Memes have been around much longer than you would think. So long in fact that there is even a term called meme marketing.
Meme marketing was coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in 1976 as something that goes viral in the biological world. Years later, the digital world created their own explanation. The internet meme is defined as any fad, joke or memorable piece of content that spreads virally across the web.
With the rise of social media, memes have taken the world by storm, especially with the millennial generation. People spend millions of seconds a day on social media and memes catch people’s attention. Some memes like “Crying Michael Jordan” or “Grumpy Cat” last for years while others will last a few hours. So, how should you use memes to your company’s advantage?
Speak Meme. Memes have their own language. They are short and to the point while also being funny. People can spot when you are trying to be too much with memes so use them authentically and sparingly.
Have fun with it. Memes are supposed to be silly and make people want to laugh. Don’t be too serious with it, just let the words and images flow together.
Be timely. Like all aspects of social media, timing is everything. Research when your audience is most active online and post during those high times. Also, if you are going to make a meme about something that just happened, make sure to get it out close to the time it happened or it will not be relevant to your audience anymore.
Remember that not all memes apply to everyone. Everyone has their own opinion of what is funny so don’t get discouraged when everyone doesn’t like the first meme you put out there.
Just remember meme marketing is a blank canvas that you can use to elevate your business’s voice. Plus, you can even import your own images into meme generators. Happy Meme-ing!
