The Internet can be a pretty angry place sometimes. People arguing about politics and social realities and pouring their everyday frustrations out on others is a sight familiar to many. Luckily, there’s a wonderful antidote to all of that: memes. At least for a short time. What we’ve got here today for you, Pandas, is a collection of memes about everything and anything. A little bit of animals, a little bit of absurdity, and some funny captions. They’re all from the Instagram page The Hilarious Ted, an account with 3.7 million fans. So, what are you waiting for? Keep scrolling to see them all, and let us know which ones you liked the best in the comments! Since memes have become so ubiquitous, we decided to explore their use in marketing. And to know more about that, Bored Panda reached out to Lindsey Gamble, an influencer marketing and creator economy consultant. He told us how useful memes can be for brands and reflected on some successful campaigns. Read his expert insights below! We also got in touch with the creator of this meme page. Check out our short conversation with the mind behind “Hilarious Ted” below! For now, his goals are to reach a more global audience and collaborate with famous brands to turn “Hilarious Ted” into a solid revenue source. “My secret is posting every day non-stop (2-4 posts a day) and follow[ing] the trends,” he tells Bored Panda. He says that’s his secret to success; after some time of doing just that, it becomes clear what the followers want to see. “Memes have a unique ability to create familiarity, even if people don’t know the exact origins of a meme—they often recognize it when they see it,” Gamble explains. “For brands looking to stand out and reach new audiences, especially younger ones, memes offer a way to connect in a fun and relatable manner.”
Using memes can also be very efficient. “Scrappy brands, in particular, don’t need to invest a lot of time and effort into creating meme content,” he points out. “Memes are typically designed to be simple and unpolished, which makes them easier to produce compared to new, original content.” And, of course, it’s also about the insane shareability aspect of memes that make them so effective. “With platforms like Instagram focusing more on shareable content (content shared via direct messages) memes, which are often shared, [it] can increase the chances that a brand is seen,” the social media expert says. “These are both memes that most people familiar with online content will recognize. They work well because Chipotle adds its own twist, making the meme feel refreshed and relevant, even if viewers have seen the original version before,” Gamble tells us. “Memes tend to have a short shelf-life, so brands need to respond quickly to capitalize on a trending meme. Delays in posting, often caused by internal processes or legal reviews, can result in missing the moment.” He also says it’s possible to overdo it: “It’s okay for a brand not to jump on every meme.” “These creators know the landscape well, are constantly tracking trends, and can help brands navigate the fast-paced meme world. By collaborating with meme creators, brands can tap into their expertise and create more authentic, engaging content.” “This way, the team managing social media can move quickly when a relevant meme arises and avoid missing opportunities while still adhering to legal or internal processes for brand safety.” Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
