How to Make Memes That Resonate with Your Community

Memes have the unique ability to bring people together through shared experiences and laughter. They create a sense of belonging and encourage people to engage with your brand on a deeper level. By crafting memes that resonate with your target audience, you can foster a strong, loyal community that not only appreciates your content but also looks forward to seeing more.

In this blog post, we'll explore the art of creating memes that build an audience and strengthen your community. We'll dive into the role of humor in memes and provide practical tips for crafting memes that resonate with your target audience. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting, this guide will help you harness memes' power to create a thriving online community.

But, how do memes bring together a community?

Yeah, sure memes are fun. But, do they really bring together a community? Seriously? Let's convince you

• The "We Rate Dogs" Twitter account, created in 2015, is a prime example of how memes can bring a community together. With over 9 million followers, the account shares user-submitted dog photos with humorous captions, creating a shared experience through inside jokes and references that foster a sense of exclusivity and belonging.
• Research backs the power of memes to bring people together. A New York Times study found that memes can create a shared identity, help people feel more connected to others with similar interests, and provide a source of humor and relief to cope with stress and anxiety.
• Another example is the "Bernie Sanders Mittens" meme that went viral during the 2021 U.S. Presidential Inauguration. The meme featured a grumpy-looking Sanders wearing mittens, photoshopped into various hilarious scenarios. It spread rapidly across social media, with people from all walks of life sharing their own versions and laughing together, even inspiring a charitable campaign.

How do you make memes that bring a community together?

Identify your community's shared interests and experiences

One of the first things successful meme creators do is simply engage with their audience. They read through comments, send out surveys, and even hop on direct message conversations to get a feel for what makes their community tick. It's through these interactions that they discover the common threads that tie their community together.

For example, a creator might notice that many of their followers are united by a love of puns and wordplay. The community members often leave comments on posts trying to one-up each other with clever quips and witty responses. Armed with this knowledge, the creator starts incorporating more pun-based memes into their content mix, and the response is incredible. The community feels seen and appreciated, and they are eager to engage with and share the memes that speak directly to their interests.

So, how do successful meme creators go about gaining these valuable insights? Here are a few strategies that have proven effective:

• Engage with the audience regularly through comments, DMs, and surveys
• Pay attention to the types of content and memes that generate the most engagement and discussion
• Look for common themes, jokes, and references that pop up repeatedly in the community's interactions
• Don't be afraid to ask for feedback and suggestions directly from community members

By putting in the time and effort to understand their audience on a deeper level, content creators can create memes that truly bring their community together and foster a sense of belonging.

Choose relatable and inclusive topics

When it comes to choosing topics for your memes, it's crucial to prioritize relatability and inclusivity. The goal is to create content that resonates with a wide range of your community members, making them feel seen, understood, and connected to one another

One effective approach is to focus on shared experiences or challenges that many of your community members can relate to. For example, if your community is primarily made up of college students, you might create memes about the struggles of pulling all-nighters, dealing with group projects, or navigating the ups and downs of campus life. By tapping into these common experiences, you create a sense of camaraderie and belonging within your community.

It's also important to be mindful of the diversity within your community and strive to create memes that are inclusive and welcoming to all. This means avoiding topics or jokes that could be seen as offensive, insensitive, or alienating to certain groups of people. Instead, focus on themes that bring people together and celebrate the things that unite your community, such as shared values, goals, or passions.

Another way to ensure your memes are relatable and inclusive is to listen to feedback from your community members. Pay attention to the comments and reactions your memes receive, and be open to constructive criticism or suggestions for improvement.

Ultimately, the key to choosing relatable and inclusive meme topics is to put yourself in your community members' shoes. Ask yourself:

• What experiences or challenges do many of my community members share?
• What values or passions unite my community?
• How can I celebrate the diversity within my community and make everyone feel included?
• Are there any topics or jokes that might be divisive or alienating to some community members?

Determine the best platforms for sharing your memes

Not all social media platforms are created equal, and each has its own unique culture, audience, and best practices. By taking the time to identify where your community is most active and tailoring your meme strategy accordingly, you can maximize your impact and foster meaningful connections with your followers.

One of the first things to consider is where your target audience spends most of their time online. Different demographics tend to gravitate towards different platforms, so it's essential to do your research and go where your people are. For example, if your community is primarily made up of younger, visually-oriented individuals, you might find that Instagram or TikTok are the best places to share your memes. On the other hand, if your community is more focused on news and current events, Twitter might be a better fit.

Once you've identified the platforms where your community is most engaged, it's important to tailor your meme format and style to each platform's unique culture and best practices. What works on Twitter might not work on Facebook, and what resonates on Instagram might fall flat on LinkedIn.

For example, if you're sharing memes on Instagram, you'll want to focus on high-quality visuals and snappy, witty captions that are easy to read and engage with. You might also want to experiment with different formats, such as carousel posts or Instagram Stories, to keep your content fresh and interesting. On Twitter, on the other hand, you'll want to focus on short, punchy memes that can be easily retweeted and shared, and you might want to incorporate trending hashtags or timely references to current events.

