Instagram memes are taking over the internet, and it’s no wonder.
These relatable, relevant, and highly-shareable bits of content are perfect for building brand engagement and growth on the platform.
Wondering how you can incorporate memes into your content marketing strategy?
We’re breaking down what makes a great meme – as well as how you can use them to help grow your business – below:
What Are Instagram Memes?
An Instagram meme is a piece of content – be it a moment in pop culture or a universally cute animal – used to convey a relatable sentiment with an audience.
They can be static or dynamic, typically featuring a combination of text and imagery to visually get in on the conversation.
And their range is real.
Instagram memes can take shape via a funny red carpet moment or a child falling asleep in their pasta:
Think of them as an inside joke, a way to leverage current events from film and television to politics and everyday life.
Instagram memes can be used to build affinity with your audience, illustrate your brand values, or simply inject a bit of personality to your page.
And the best part? When done well, memes drive a ton of engagement and help build community on the app – more on that below.
FYI: Later is a social media management platform trusted by over 4M businesses, creators, and marketers. Sign up today so you can plan and schedule your Instagram posts in advance with Later. Sign up today – for free!
Why Instagram Memes Are the Hottest Growth Hack Right Now
ICYMI: memes are having a major moment on Instagram.
Due to their relatable, relevant, and highly shareable nature, Instagram memes are an effective way for brands and businesses to gain a ton of likes, comments, and shares.
Some of the biggest, most engaged accounts on Instagram exist for the sole purpose of creating and sharing memes.
Just take a look at @fuckjerry, @ladbible, and @daquan – all of which have over 10 million followers.
And while memes have always been a popular format, the introduction of video memes and the pivot away from picture-perfect imagery has seen an explosion of memes across the board.
In fact, according to a survey by Ypulse 55% of 13-35-year-olds send memes every week – and 30% send them every day.
So the appetite is there.
From beauty brands to fashion houses and even the food industry, everyone is using these bite-sized bits of content to skyrocket their engagement and appeal to a Gen Z and Millennial audience.
Ready to hop on the meme train? Start scheduling your Instagram memes with Later today!
How to Make an Instagram Meme
Creating your first meme can take a bit of trial.You’ve got to strike the right balance between being on-brand, timely visuals, and finding the right sentiment that aligns with your audience.
It’s as much an art form as it is science – here’s how to get started:
Step #1: Find Inspiration Online
One of the easiest ways to enter the meme arena is by following pages like @sainthoax, @mignonettetakespictures, and @sarcasm_only.
They’re the ultimate destination when it comes to finding inspiration for pop culture moments and keeping a watchful eye on upcoming trends.
And because these accounts are dedicated to jumping on timely current events, they’re always the first to post a usable template when any situation arises.
That way you can follow suit and cater your content to your audience accordingly.
Step #2: Create Your Meme
Great news: Most memes follow a similar, fairly basic format (often using Instagram's built-in fonts) – so you don't have to have advanced design skills to create viral memes.
Here’s how you can create static and video memes:
How to Make Static Memes:
Creating a static meme is actually much easier than you'd imagine.
Tools like Imgflip, Mematic, and Imgur, let you add your own unique spin to an existing meme in a flash.
Simply browse from a collection of memes like the confused math lady, the distracted boyfriend, and countless others:
Once you’ve selected a default meme from the library you can customize your meme to your heart's desire!
Add text, images, stickers, drawings, and spacing to best fit your brand’s aesthetic, and voila, a meme is born.
See how Meta Creative used the distracted boyfriend template to showcase their office perks:
How to Make Video Memes:
If you’re looking to create a video meme, using a design app like Videoleap has got you covered!
That way you can add text overlays that are pinned to parts of a moving image.
Take a look at a video meme we created here at Later using Videoleap:
With a simple interface, the app lets you cut, combine and layer video clips to transform your creativity into memorable memes.
We break it all down in our quick YouTube tutorial below:
