Memes make up a large part of the internet; it seems like there’s always a new popular one circulating around. Several accounts on social media have grown an audience from posting only memes, and there are a bunch of people who specifically look on social media to find memes. But they aren’t always just for fun – sometimes, businesses post memes that relate to their industry. So can you start posting them on your business accounts to grow your audience? The short answer is yes. But should you?
What are memes?
Essentially, memes are images with text or a caption that are meant to be funny. There are several different types, and they have existed and evolved for a long period of time; some are just meant to be silly, but others relate to specific situations. For example, this is a meme called “Grumpy Cat.” This cat’s real name is Tardar Sauce, and her claim to fame was her constantly grumpy expression. Grumpy Cat memes typically consist of a picture of the cat and a funny caption relating to a situation that would make you grumpy, and they’re hilarious!
Who actually cares about them?
Memes are very funny, but you’re going to need to make sure your audience will be receptive to them. One way to do this is to check your analytics. Analytics give you a lot of information about the demographics of your audience, and with this information, you can decide what (and what not) to post. Once you’re familiar with the ages of the majority of your audience as well as their general interests, you can target your posts towards them and show them things they’ll be interested in.
Traditionally, younger generations are more fond of memes. But because of the way they have changed over the years, the type of memes that younger people find funny are vastly different from the ones that older people will find funny. Your analytics will show you the age group of the majority of your followers, and that will determine the type of meme to post.
How do you decide if memes are worth it for your business?
The best way you can decide whether or not to add memes to your social media posting schedule is to just do a test! Try posting one and watch the engagement over the next several hours. If it performs well, find more memes like the one you posted and scatter them in every now and again! If it doesn’t perform as well as you had hoped, no worries. Maybe they aren’t for your audience, but that’s okay. Different things work for different businesses, and at least you will have tried!
Overall, memes can be really good for business, but they won’t always be. The best way to know for sure is to just give it a try. If you’re not sure how to cater to your social media audience, reach out to us here at Blackwood Creative! We’re social media experts, and we’re ready to work with you to grow your brand across all platforms.