Imagine seeing some news on your feed giving you important information in a normal way. Now, imagine seeing a funny cat doing something weird while giving the same information; the probability of remembering the funny cat may be higher because of the relatability factor.
Memes have better reach than any other form of content, they are becoming a popular tool used for virality. A study shows that memes have 10X more reach than normal content and 60% of it is organic reach. This means there is no extra boost needed to make your memes viral. Though meme marketing has to be done in a very smart manner to reach the right target audience. In this blog, we will take you through how you can use meme marketing successfully to leverage your business growth. Let us help you understand meme marketing and how companies in India are successfully using memes to reach their audiences.
Table of Contents
- What is Meme Marketing?
- Leveraging Meme Marketing for Business Growth
- Takeaways from Brands Doing Meme Marketing
- Do’s and Don’ts of Meme Marketing
- In Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is Meme Marketing?
Memes are becoming a popular form of communication today. Memes use recognisable images, short animations (GIFs) and phrases to convey new ideas in a creative and often humorous way. Meme marketing is where you use memes and include your brands smartly with it to reach the audience in a funny and relatable way. Use a well-known phrase and pair it with their own branded image and that is exactly what meme marketing is. When you are doing meme marketing, keep in mind to use something immediately recognisable. Incorporate your brand’s unique twist to create a meme that’s likely to be shared.
Leveraging Meme Marketing for Business Growth
You must be wondering, why is meme marketing the talk of the business town? Or how can memes be a way to promote or leverage your business. Well, here are some of the reasons why and how your business can grow using meme marketing.
1. Reach and Engagement
Memes are the easiest and most effective way to reach your audience as it takes less effort and more effect. A main key of reach and engagement is the shareability of a post. Research found that 55% of 13 to 35 year olds send memes every week and 30% send them every day. So according to it, for your content to reach faster memes are the accurate way.
2. Simple and Relatable
Memes are the simplest form of information to be consumed. Also mostly memes are associated with our daily life making us relate to it and engage with more interest. Memes use images or short videos that we already know, so understanding them doesn’t take much effort. For businesses, leveraging memes can simplify communication with customers, making content more accessible and increasing the likelihood of reaching wider audiences through viral marketing.
3. Humour as Human Element of Brands
Memes also provide an opportunity for brands to showcase their human side through humour. By creating or sharing memes that are funny and relatable, brands can build their brand voice and connect with their audience on a personal level. Additionally, feedback and customer response to memes are immediate, allowing brands to quickly adjust their strategy based on audience response.
4. Cost-effective with high ROI
Memes literally take only your creativity and thought to be created. So, the cost of memes is very low and the reach of it can go very high. The ROI (Return On Investment) is high because CTR (Click-Through-Rate) in average marketing campaigns are 6%, whereas, in meme marketing the CTR is roughly 19%. Clearly stating that the success rate of meme marketing campaigns is way higher than any other marketing campaigns. If you are a new budding business with a lower marketing budget than also meme marketing is something that can successfully leverage your business.
5. High Recall Value
The high recall value of memes means people remember them easily. Using memorable memes in your business can help make your brand more memorable too. It can increase engagement with your audience and make your messages stick in their minds longer, which is great for building brand awareness and loyalty.
6. GenZ Approach
In 2021, Instagram users shared over one million memes. This study shows how much users of Instagram, that are mostly GenZ, love memes. By understanding and using memes effectively, businesses can connect with younger audiences, increase brand awareness and create content that is more likely to be shared virally. This approach not only helps in reaching a wider audience but also builds a sense of community and authenticity around the brand.
Takeaways from Brands Doing Meme Marketing
Let us understand how some big brands illustrate the impact of viral marketing and meme marketing in engaging audiences effectively. These meme marketing examples leverage humour and relatability to create shareable content. These examples show why meme marketing is important for businesses aiming to succeed in social media and engage younger audiences.
1. Netflix
Netflix is great at using memes to engage with its social media followers. They even have a separate account called ‘Netflix is a joke’ just for meme marketing. This account not only makes memes but also encourages fans to create and share their own. This creates a shared cultural experience and helps Netflix reach more people and increase viewership.
Takeaway for your business: Use memes to actively engage with your audience and encourage them to participate. This can help you build a community and extend your reach in viral marketing.
