Should you use a meme?

A meme can be hilarious and a great way to reach customers without having to create much original content. How do you know if your brand is ready to use a meme? Ask yourself a few questions:

1. Do you understand the meme and know how to properly use it?

This is a big one. Nothing is going to be more embarrassing than using a meme and having your followers point out that you’ve used it incorrectly. In fact, there’s an entire subreddit dedicated to pointing out how businesses have used memes incorrectly.

2. Figure out if that meme is going to click with your audience

If you know how to use a meme and you think that you can effectively use it then go ahead – just be careful. Think about who your customers are and think about who you want your customers to be. Now imagine those customers reacting to a meme. Are they laughing? Scowling? Thinking about what reception your post is going to have is a huge.

3. Think about your tone.

When looking at how your audience will react to a meme, think about the tone that that meme has. If your brand is more sarcastic or edgy then using the same kind of meme could be hilarious. However, if your brand is much more reserved or professional, it’s not going to work. You know your brand better than anyone else.

4. Think about what’s trending.

Don’t – we repeat – don’t use a meme that’s out of date. Imagine what kind of comments you will get if you use a meme that hasn’t been used in a few months, or worse, years. You want to make sure that your meme use shows your relevancy, not that you’re out of date.

Using a meme can be a great move – or a risky one. It’s all about how you approach your brand and your customer. If you think the time is right to use one, jump right in so long as you keep these tips in mind.