Let’s be real - no one’s stopping to read your 7-slide carousel about your “game-changing product.”

It’s 2025. Everyone’s scrolling fast. Attention spans are short. We don’t really read content anymore. We skim. We swipe. We move on. 

Memes are quick, fun, and easy to understand. But more importantly - they make people feel something instantly.
And when that happens, people remember your brand.

That said, this doesn’t work for everyone. Memes and reels work best for:

• Consumer-first brands (skincare, D2C, tech, lifestyle)
• Startups trying to build community and virality
• Companies with a clear cultural POV or niche

If you’re a legacy B2B brand? You’ll need a different kind of strategy.

Should every brand do meme marketing? We hope not.

• If your audience expects seriousness, like in healthcare, finance, or law, a light or snarky meme may feel tone-deaf and erode trust.
• The same meme approach may feel native on Instagram or TikTok but fall flat on LinkedIn or corporate email lists.
• Younger audiences may expect bold, witty content that breaks the rules, feels real; older audiences or professional users expect polished, respectful communication.
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Let’s take three examples:

Swiggy Instamart: Their brand thrives on chaotic humor, pop culture, and Gen-Z energy. A meme about late-night cravings? Perfect.

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Crumble Pakistan

A dessert brand that understands internet culture like a pro.

They’ve mastered the art of meme-first marketing: combining relatable humor and trending formats that make people laugh and crave their product.

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PharmEasy: Their brand deals with health, medicine, and trust. A meme-heavy approach would feel off. When you're selling life-critical meds, a joke can go wrong—even if it’s clever.

Meme marketing is not just slapping your product into a trending template.

• Be part of culture, not above it.
  Memes work when they speak the language of your audience. Not when they feel overly branded or forced.

• Build a meme voice, not just a one-off viral post.
  If people start recognizing your meme tone week after week, that’s when you own mindshare.
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• Know when not to meme.
  Don’t force it if:
  
  • It clashes with your brand tone
  • Your audience won’t get the reference
  • You’re copying a trend without context
  • You see memes as a shortcut, not a brand strategy

So when should you not do meme marketing?

Don’t do it if:

• It doesn’t align with your brand tone
• It doesn’t speak to your target audience
• You’re copying trends without understanding the context
• You see it as a shortcut instead of a long-term brand play

Meme marketing works when your audience expects it, relates to it, and shares it. If none of that applies? It’s okay to sit it out.

But here’s the thing it’s not for everyone. And it’s definitely not “just for fun.”
Meme marketing isn’t “just for fun.”
It’s fast-moving, sticky brand communication — when done right.
It opens doors, sparks conversations, and sometimes, it's the reason someone becomes a customer in the first place.

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