While many of you would have heard the word memes – not all of you might be aware of what a meme is and how social media marketing can use this. Well here is a quick guide on what is a meme and how you can use it. But first, a quick look at a meme we did for our agency today!

What is a Meme?

The internet defines a meme to be “an image, video, piece of text, etc., typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by internet users, often with slight variations.”

 Why is it a Good Idea to Use it?

It is a super idea to use memes in marketing as the most successful marketing campaigns are contextual and something to which the audience can relate. So if a particular concept of communication is already doing rounds, tweaking it and using it as a marketing communication tool for your brand is a smart move!

In fact, memes are a fun way to engage people on social media. In this crowded media space when many consumers skip ads whenever they can, marketing with humour and familiar media can help you reach out to your target audience. The familiar content and shared cultural space also create a sense of community and bonding that allows the consumer to relate to your brand.

If your target buyer is a Millennial or younger, memes are a great way to reach out – however, you need to ensure that the memes match your brand voice. Often it is tough to incorporate them maintaining brand consistency but off late even high-end luxury brands are experimenting with it. And here is one more meme we did on the same theme for a QSR brand

Keep in mind however just posting a meme on social media is not enough – it is a must to check the levels of engagement and reaction to find out what your audience likes. If the meme shows high engagement it is doing good and if not try out a few other formats.

Finally, memes don’t sell products – it is a branding communication aimed to reach your consumer and so do not use an action item like “register” “buy now” etc. Nonetheless, it is a fantastic way to bond with your target audience and so social media managers should not shy away from using it.