From Grumpy Cat to Rickrolling to that one screenshot of Willy Wonka, memes have practically become engrained in American culture. What once started as a collection of inside jokes among nerds has since a topic that anyone can relate on. Social media has played a big role in this, too. Nonetheless, there are many myths about memes that are still taken as fact. Here are just a few of the myths in question that online marketing companies can debunk.
"Memes are fairly new." It's fair to say that memes are relatively new, given how recently they've become part of popular culture, but this isn't entirely true. There are many people that believe that they date back to the 70s with comic strips. Others believe they go back even further to the early 20s. Your mileage may vary, depending on what you believe, but companies such as fishbat will tell you that memes are older than most would believe.
"Memes come and go so quickly." It's believed that memes are fleeting, but not all of them follow this rule. In fact, there are many that have not only lasted throughout the years but are still routinely shared online. The sarcastic Willy Wonka meme is a prime example. The mocking SpongeBob image has also remained popular. These are just a few instances of memes that have been able to persevere.
"Memes are meant for fun, not business." Who's to say that they can't be used for both? Depending on the business you run, it's entirely possible to make memes part of your social media strategy. In fact, it's recommended that you do so, provided they're applicable, as these images and videos tend to generate more engagement. As long as they tie back to your offerings, then the memes in question will prove effective.
"I can just create my own meme." If someone tells you that a meme can just be created, not unlike a blog post, then they are lying. The only way that a meme comes to life is if people share it enough times. The more that an image, video, or message is passed through the Internet, the more popular it becomes among various groups. This is how the majority of memes originate, so to say that they can be manufactured would be a lie.
"Memes are fairly new." It's fair to say that memes are relatively new, given how recently they've become part of popular culture, but this isn't entirely true. There are many people that believe that they date back to the 70s with comic strips. Others believe they go back even further to the early 20s. Your mileage may vary, depending on what you believe, but companies such as fishbat will tell you that memes are older than most would believe.
"Memes come and go so quickly." It's believed that memes are fleeting, but not all of them follow this rule. In fact, there are many that have not only lasted throughout the years but are still routinely shared online. The sarcastic Willy Wonka meme is a prime example. The mocking SpongeBob image has also remained popular. These are just a few instances of memes that have been able to persevere.
"Memes are meant for fun, not business." Who's to say that they can't be used for both? Depending on the business you run, it's entirely possible to make memes part of your social media strategy. In fact, it's recommended that you do so, provided they're applicable, as these images and videos tend to generate more engagement. As long as they tie back to your offerings, then the memes in question will prove effective.
"I can just create my own meme." If someone tells you that a meme can just be created, not unlike a blog post, then they are lying. The only way that a meme comes to life is if people share it enough times. The more that an image, video, or message is passed through the Internet, the more popular it becomes among various groups. This is how the majority of memes originate, so to say that they can be manufactured would be a lie.
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