Dive summary:
- Internet memes are social media phenomenon that cannot be ignored, but their impact on brands long term seem to be minimal according to a small study involved search results of brands such as Beyonce, Manti Te’o, and McDonalds who have recently been involved in meme's. [see the full data at Search Engine Land]
- Purposefully involving your brand in an internet meme has some short term advantages including people talking about your brand, adding a human connection for relationship building, and a small amount of linking.
- In the long term, memes do not help or hurt a brand in terms of search ranking or overall internet image, but brands that choose to participate in memes, like the Harlem Shake, can inspire a more human and deeper audience connection.
From the article:
"People want to relate to a brand. Being top of the search engine doesn’t replace being top of mind. The Internet is a tool to drive people to your brand and memes are a creative outlet to help deepen this relationship. These quick and immediate wins are what keep your audience coming back for more."
