What is Funny/Meme Ad?

Funny/Meme Ad is a kind of marketing tactic that has become widely popular due to the rise of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Utilizing humor or trendy memes in advertisements can make the marketing message more relatable, engaging, and less intrusive. Since humor often elicits emotional responses, it enhances the ad's ability to grab attention and resonate with the audience, thereby helping to generate website traffic.

The history of humor in advertising is almost as old as advertising itself. However, the integration of "memes" - a term coined by Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene" but has found its modern definition in referencing viral internet content – became a prominent marketing strategy with the advent of social media. The vitality of internet memes combined with humor can provoke shared laughter and a sense of communal understanding, thus improving brand recall and customer engagement.

Examples of Funny/Meme Ad

  1. Old Spice's "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" Campaign: Old Spice utilized humor and bizarre scenarios in a series of commercials that went viral, reminding people about their long-established brand in a fun and engaging way.

  2. Wendy's Twitter Account: Wendy's is famous for its humor-infused social media presence, particularly on Twitter, where their sarcasm and wit are well-known, driving tons of engagement and keeping Wendy's top of mind for many.

  3. Dollar Shave Club’s "Our Blades Are Fing Great" Video:* A low-budget yet hilarious video captured the attention of millions of internet users, turning Dollar Shave Club into a recognized brand overnight.

  4. Ben & Jerry's Punny Ice Cream Names: Ben & Jerry's uses humor through punny names for their flavors - engaging customers with not just tasty ice cream, but also laugh-inducing names.

  5. Denny's Social Media Presence: Embracing the weird and funny side of internet culture, Denny's social media posts often use popular memes and absurd humor to reach their audience, driving engagement and brand recognition.

Marketing Tactics Similar to Funny/Meme Ad

  • Satirical Ad: A marketing approach that uses sarcasm, ridicule, or irony to critique or mock common beliefs, ideas, or people. It's a distinct form of humor that can make people think and discuss the advert's subject.

  • Viral marketing: This approach seeks to promote a product or service by encouraging an audience to share the message on their social networks, mirroring the natural spread of memes.

  • User Generated Content (UGC): A powerful marketing strategy that involves encouraging and leveraging content created by a brand's fans or followers. It's often authentic and relatable, similar to meme content.

  • Influencer Marketing: Engaging influencers who already have a substantial online following to promote your product, service, or brand, often these influencers use humor or memes in their content to engage their followers.

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