Meme Marketing for Small Business: Turning LOLs into ROI

Ever wonder what cat videos, screen captures of ‘90s sitcoms, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s smirking Gatsby have in common? Each one of these is part of the meme subculture that has taken over the internet. They’re not about chasing Likes or reposts, but about making that all important connection with your audience in a way that is genuine, relatable, and funny. Can your small business get in on memes and boost engagement while building brand loyalty? You better believe it, son. Here’s how.

What the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks is a Meme?

First off, make sure you pronounce it right, it’s “meem” not “me me.” In plain English, memes are cultural inside jokes. They’re typically text overlaid on images or GIFs (short, moving images that loop), usually borrowed from movies or TV shows, that capture a relatable feeling or moment with a humorous twist. Meme marketing using these tidbits to promote your brand, message, or product in a way that’s funny and shareable. Basically piggybacking on pop culture references to get your small business noticed.

Why Memes Matter for Small Businesses

1. Cost-Effective: Unlike overpriced ad campaigns, memes don’t require a Hollywood budget. A free Canva account and a pinch of creativity can make a meme that will take over your corner of the internet like wildfire.

2. Shareable: People love sharing memes that resonate with them. This can amplify your reach, and turn customers into brand advocates with ease.

3. Build Personality: Memes make your brand less corporate and more human. They’re a chance to flex your funny bone and connect with your audience right where they’re at. 

   
   

Managing Meme Marketing Effectively

How do you make meme marketing that works for your small business? It should go without saying, but you need to know your audience. It’s all about relevance, what’s funny to one generation might not land as well with another. Like any content you create, tailoring your memes to your target demographic is crucial. 

Staying current is also just as important. Keeping track of what’s trending can skyrocket engagement while jumping on an outdated trend can make your small business look out of touch. It’s a fast-moving world out there and what’s gold one week can be a moldy banana the next. Most importantly, always make sure your humor aligns with your established brand voice - a family-friendly pizzeria should probably avoid jokes that are too edgy.

Simplicity is key. The best memes are understood at a glance and without needing a master's degree or 30 slide PowerPoint presentation to explain. If you’re writing a paragraph of text on them, you’re doing too much. A sentence or two at most is all you need. Along with your top-notch humor and writing, high-quality images are also a must. Blurry or poorly edited memes will only look amateurish.

Tips and Tools for Meme Creation

Making your own memes is easier than ever with sites like Meme Generator, Canva (also part of our Top 5 FREE Resources for Your Small Business), or Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark). Keep your text concise, it should take less than 10 seconds to read. Then test and tweak them by posting at different times and tracking Likes, shares, and comments to refine strategy.

Memes as Part of a Larger Strategy

Don't get too caught up in the fun of memes though. They're amazing for engaging your audience but they're not a one-stop shop for marketing supremacy. Memes should be used alongside all your usual tools like email campaigns, SEO, and ads for a well-rounded plan. Like WuTang said, "Diversify your bonds!". Meme marketing posts are the sprinkles on the cupcake of the marketing plan for your small business - eye-catching and fun, but not the whole dessert. Let's check out a couple simple ideas to motivate and inspire your meme game.

Examples? That was Easy

Want to promote your low prices without being too serious? Uncle Joey from Full House has you covered:

Or maybe you're after a fun way to let customers know you have free WiFi. Dorothy from The Golden Girls can do the trick:

Heck, it's okay to post something just for how funny it is too, as long as it's consistent with the tone and voice you've established for your brand and small business :

These quick samples are just the tip of the tip of the iceberg and should give you an idea of how to use memes effectively. Remember, you're not limited to the meme images that are already popular, although those can be used to give you a "template" for the way a meme is widely used. There are an endless amount of popular images and new ones to be uncovered that will fit perfectly for almost any idea you're trying to convey. The trick is finding them.

Meme It Up, But Keep It Real

The true beauty of small business meme marketing is its ability to easily make your brand more relatable without a hard sell. When you do them right, memes can help your small business compete with larger brands through authenticity, humor, and a little bit of pop culture knowledge.