elements that engage the audience. It could mean any method for the audience to interact with the show, including phone topics. Or it may be actual games like $1,000 Minute or Heads Up.
I is for Information: This is demonstrating you are in touch with the world. That can be achieved with news, weather, traffic, and sports. But that’s just the most common type of “I”. Maybe it’s an entertainment report or style and fashion update. Or the popular Good News features many shows use.
F is for Funny: Nothing beats funny on the radio. Nothing. But you have to be truly funny or create funny situations. This can’t be over-emphasized. Funny is the #1 character trait for radio personalities. By the way, fun and funny are not the same. Fun is important. But while fun makes me feel good, it doesn’t make me laugh. The ability to make the audience laugh is priceless.
S is for Story: Along with making people laugh, learning to tell stories is a critical skill for every personality. Not everyone is a great storyteller, but every air personality can improve. Relationship features like Second Date Update and War Of the Roses are successful content containers for great stories.
Applying GIFS
Understanding GIFS is one thing. Putting it on the air is another. It helps to build detailed show clocks so listeners are exposed to all four elements regularly.
Start by deciding the percentage Games, Information, Funny, and Story should represent on the show. Few shows will offer exactly 25% in each category.
Here is a simple example, with each category having equal weight and a show that executes four main breaks per hour:
Hour 1:
Break 1: Game. Thousand Dollar Minute.
Break 2: Information. Hollywood 360 Entertainment Report.
Break 3: Funny. Prank Call Feature.
Break 4: Story. Second Date Update relationship feature.
Hour 2:
Break 1: Game. Phone Topic of the Day.
Break 2: Information. Hollywood 360 Entertainment Report.
Break 3: Funny. Tough Love Feature.
Break 4: Story. Love Letters to (Show) relationship feature.
Hour 3:
Break 1: Game. Heads Up.
Break 2: Information. Hollywood 360 Entertainment Report.
Break 3: Funny. Prank Call Feature.
Break 4: Story. Second Date Update relationship feature.
Hour 4:
Break 1: Game. Would You Rather Phone Topic.
Break 2: Information. Hollywood 360 Entertainment Report.
Break 3: Funny. Tough Love Feature.
Break 4: Story. Storytime with (Personality) feature (personal storytelling segment).
Conclusion
This seems really simple, doesn’t it? Applying GIFS adds diversity and broader appeal to a show.
The beautiful part of a structure like this makes it easy to execute a show that will help the audience get to know how to use it faster. That leads to more quarter-hours and a faster path to building a fan base.
