Brands are always coming up with new and innovative ways to capture their audience. If you frequently browse social media news feeds, you probably come across memes several times a day. You know...those captioned pictures that often ridicule human behavior in a humorous way? Well, many brands across various industries are taking advantage of this online trend to attract more attention on social media.
Did you know that the average person spends at least two hours a day on social media?
Wondering how you can spice up your brand’s voice using memes the right way? Let’s dive in on some examples.
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But first, here’s a very short history about memes.
Where do Memes Originate From?
Rewind to 1976 when Richard Dawkins wrote The Selfish Gene. In his book, he coined the word meme and describes it as a cultural evolution and the spreading of ideas - fashion, melodies, etc.
Fast forward to today and you've got the modern meme representing people in unison using cultural symbols and social ideas through visual communication - on the Internet, duh!
Why Marketers are Embracing Memes
Who said social media is a dark place? Well it can be, but it can also make you laugh and feel connected with others. Brands are taking advantage of the meme culture on social media to enhance the value of their online marketing. They're creating catchy content people can share and that can potentially go viral (crossing fingers). This approach is way more appealing and engaging, don't you think? After all, it works well with Millennials.
Get Your Meme On
Creating your own meme requires a lot of thought. You need to establish goals on how you want your audience to associate the meme to your company. And you’ll want to use text that match well with your brand and also find the right time to post it across your social media channels.
Memes That Went Viral
Sometimes the most random or ridiculous memes get picked up so quickly and go viral. These brands struck Internet gold with these images or cultural symbols they recycled into their own memes:
- The New South Wales Police Department in Australia stepped up its social media game by using this popular meme to bring some humor to their followers on Instagram by making fun of people's common reaction when they get caught speeding. In their post caption, they address the price you pay for breaking the law.
- A set of memes depicting Jonathan Goldsmith as the “most interesting man in the world” was created for an ad campaign for Dos Equis beer. It became a popular Internet meme along with the slogan “I don’t always drink beer. But, when I do, I always drink Dos Equis.” The ad was so successful that it set the benchmark for advertisers everywhere. Soon, it became a widely used Internet symbol for memes using variations of the slogan.
- Denny’s got on the meme bandwagon and it went viral on Twitter! The image urges you to zoom in on a syrup-drizzled stack of pancakes and find the hidden message. It got a lot of attention, garnering over 51,000 retweets and liked more than 65,000 times in the first eight hours.
Create an Effective Social Media Strategy for Your Business
Want to learn how to implement the best social media strategies in your marketing plan? Learn best practices and tricks with our free social media marketing guide. Download here:
