Getting The Most Out Of Memes

by Lily Bradic

It’s easy to dismiss internet memes as a waste of time. New ones pop up all the time, only to disappear back where they came from within a month or two. 

But that doesn’t mean they’re without purpose. All it means is that you need to stay on-trend. A Gangnam Style video would have worked at the time, but post one now, and you’ll be doing more harm to your reputation than good. 

Using memes is like exchanging cultural currency; you’re joining a global conversation when you create one. You’re transmitting your message through more than just the words you use. 

And that’s precisely why it’s important to get memes right.

If you heard a stranger humming your favorite song, you’d probably imagine a little bit of a connection with them.

But, if they had the lyrics totally wrong, you might get annoyed, even though it’s irrational. 

Memes are a bit like that. 

Need to know the basics? Try browsing Know Your Meme. If you’ve got the essentials down, Reddit is one of the best places to look for up-and-coming memes. 

When you come to create a meme of your own, your best bet is to use one of the old favorites (take “X all the Y”, or “Success Kid” or “First World Problems” for example) or jump on a current meme trend, such as the Miley Cyrus “Wrecking Ball” parody.

Try Meme Generator for an easy template tool, and you can get a good idea of what's trending by browsing their recently-created memes.

Memes work well on almost any platform — they’ve even been making an appearance on LinkedIn recently. Share them from your Facebook page, or post them on Twitter and Google+. 

Places not to use them? Profile pictures, cover photos, or any place where the image will be too small/cut off. 

Memes can be effective as Facebook ads, but you need to make sure they pass the Facebook grid test (only 20% of the image is allowed to feature text if you’re using paid advertising). Read more here. 

Most of all, have fun. Memes are meant to make people laugh, be relevant, and be social. Make something other people will want to share, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help!