Do you want to connect with the next generation through your digital marketing methods? Meme marketing can help you because it doesn’t seem like someone is trying to sell something. Even Gen Z relates to ways that are more humorous, current, and genuine. Meme marketing is the best way if your audience falls into this category. However, simply following trends, popular movie clips, and postures won’t help you unless they align with your goals and marketing strategies.
You can do it effectively by doing just one thing: “Understanding how popular brands have used meme marketing so far.” It will help you get some inspiration and ideas. We will walk you through popular meme marketing examples that you can also use henceforth. We have also shared some effective ways to implement meme marketing strategies.
So, without further ado, unlock the ways to your next promising digital marketing plan.
What Is Meme Marketing?
Let’s first understand what meme marketing is. Using memes that spread rapidly on online platforms for marketing purposes is called meme marketing. These are mostly popular images that resonate with people in a humorous way for various purposes. Businesses and brands use them to promote their products and services and increase their visibility.
Memes are mostly images, videos, or text that reflect internet culture and quickly spread on social media. This type of marketing especially works well with Gen Z and Millennials, who love humor. Memes help brands feel more human, boost engagement, and increase brand awareness, and that is all without sounding too “salesy.”
Example:
Netflix used memes of “Wednesday Addams” to promote its series Wednesday. The memes were hilarious, and fans shared them widely. It helped the series get even more popular before its launch.
Why Meme Marketing Resonates with Gen Z?
It’s not like Meme marketing only attracts Gen Z; Millennials also find it funny and engaging. But, since Gen Z is the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age, they can resonate more with this trend. They use social media and online platforms more than Millennials, so they discover memes online first.
Whether it’s a short-video platform, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube, viral memes are present everywhere. People naturally comment, share, and like memes. They mostly share them with their friends, colleagues, and then their family members. They are quick and relatable, so people often use them instead of a text to express something they can’t explain in words.
According to a report by Persuasion Nation, businesses that employ memes in their marketing are 60% more likely to attract purchases. Memes have around 10 times more reach and 60% organic interaction than standard marketing graphics.
Successful Meme Marketing Campaigns
You must have come across some memes online. Some are the most engaging and funny, while others you barely notice. Have a look at some memes used by big brands.
1. Netflix’s Show Memes:
Netflix is a popular platform to watch series, shows, and movies. It’s also popular to use its own shows for meme marketing. It selects the dialogues, clips, and styles that are most likely to generate buzz online or have already done so to create memes. It helps the brand create curiosity in people who have not yet watched the show. In the same way, a lot of people comment beneath the meme post on social media, which is good for its reach and popularity.
Netflix effectively used memes to promote popular shows like “Stranger Things” and “Money Heist.” By creating and sharing memes related to their content, they engaged younger audiences and encouraged user-generated content.
2. Dunkin’ and Charli D’Amelio:
Here is another example of how brands have used memes smartly. Dunkin’ wanted to connect with Gen Z, so they teamed up with Charli D’Amelio, one of TikTok’s biggest stars. Since Gen Z loves TikTok, memes, and influencers more than traditional ads, it helped the company to connect better with its audience.
They created a drink called “The Charli.” Charli created some videos drinking it, and fans went wild. Thousands of followers posted memes holding the Charli drink. And then Dunkin’ joined the meme culture by reposting content. It used humorous captions to maintain engagement with the audience.
3. Rhode Skin:
Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand, Rhode, gained popularity among Gen Z and millennials. But why did it get so much attention? Hailey used her own social media to promote the brand. She posted videos using the products. She talked about her routine that how it starts, when, and what she applies to her skin. Her glazed donut skin quickly became viral.
The marketing was simple, clean, and trendy, just like what Gen Z loves. A lot of fans created memes, TikTok, and funny skincare reactions showing before and after skin.
What You Need to Do for a Successful Meme Marketing?
If your brand also demands to target Gen Z and Millennials, meme marketing can help you attract the target audience effectively. But, for this, you need to be careful about some things. Let’s understand the secrets of successful meme marketing for your business.
1. Understand Your Audience
First, understand your goals and your audience. It will clear half of your confusion and dilemma. Well, memes can be one-size-fits-all, but they can backfire negatively. So, be careful with your decisions. Learn what makes your audience laugh and what values resonate with them.
- Data shows 60% of social media users share memes to express emotion or relate to others.
- Gen Z and millennials are the main meme-sharers. Over 75% of people aged 13–36 share memes on a weekly basis.
- So, choose humor that aligns with your brand tone and audience culture.
2. Ride the Trend, Fast
Trends come and go; only some remain for a long time. But you should strike while the iron is hot, which means use the trend when it’s trending, not after it’s gone. Successful meme campaigns have been those that used the trend at the right time. Memes generally remain popular for just about four months. So quickly find the trendy one and use it for your brand.
- A 2025 study confirms TikTok and Instagram Reels are top platforms for meme trends.
- Watch trending hashtags, sounds, or formats and ride the trend early for better reach.
3. Keep It Simple & Relatable
Simple is surprising nowadays. You should be creative, but it doesn’t mean creating a meme overloaded with unnecessary text or images. Just keep it simple, clean, and to the point. The best memes are easy to understand in seconds and spark an emotional connection.
- Marketing data shows that memes achieve 10 times more reach and 60% more organic engagement than traditional visuals.
- Write short lines, a clear message, and soft humor. This combination will ensure quick shares.
4. Stay Authentic & On‑Brand
Meme marketing might not be suitable for all types of businesses. To figure out whether it fits yours, first analyse your goals and be authentic with what you do. This type of digital marketing only works if it fits your brand’s voice. Forced memes can backfire.
- Companies note a 25% higher engagement when memes match their identity.
- Remember, authentic tone also matters.
- Stay genuine in every aspect, and notice how people react.
5. Encourage Community Participation
You can ask your audience to create memes. This is a proactive step that several businesses take to increase the virality of their posts. Just imagine your meme marketers are not working, because your audience is creating memes. The audience does it willingly many times. Since your audience is huge, you get many meme ideas from them. So, ask your audience to help create memes or share their own experience.
- Brands using community memes see big traction, like Dunkin’s and GUCCI’s collaborative campaigns.
- Ask questions like: “What’s your worst Monday morning meme?”
Final Thought
Meme marketing can be a humorous yet effective way to connect with millions of people, mostly Gen Z. So, if you want to win Gen Z’s heart, speak their language. And right now, the language is memes. They are not just funny pictures, they are a powerful way of storytelling and brand awareness. Meme marketing works because it feels real, not forced. It’s also fast, fun, and emotional. Offers all the things Gen Z values in content.
But remember, memes alone don’t build brands. Strategy does. So, stay relevant and listen to your audience. Use memes to start conversations, not just sell. Do it right, and your brand will not just go viral; it will become part of the culture.