Ask yourself:

• Where does my target audience spend most of their time online?
• What types of memes and content formats resonate best on each platform?
• How can I tailor my meme style and voice to fit each platform's unique culture and expectations?
• What posting schedule will keep my community engaged and anticipating new content?

Make memes that align with your community

Humor is a powerful tool for creating connections and fostering a sense of belonging, but it's important to wield it wisely and with sensitivity to your audience's diverse perspectives and experiences.

The first step in creating memes that resonate with your community's humor style is to use the insights you gained from engaging with your followers in Step 1. By paying attention to the types of jokes, references, and tone that your community members use in their own interactions, you can start to build a picture of what makes them laugh and what falls flat.

For example, if you notice that your community enjoys witty wordplay and puns, you might focus on creating memes that incorporate clever turns of phrase or unexpected juxtapositions. If your community is more into self-deprecating humor or relatable 'struggle' memes, you might focus on creating content that pokes fun at common challenges or frustrations in a lighthearted way.

One effective way to create memes that align with your community's sense of humor while also fostering engagement and connection is to use them as conversation starters. Instead of just posting a meme and hoping for likes and shares, try asking a question or encouraging your followers to share their own experiences and perspectives in the comments.

By using your memes as a springboard for conversation and engagement, you create opportunities for your community members to connect with each other and with you on a deeper level.

Some key things to keep in mind as you craft memes that align with your community's sense of humor:

• Use the insights you've gained from engaging with your followers to inform your meme style and tone
• Avoid humor that relies on stereotypes or punches down on marginalized groups
• Focus on creating memes that bring people together and celebrate your community's shared interests and experiences
• Use your memes as conversation starters by asking questions and encouraging engagement in the comments
• Respond to comments and engage with your followers directly to build relationships and show appreciation
• Stay attuned to your audience's feedback and be willing to adapt and refine your approach over time

A Case Study: American Museum of Natural History's Science-Themed memes

Background:

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is one of the world's largest and most respected scientific and cultural institutions, with a mission to promote scientific literacy and inspire a love of learning about the natural world. In recent years, the museum has faced the challenge of engaging younger, digitally-native audiences who may not be as naturally drawn to traditional museum content.

Strategy:

To reach and engage these audiences, the AMNH decided to experiment with using memes on its social media accounts. The museum's social media team began creating and sharing science-themed memes that tapped into popular online trends and humor to make complex scientific topics more accessible and engaging for its followers.

Implementation:

The AMNH's meme strategy involved a few key tactics:

• Leveraging popular meme formats: The museum's social media team kept a close eye on trending meme formats and adapted them to fit scientific themes and messages. For example, they might use the "Drake Hotline Bling" meme format to compare two different species of animals, or the "Distracted Boyfriend" meme to illustrate a scientific concept.
• Using humor to make science relatable: The memes often used humor and pop culture references to make scientific ideas more relatable and engaging for a general audience. For example, one meme compared the size of a prehistoric sloth to a modern-day couch potato, while another used a popular "The Simpsons" quote to explain the concept of natural selection.
• Encouraging user engagement: The AMNH's memes were designed to encourage user engagement and sharing. Many of the memes included questions or prompts that invited followers to respond with their own jokes or observations in the comments, creating a sense of community and dialogue around the scientific topics being discussed.

Results:

The AMNH's science-themed meme strategy was a resounding success. The museum's social media accounts saw a significant increase in engagement and follower growth, with some memes receiving tens of thousands of likes, comments, and shares.

The memes also helped to build the museum's reputation as a relevant and engaging source of scientific information, particularly among younger audiences. By speaking the language of the internet and using humor to make complex topics more accessible, the AMNH was able to foster a sense of curiosity and excitement about science that went beyond its traditional museum programming.

Lessons Learned:

The AMNH's success with science-themed memes offers a few key lessons for other organizations looking to use memes to engage their communities:

• Stay on top of online trends: Meme formats and trends evolve quickly, so it's important to stay up-to-date and be willing to experiment with new ideas.
• Use humor strategically: Humor can be a powerful tool for making complex or niche topics more relatable and engaging, but it's important to use it strategically and in a way that aligns with your brand voice and values.
• Encourage user engagement: Memes are a two-way conversation, so it's important to create content that encourages user engagement and dialogue. By inviting your followers to participate in the conversation, you can build a sense of community and ownership around your brand or mission.
• Don't be afraid to take risks: Memes are a playful and informal medium, so it's okay to take some risks and have fun with your content. As long as you stay true to your brand voice and values, experimenting with memes can be a great way to show a more human and relatable side of your organization.

Ultimately, the key to using memes for community-building is to view them not just as a content format, but as an opportunity for genuine connection and dialogue. By staying attuned to your audience's interests and perspectives, and using memes as a springboard for engagement and conversation, you can create a vibrant and loyal community that will champion your brand for years to come