Memes with images and words have been used globally on social media. Memes have taken centre stage, and they are undoubtedly the smartest, quickest and quirkiest way to communicate. So now the question is, what have we learnt from them so far? Listen.

Memes are a practice in multimodal and social semiotic systems. Multimodality is the interplay between different representational modes, such as between images and written or spoken words. Multimodal representations mediate the sociocultural ways these modes are combined in the communication process (Kress & Van Leeuwen 2001, p. 20).

According to the ThoughtCo contributor Richard Nordquist, professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University, semiotics is the theory and study of signs and symbols, especially as elements of language or other systems of communication. Common examples of semiotics include traffic signs, emojis, and emoticons used in electronic communication, and logos and brands used by international corporations to sell us things—”brand loyalty,” they call it.

Social media users love visual content, with the algorithms of many social sites prioritising visual over text-based content. Audiences are six times more likely to remember a message if paired with a relevant visual than the text alone. Memes can provide a unique snapshot into the cultural events of a moment in time. When memes are used right, they carry more power than meets the eye.

1. Do not force it.

Forced communication is not only awkward; it usually lacks creativity and heart too. The number one rule in the meme culture is not to jump on the bandwagon to grab social media attention when there is no authenticity behind the message. Although every business needs clout, authenticity is what sets businesses and people apart from the crowds. Brand advertising is not only about attention; it is staying true to your core because if it is a ruse, the audience smells it from a mile away.

2. Be topical.

Memes are instantly recognisable because they respond to a trending story in the news or social media. Like memes, brands should always be relevant to their era. Have a social media presence, jump onto the virtual wagon and be part of the global community because we are now in the digital age. This is where we come in; our studio is versatile and provides brand reinvention and web development to suit the new age of communication.

3. Target, target, target.

The effectiveness of anything is dependant on strategy. Otherwise, communication falls on deaf ears. Before any meme lords share their wisdom, they understand what makes their followers tick, which sparks conversation and interest and draws more attention. Therefore, a brand’s strength is understanding whose attention it wants, what their needs are and providing exactly that and more. Fear not; strategy is our strength. From the security industry to humanitarians and automotive, we produce communication just for you because one size does not fit all.

4. Timing is everything.

Laughing at a joke 17 minutes later than everyone is often cringe-worthy, like an opportunity utilised too soon or too late. Brands have to be aware of trends in business and society in general. It increases the chances of exploiting organic traffic, especially on social media and websites. Such platforms are easily noticeable if they have timely designs and easy to navigate. We develop such websites and manage social media for you to pioneer trends or not miss any.

5. Have personality.

Memes have personality, so should a brand. The meme culture often addresses social issues or carries teachings, but the underlying trait is humour. What is your brand’s core, and is it shown in all your communication? More so, besides business, what else is your brand known for? Do people smile, laugh or cry when they see your posts or hear your name? If your brand was to morph into a human, will your audience hang out with you? We understand that brands are often consumed about business and ignore being relatable to people. That’s why we develop PR and marketing strategies that show off your business and engraves your brand in hearts too. Contact us today; let’s build businesses and friendships.

Some of the benefits of using memes for brands include:

  • Share information in a fun and memorable format.
  • Humanise your brand through a demonstration of personality.
  • Showcase complicated concepts like company culture uniquely.
  • Obtain higher engagement with your audience.

This means that brands need to learn how to translate their advertising for this new world. For example, memes elicit better reactions from audiences because they’re tailored for social media. People naturally share memes as part of their online experience, so they’re a great way to improve engagement. Contact us for dynamic social media content that captures and engages your audience.

#memeculture #strategiccommunication #wedesign #brandpersonality #digitalmanagement #digitalmarketing


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