Meme marketing

Author: Skye Cusack

Memes. We love ‘em. Our friends love ‘em. Even our Mums love ‘em (especially if they involve Minions or the term ‘wine o’clock’). And marketers know this. Most of your favourite brands have likely graced your feed with their own take on popular meme templates. Some have done it well. Some have done it, well… 

So here’s today’s question: Should memes be included in your marketing strategy? 

And here’s today’s answer: The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It depends on your goals and the execution.

One of the main benefits of using memes in marketing is their appeal to younger audiences. Memes are a popular form of humor among young people, and offer a way for brands to connect with this demographic in a more relatable way. Memes can also be highly shareable, which never hurts brand awareness and reach numbers.

However, the virality cycle of memes is getting shorter and shorter, and they can quickly lose relevance. You can risk appearing out of touch if you use outdated or irrelevant memes. 

But here’s a BluSkye Marketing tip: Sometimes outdated memes reach a certain level of cultural significance that can be used to generate a sense of nostalgia. A fun throwback can work really well if executed correctly. 

Memes can be a valuable tool in marketing in 2023, but only if you’re posting relevant ones for a strategic audience. Try to be relatable and topical, and you may find an increase in engagement from a younger demographic. 

What’s your fave example of a brand using memes on social media? Let me know!