Meme Marketing - Use Internet Trends To Boost Your Business!

Summary

In the video, marketing strategist Trent Kennelly explores the power of memes for building a strong online brand identity. He defines memes as shareable, relatable, and often humorous internet content, which can include images, GIFs, challenges, and even sound files. Trent emphasizes the importance of understanding meme culture, including their history and themes, to effectively use them in marketing without coming across as a corporate shill. He outlines a strategy for leveraging memes, which involves using established meme templates, collecting source material, keeping product placement casual, and identifying the right distribution channels. The goal is to increase brand awareness and drive sales by resonating with the audience through cultural relevance and humor.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Building a strong online business often involves creating a strong brand identity that is easily recognizable and understood by the audience.
• 📈 Connecting with the right audience requires understanding and communicating in the way they interact online, including the use of memes.
• 😄 Memes are a significant part of internet culture and can be leveraged for marketing, but it's crucial to understand what a meme is and how it works.
• 📚 A meme can be any viral content, not just images or GIFs, and can include challenges like the Ice Bucket challenge or phenomena like Rickrolling.
• 🔍 To determine if something is a meme, apply a two-part test: is it shareable or riffable, and is there a single theme or idea associated with it?
• 🧠 Memes work because they tap into the collective consciousness and culture, making them relatable and shareable, which can enhance brand awareness.
• ✅ Do your research on the history of a meme to avoid using ones with negative connotations or that may be polarizing.
• 🙅‍♂️ Avoid coming off as a corporate shill by not using memes purely for direct sales pitches; they should be used for brand awareness and subtly driving sales.
• 📖 Understand how to use a meme correctly by recognizing its theme and using it appropriately to not appear out of touch or misuse the meme format.
• ❌ Do not post random or outdated memes; they should be relevant to your target audience and the current trends to be effective.
• 👵 Know your target audience and choose memes that resonate with them; different age groups and demographics may respond to different types of memes.
• 📅 Use month-old meme templates that have proven virality and are still fresh enough to be relevant but not too new that they might quickly become outdated.
• 🎨 Collect source material to understand the current trends and how to adapt them to your brand, ensuring your meme marketing is timely and on-point.
• 🚀 Keep product placement casual and subtle; using self-deprecating humor or light-hearted themes can be more effective than overt sales tactics.
• 📊 Identify your distribution points wisely; different social media platforms may cater to different types of content and audiences, so choose where to post your memes strategically.

Q & A

What is the significance of building a strong brand identity online?

Building a strong brand identity online is crucial as it allows people to easily recognize the brand and understand what it offers, facilitating brand awareness and customer engagement.

How does connecting with the right audience help in building a strong online business?

Connecting with the right audience ensures that the brand communicates effectively with its target market, using language and cultural references that resonate with them, which is essential for customer loyalty and sales.

Why are memes considered an important part of internet culture and online business?

Memes are a significant part of internet culture because they are shareable, relatable, and often humorous, making them an effective tool for brand awareness and customer engagement in the online space.

What is the definition of a meme according to the transcript?

A meme is defined as internet slang for anything that's funny or viral content, which can include images, GIFs, challenges, or even sound files that increase the virality of a video.

How can businesses use memes to increase brand awareness and potentially drive sales?

Businesses can use memes by aligning their brand with popular and relevant meme templates, ensuring the content is shareable and relatable, which can lead to increased brand awareness and, ultimately, sales.

What are the two key characteristics that determine if something is a good meme?

A good meme is characterized by being shareable or riffable, meaning it's interesting enough for people to share within their network or build upon with their own ideas. It should also be fun or funny and relatable.

Why is it important for a business to understand the history of a meme before using it?

Understanding the history of a meme is important to avoid using content that may have negative connotations or be polarizing. It ensures the brand's message is received positively and does not inadvertently offend or alienate the audience.

What is the main difference between using memes as a direct sales tool and using them for brand awareness?

Memes used for direct sales can come across as pushy and may be rejected by the audience, whereas using memes for brand awareness is more subtle and focuses on engaging the audience with the brand in a way that is not overtly promotional.

How can a business ensure they are using a meme correctly in their marketing?

A business can ensure correct usage by understanding the meme's theme and history, ensuring the meme is relevant to the target audience, and avoiding posting random or outdated memes that do not align with the brand's message.

What is the strategy suggested for using memes effectively in marketing?

The strategy includes using month-old meme templates that have established virality, collecting source material to understand meme usage, keeping product placement casual and light, and identifying the right distribution points for the memes based on the social media channel's dynamics.

Why should a business be cautious about posting outdated memes?

Outdated memes may not resonate with the audience as effectively as newer ones, leading to a lack of engagement and sharing. It's important to use memes that are currently popular and relevant to maintain the brand's connection with its audience.

How can a business identify the right memes to use for their marketing strategy?

A business can identify the right memes by understanding their target audience, monitoring current trends on platforms like Reddit and 9gag, and ensuring the memes align with the brand's message and the audience's interests.