The meme has become a cultural currency in the digital age. They can be found across all social networking platforms. They’re short, humorous pieces of content that are intended to be consumed quickly. Can you use memes in marketing? This article will explain what memes are and how to use them for marketing. It also explains what you need to be aware of if you try this strategy.
What is a meme?
In 1976, Richard Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist, coined the term “meme”. The term “meme” is a combination of the Greek words “mimeme”, which means “something imitated”, and “gene”, which rhymes with “cream”.
Dawkins states memes are “our ideas, ideals and cultures that reproduce themselves.” They travel almost like viruses, passing from one person to another through imitation, sharing, repetition, and repetition.
Dawkins suggested that memes can also be found in the animal kingdom, which suggests that they may have an evolutionary advantage. All of us are wired to share memes that have a purpose. Memes that don’t serve a purpose quickly fade away. A University of Vermont study found that contagious diseases are transmitted similarly to memes.
These cultural genes can be transmitted through social media today. A post that strikes a chord can quickly go viral if shared well enough. Most popular memes capture a moment, thought or feeling in a visually appealing, social media-friendly format.
The timeliness doesn’t have to be present in the original meme. It can be added by users, either through new text or by using it within a new context. Consider the “distracted boyfriend” example. This image, which first appeared online in 2015, can’t be claimed to have ever been seen.
In an interview with Wired, Richard Dawkins confirmed that internet memes are very similar to his vision. He said, “It is anything that goes viral.” Dawkins himself has been the recipient of the meme treatment many times.
Reddit users created this meme by uploading cute photos of Shiba Inu dogs to different backgrounds. This hilarious juxtaposition of the dog’s new surroundings and his curious expression results from his curious expression.
Dogecoin was the satirical cryptocurrency that inspired the meme. Elon Musk later supported it and is now a shirt sponsor of Premier League soccer club Watford FC. This is how internet memes live. They are transient but adaptable and can take on an entirely new life.
Non-fungible tokens, or NFT, are another currency in which memes show off their value. The meme was created by a woman depicted as a 4-year-old girl standing in front of a burning structure. She recently made half a million dollars and sold it as an NFT. The proceeds were used to repay her loans and to donate to charities.
Memes are a cultural phenomenon that will be with us for a long time. Is this a reason for brands to use memes in marketing?
It is easy to make memes.
Internet memes have a homespun charm. You can participate by using sites such as Meme Generator, which allows you to add text to the best of the genre.
While brands can use memes from other people to promote their campaigns, it is best to create your memes. Marketers need to be more creative to capitalize on cultural trends.
It is not easy to come up with a clever caption. This BarkBox example is a good reference point.
It is relevant for the brand and the audience without being pushy or threatening.
Memes can be a fun and cheap way to get social media interaction.