How to Make Memes for Your Community
Start with something your group already jokes about. Give it a clear caption, then check how another member reads it.
In this article
Find a shared reference
A community meme starts with a situation people in the group recognize: the book vote that takes all evening, the gaming session that goes one round too long, or the running club that spends longer choosing breakfast than choosing a route.
Write down the habit in one sentence before looking for an image. Name what happens and what makes it funny. If you need a long account of who said what last Tuesday, choose a simpler situation or add a short explanation to the post.
An inside joke can still welcome a new member. A line such as ‘Our book club’s five-minute vote, one hour later’ gives someone enough context to read the meme without knowing the full conversation.
A book-club example
This is a fictional example you can adapt to your group. It shows how a broad complaint becomes a specific joke.
The situation
Our book club says choosing next month’s book will take five minutes. We spend an hour discussing more options.
The first draft
When the group chat gets out of hand.
That caption could describe almost any chat. The book vote gives the joke a subject. Drake’s rejecting and approving panels let you show the choice the group was meant to make and the activity it got caught up in.
- Top panel
- Choosing next month’s book
- Bottom panel
- Discussing 12 more options
Add context in the post
Our book club’s five-minute vote, one hour later.
An optional invitation
What would you put in the bottom panel?
Members could replace the second caption with their own familiar detour. Leave the question out if the group just wants to share the joke; a meme does not need an engagement prompt every time.
Add or replace text layers with the two lines above or your own group’s version. Remove any remaining placeholder text, check the layout and download the image.
Edit the Drake templateMake your own community meme
Use the example as a starting point. A different group will have a different reference and may need a different format.
1. Pick one recurring situation
Look for something members already mention: a regular event, a shared hobby or a minor frustration. Write it as a sentence someone in the group would say. ‘We keep adding books to a vote that was supposed to be finished’ is easier to work with than ‘make a funny community meme.’
2. Choose a format that fits the reaction
Use a two-panel preference template for a choice, a reaction face for surprise, or an expectation-and-reality layout for a mismatch. Read the image before adding text. Its expression should support the joke you intend.
3. Keep the caption specific and readable
Name the group’s situation, then cut words the picture already explains. Preview the image at the size people will see on a phone. If a caption crowds the panel, shorten it or move the setup into the accompanying post.
4. Ask a member to read it
Show the draft to someone who knows the group. Ask what they think the joke is about and whether it singles anyone out. If newcomers are likely to see it, ask someone unfamiliar with the reference to read it too. Revise where their reading differs from yours.
5. Share it where the group normally talks
Use the group’s usual channel and follow its posting rules. Add the context sentence if needed. You can invite another caption or version, then respond to the people who choose to join in. If someone raises a concern, address it before posting more variations.
For help placing captions and exporting the image, follow the step-by-step meme creation guide.
Check before posting
Read the draft once as the member who knows the story and once as the person encountering it for the first time.
Private conversations
Ask before using someone’s message, photo or personal story. A screenshot can reveal names and details beyond the joke. You can usually write a generalized situation without copying the private conversation.
The person in the joke
A shared habit gives members room to recognize themselves. A caption aimed at one member’s mistake may read as a public put-down. Check with the person involved if the reference identifies them.
Newcomer context
Explain the event or habit in a short post caption. Avoid making someone’s unfamiliarity with the group the punchline. If the reference takes more explanation than the joke, save it for a smaller conversation.
Group rules
Check the group’s rules on spoilers, adult content, promotions and references to other members or communities. If you are unsure how a rule applies, ask a moderator before posting.
For a platform-specific example, Reddit’s moderator rules call for clear community topics and expectations and prohibit directing members to harass other users or communities. See the Reddit Moderator Code of Conduct.
Check the image’s source and permissions when planning how to use it. Our U.S. meme copyright guide covers the rights questions a template alone cannot answer.
Find a template or try an idea
If you know the situation but need an image, search for a group struggling to make a decision and inspect the expressions in the results. You can also browse meme templates when you want to compare formats.
Try describing the situation to the AI meme generator
Our book club says choosing next month’s book will take five minutes, then spends an hour discussing more options.
Planning a brand’s public feed? The social media meme marketing guide covers channel choices, approvals and campaign planning.
Common questions about community memes
How do I find an inside joke as a new member?
Read the conversations members make public and ask about references you do not understand. Start with a shared activity you have experienced yourself. You do not need to imitate every joke to take part.
Can I use a joke from a private chat?
Ask the people involved before quoting their words or sharing their images outside the conversation. If the joke is about a common situation, write a new caption without names, screenshots or identifying details. Check the group’s own rules too.
Do I need to use a trending template?
Choose a template whose expression and structure fit your idea. A familiar format is useful when members understand it, but a trend does not tell you whether the joke suits your group.
How can I include people who do not know the reference?
Add one sentence explaining the situation in the post. Ask someone unfamiliar with the reference to read the draft. If they still need a lengthy backstory, choose a broader shared experience.
What if people misunderstand the meme?
Ask what they read into the image and caption. Clarify or revise the part that caused confusion, and listen if the concern is about someone being singled out. A quiet post on its own does not tell you why people did not respond.
Written by
Sanjeev NCCo-founder of Supermeme.ai. Building the default meme generator of the internet since 2022.