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 haven't been around for long." Seeing as how memes come and go in terms of popularity, it's easy to think that they, as a whole, are new. This isn't exactly the case, as there are certain examples that go back even before the Internet age. Names like www.fishbat.com can tell you that the term "meme" was created by Richard Dawkins in 1976, the term in question referring to how information spreads. Memes might even date back earlier, but this is information that most people don't know.
"All memes eventually become irrelevant." Even though many, if not most, memes fade away, others stand the test of time. In fact, they are still used in situations that call for them, specifically on social media. If someone were to make a disagreeable tweet, another person could make a mocking response with the sarcastic SpongeBob meme attached to it. Not all memes have to become irrelevant, provided the general audience can relate to them.
"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.
"If I want to start a meme, I can just create one." Memes cannot simply be "created" like blog posts or press releases. The reason for this is that they require involvement from the general public. If an image is humorous enough, then one person will share it. Soon, another person will do the same. Before long, it will be passed throughout the Internet, thus bringing life to a meme. To say that they can simply be created may just be the biggest myth of all.
"Memes haven't been around for long." Seeing as how memes come and go in terms of popularity, it's easy to think that they, as a whole, are new. This isn't exactly the case, as there are certain examples that go back even before the Internet age. Names like www.fishbat.com can tell you that the term "meme" was created by Richard Dawkins in 1976, the term in question referring to how information spreads. Memes might even date back earlier, but this is information that most people don't know.
"All memes eventually become irrelevant." Even though many, if not most, memes fade away, others stand the test of time. In fact, they are still used in situations that call for them, specifically on social media. If someone were to make a disagreeable tweet, another person could make a mocking response with the sarcastic SpongeBob meme attached to it. Not all memes have to become irrelevant, provided the general audience can relate to them.
"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.
"If I want to start a meme, I can just create one." Memes cannot simply be "created" like blog posts or press releases. The reason for this is that they require involvement from the general public. If an image is humorous enough, then one person will share it. Soon, another person will do the same. Before long, it will be passed throughout the Internet, thus bringing life to a meme. To say that they can simply be created may just be the biggest myth of all.
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