{"id":16042,"date":"2021-02-23T17:44:13","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T17:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mediashower.com\/blog\/?p=16042"},"modified":"2025-10-27T23:29:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T23:29:54","slug":"memes-for-marketers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mediashower.com\/blog\/memes-for-marketers\/","title":{"rendered":"Memes for Marketers: How to Create Viral Meme Campaigns (+ Downloadable Template)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is a marketing meme?<\/strong> A marketing meme is any idea that people spontaneously pass along to promote a company, product, or brand. This could take the form of an ad slogan, funny commercial, catchy jingle, viral campaign, or traditional meme-style graphic.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

First: memes are not what you think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word \u201cmeme\u201d was first coined by the biologist Richard Dawkins in his bestselling book The Selfish Gene<\/a>. Dawkins observed that just as genes create copies of themselves (when we make babies), ideas also create copies of themselves (when we make conversation). He called these ideas \u201cmemes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original meaning of \u201cmeme\u201d was any idea that copied itself from brain to brain<\/strong>. That includes methods to make fire, styles of architecture, languages, songs, catchphrases, recipes, and even baby names. Like genes, some memes are short-lived (think fads or fashions), while some endure for centuries (think the Pledge of Allegiance or the Lord\u2019s Prayer).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current meaning of \u201cmeme\u201d is much narrower: it\u2019s any funny photo or video that goes viral<\/strong>. Take these common examples (courtesy Memes.com<\/a>):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"New
Translation: \u201cI am chronically distracted and unable to finish projects to completion. Anyone feel me?\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Customer
Translation: I am proud of my accomplishment, however small. Anyone feel me?<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"When
Translation: I will maintain composure even when I have no idea what to do. Anyone feel me?<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cmeme generation\u201d (let\u2019s say anyone younger than Millennials) collect these memes on their phones and share them on social media sites like Reddit<\/a>. Memes age quickly, so these examples would be considered ancient: like slang, you\u2019ve really got to keep up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memes are how the Internet generation communicates<\/strong>. To communicate well, marketers have to learn how to use meme style in a way that\u2019s funny, not forced. Today\u2019s marketers have to know how to create good memes<\/em>. Fortunately, there\u2019s a formula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Makes a Great Meme<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No joke: the U.S. military is studying memes. It understands the power of memes to change minds and influence behavior, especially among young people. It calls this new area of research \u201cmemetic warfare,\u201d which sounds something dreamed up by Monty Python:<\/p>\n\n\n\n