About the meme: This viral meme shows different Netflix movies and their characters reacting to compliments versus insults. It promotes movies on Netflix while the meme adds a human touch, which is key in meme marketing.
2. Zomato
Zomato, a major player in meal delivery, has mastered marketing with memes. Known for its wide restaurant selection and diverse cuisines, Zomato also stands out with creative and humorous advertising campaigns that use memes effectively.
Their strategy combines humour, creativity and reliability to engage millennials and Gen Z, who spend a lot of time online and love memes.
Take away for your business: Using memes can be a powerful way to connect with younger audiences and inject personality into your marketing strategy.
About the meme: A viral audio featuring “same same but different” and boys covered in silver paint inspired a meme. It humorously compares the silver-painted boys to the silver foil on kajukatli, playfully reminding people about kajukatli.
RVCJ Media
RVCJ, a top media and entertainment company in India, has become a leader in meme marketing by using unique humour and creating engaging content. Their success is due to connecting with millions on social media, making RVCJ a household name for memes and entertainment.
To stay ahead, RVCJ keeps innovating and adapting to new trends. They’re exploring short videos and interactive content, showing they’re ready to evolve. This flexibility is crucial as markets change and new platforms emerge.
Take away for your business: Focus on creating relatable and funny content to engage your audience. Adapt to new trends and platforms to stay relevant and grow your reach.
About the meme: A post features characters from the popular series ‘FRIENDS’ wearing Halloween costumes, comparing it to girls’ mobile covers with the caption ‘girls mobile cover’.
The power of viral marketing and meme marketing to engage audiences effectively cuts across international, national and locally known brands. Through humour and relatability, these brands have become influential in creating shareable content that enhances visibility and connects with their audience. Embracing meme strategies can be important for any business aspiring to operate as a leading meme marketing agency in today’s digital world.
Do’s and Don’ts of Meme Marketing
After understanding how meme marketing can boost your business, it’s important to know the Do’s and Don’ts of meme marketing.
1. Do’s of Meme Marketing
Keep it simple
Always keep the language of your meme simple and easy to understand, less the effort your audience has to put to understand, more are the chances of higher engagement.
Stay relatable
In meme marketing, being relatable is key. Use memes that a wide audience understands. For example memes from TMKOC are likely to be relatable for a wider audience.
Stay updated with trends
Stay on top of meme trends for maximum shareability and relevance in your marketing. Keeping updated ensures your memes connect with a broader audience, boosting engagement and reach.
Be authentic
By being authentic we mean, make sure you add some twist or your authenticity into the meme. Do not just copy paste every meme, analyse if the meme is relevant to your brand tone to stay authentic.
2. Don’ts of Meme Marketing
Avoid offensive content
Before posting any meme, ensure it doesn’t offend any individual, community or entity to avoid potential brand damage. Respecting sensitivities safeguards your reputation and maintains positive audience perception.
Do not overuse a meme
Avoid repetitive memes to maintain brand relevance and better algorithmic visibility. Diverse content keeps your brand engaging and makes sure to reach a wider audience over time.
Overlook legal consideration
Before posting any meme-related content, make sure it’s free from copyright claims. For instance, content from famous celebrities may be copyrighted, potentially leading to legal issues for your brand. Always double-check to avoid these situations.
Do not force humour
Avoid forcing humour into your content, as it can make your brand appear inconsistent. Use memes that align naturally with your brand’s tone and values to maintain audience trust and relevance.
We understand staying authentic with meme trends while taking all precautions can be a hussle, so hiring a social media marketing agency is the best choice. They can make your LOL to ROI journey easy and hassle free!
In Conclusion
Meme marketing provides businesses with a potent method to engage audiences effectively through humour and relatability. Shown by various brands, leveraging memes enhances brand visibility and connects with younger demographics. Embracing these strategies can position businesses to excel in social media marketing and cultivate a vibrant online community.
Making a perfect meme marketing requires strategic planning and creativity. If you need experts by your side, our digital marketing agency is here to help. Contact us at hello@florafountain.com and we will help you make a meme marketing strategy to leverage your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
The founder and partner of Flora Fountain, Shefali leads the Content and Technology divisions. A one-time engineer who started her career writing front-end code, she took a detour sometime during her 9 years in New York, studied journalism and started writing prose, poetry and sometimes jokes. She now has 15...
