Although most people just look at memes as a funny photo with words on the internet, businesses are starting to utilize them in social media marketing. Everyone loves a good laugh, and memes help do just that. There are multiple different definitions of memes, so I have added some here. Meme Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster Memes grew in popularity on social media during the 2010’s and haven’t looked back since. Many people love it when their social media feed is filled with these humorous little posts. It definitely took a while, but it seems as if businesses have truly picked up on this popular trend.
One of the most commonly used memes
One of the most popular memes over the past decade has been a Spiderman meme. This meme is from one of the older comic book shows where two different spidermen meet and see each other for the first time. This meme is very versatile and can be used in multiple different ways. It has been used by multiple different businesses to convey different meanings. The meme has even become so popular that there is software online that will help you edit whatever you want onto Spiderman’s face to personalize the meme. “spiderman” Meme Templates – Imgflip This is probably how the businesses utilize this unique meme. They put their own touch on the meme by adding photos of something or someone to give the meme a special meaning.
Wendy’s Take on the Universal Meme
One business that has used this popular meme is Wendy’s,. a popular fast food chain. They are known for having one of the snarkier social media accounts. Here is the link to their x account : Posts with replies by Wendy’s (@Wendys) / X They tend to try to add humor in many situations. When they saw this meme, they saw an opportunity and ran with it. In their version of this meme, they decided to replace one Spiderman with their logo and the other with Gordon Ramsey. This makes so much sense because Gordon Ramsey is a highly acclaimed chef.
Wendy’s account is known for being rude and humorous. They cleverly compared themselves to Gordon Ramsay, and it works because it’s funny to see a fast-food chain take on a world-renowned chef. People don’t go to Wendy’s for a fine dining experience; they go for convenience and affordability. Wendy’s also insults people on social media, which may be controversial, but it aligns with their brand. This comedic approach has helped them gain millions of followers. Though it may not be the most ethical method, Wendy’s has succeeded with it, similar to how Gordon Ramsay mixes humor with cooking advice on his shows. People love Ramsay for his personality, and Wendy’s capitalized on that comparison. Their meme strategy has been one of the funniest in the business world today.
Why the meme worked
This meme worked well for Wendy’s for several reasons. They used a popular meme that fans immediately understood, which is important since confusing memes can miss the mark. Wendy’s did a great job with a simple and familiar meme. The comedic comparison to Gordon Ramsay adds a fun twist, as it’s amusing for a fast-food chain to liken themselves to a famous chef. Fans can’t help but laugh when they see this. Wendy’s also recognized how to use their social media, embracing their playful attitude towards others rather than shying away from it, which fits well with this meme. Since Ramsay shares a similar style, the comparison makes sense. Additionally, the awkward photo used adds to the humor. Overall, Wendy’s nailed this meme, and I look forward to their future content.
Conclusion
Over the next few years, I think we will see a spike in meme usage for businesses on social media. This makes total sense since it allows businesses to create likeable content for their customers. Memes allow companies to show their personalities while still posting about their company. This is good because consumers get tired of seeing promotion after promotion on a company’s social media page. These memes will allow customers to relate to these pages instead of just seeing them as a walking billboard. Wendy’s did a great job showing the world how a meme can be used to promote their own business, and I think most companies will follow this trend in the near future.
Teaching Social Media 