Digital Marketing

A Social Media Marketer’s Guide to Using Memes

Published

1 year ago

July 17, 2023

Memes are a commentary on society and culture that are depicted as humorous images, videos, or text with the hopes of spreading on the internet like wildfire. There are countless different versions of the same meme out there, but there will always be a starting point, which can be tracked using online sites like Knowyourmeme.com. Given how fast they spread and how much of a reaction they provoke online, social media marketers use them with varied success levels.

Why Memes Deserve a Place in Marketing?

In 2023, the average user will eliminate adverts whenever they can, which can make it challenging for comedic marketing content to reach audiences, which is where meme marketing comes in. A meme is easy to make and costs very little, they’re created to encourage sharing, they bring communities together, and promote brand relevancy.

Build a Meme Library

The beautiful thing about memes is the same memes circulate repetitively, which means any meme can be edited to comment on relevant social trends. Therefore, to save time in the future, you should start building a meme catalog. You can do this by collating a series of existing memes, which can be edited and used without having to worry about any copyright issues. Alternatively, you can use a meme creator to amaze your audiences with a unique meme that may catch on and be used by other marketers.

Always Use Your Brand Voice

The popularity of memes isn’t a mystery to social media marketers, but they can be challenging to incorporate into a successful strategy while maintaining a consistent brand voice. If a meme isn’t used correctly, it can backfire and have a negative impact on a business. However, this hasn’t stopped them from becoming extremely popular, with large businesses like Wendy’s often opting for meme marketing.

The key to getting the right voice in a meme is authenticity. When you choose to throw in a little edge, it shows audiences that your company has a personality, which can help set you apart from competitors. Additionally, you’ll need to understand your target audience completely including:

What problems your audience is facing?
Which TV shows, music, and celebrities do your audience like?
How can you entertain your audience?
Which type of content is favorable to your audience?
Which social platforms your audience “hangs out” on?

Ways to Use Memes in Social Media Marketing

Meme marketing works best when it’s timed right, which means social media marketers should wait for the opportune moment. For example, memes can make reference to a national event like the NFL, which will prompt sharing and conversation. Alternatively, brand managers may choose to screenshot and post snippets from other platforms to create a meme. For example, “that feeling when (insert meme here)”.

Memes aren’t going anywhere, and they’re growing in popularity with every passing day. To make sure you’re not missing out on a potentially viral post created at a minimal cost, don’t underestimate the power of meme marketing in social media.