Memes are the internet’s inside jokes.
They spread faster than gossip in a small town and cost way less than a billboard in Times Square.
For brands, meme marketing is like sneaking into the group chat without being annoying, if you do it right.
If you do it wrong… well, you end up as the meme, and not in a good way. ( Hope you all remember the latest Coldplay concert 😂)
Source: knowyourmeme
From Netflix roasting its viewers to Deadpool promoting his movie like he was your sarcastic best friend.
Smart brands are using humor in advertising to go viral, win hearts, and, yes, sell more stuff.
If you are wondering, which brands use meme marketing? Then you are in for a surprise.
In this blog, we will analyze the 9 best meme marketing examples, why they worked, and how you can pull off the same magic without spending millions.
What Is Meme Marketing?
Meme Marketing is the practice of using memes, internet jokes, pop culture references, and relatable visuals to promote a brand in a way that feels natural, funny, and shareable.
It is more popular because it skips the polished, “ad-like” style.
Instead, meme marketing by brands uses the same humor people love in group chats and social feeds.
Think witty captions, trending image formats, and quick clips that make you laugh or tag a friend.
It’s less about pushing a product and more about joining a conversation your audience already loves.
The best meme marketing example is the Deadpool movie.
From mocking its posters to posting wild, irreverent jokes, it feels like content you’d scroll past, then share.
The magic? People spread it for you.
One good meme can rack up millions of views without spending a dime.
Why Meme Marketing Works?
It speaks the culture’s language
Meme marketing thrives because it lives where your audience spends their time — in group chats, TikTok feeds, and pop culture moments. When a brand uses that same humor, slang, and relatable humor, it feels like a friend talking with you instead of a company talking at you.
Dodges the ad filter
In digital marketing, people are quick to scroll past anything that looks like a traditional ad. Meme marketing gets past that instinct because it blends in with the viral content people want to see and share.
Built for sharing
Shareable content is at the heart of meme marketing. A single funny meme can be reposted, remixed, and spread across social media, text threads, and forums, multiplying brand exposure without extra ad spend.
Delivers big results on small budgets
One of the biggest benefits of meme marketing is cost-effectiveness. A clever caption and image can generate millions of impressions for the cost of a single post.
Makes brands feel human
From Netflix’s viral posts to Deadpool’s playful marketing campaigns, meme marketing gives brands a personality. People engage more with brands that feel authentic and relatable than with polished, faceless advertising.
9 Viral Meme Marketing Examples That Worked
Deadpool movie campaign
Deadpool didn’t just promote the movie. It pulled off one of the smartest meme marketing moves Hollywood has ever seen.
One week, the poster looked like a Valentine’s rom-com.
Another time, a giant billboard showed nothing but a skull, a poop emoji, and the letter “L.”
Source: Adweek
No title, no logo, just chaos that begged to be shared. The internet turned it into a viral meme overnight.
The genius? The marketing team used meme culture exactly the way fans do, quick, sarcastic, and a little absurd.
On Twitter, Deadpool stayed in character, roasting followers, hijacking trending memes, and making jokes that felt like they belonged in your group chat, not a press release.
Moreover, it also took over many film covers on Walmart shelves, and fans loved this.
Why it worked
This wasn’t advertising disguised as memes. It was a meme-first strategy, built to be shared. Every post felt native to social feeds, which meant fans spread it for free.
Takeaway
If you want meme marketing to work, speak the internet’s language. And don’t be afraid to lean into humor that’s a little offbeat — that’s where the magic spreads.
Bird Box on Netflix
When Bird Box dropped on Netflix in December 2018, it didn’t just get viewers. It got the internet talking.
The post-apocalyptic thriller, starring Sandra Bullock, became an instant meme factory. People turned tense scenes, like Malorie rowing blindfolded, into reaction images, GIFs, and jokes that spread like wildfire on Twitter and Instagram.
The memes weren’t promotional posters or trailers. They were fan-made, relatable, and hilarious.
Source: Knowyourmeme
This is why the Bird Box campaign became a textbook case of meme marketing.
Netflix didn’t need to push ads aggressively.
The audience created the buzz for them, turning scenes into viral content. Every share, retweet, and tag became free exposure.
Why it worked
The memes felt organic, not corporate. They tapped into humor and cultural references people already loved. Viewers became part of the story and part of the marketing team without even knowing it.
Takeaway
The best meme marketing happens when you give your audience moments worth sharing. Let them spread the word for you.
Domino’s GIFEELINGS Campaign
Domino’s wanted to stay top-of-mind with millennials who were getting harder to reach through traditional ads.
Their answer?
GIFFEELINGS — a series of funny, relatable pizza-themed GIFs uploaded to GIPHY.
These weren’t just branded animations. They worked like memes, quick, visual jokes people could drop into group chats, tweets, and Instagram stories to express their love (or obsession) with pizza.
Source: billyjazz
One GIF even hit over 100 million views, becoming one of the most-shared on GIPHY and ranking among the top GIFs on Google.
Source: GIPHY
Why it worked
Domino’s didn’t shout “buy pizza.” Instead, they slipped into everyday digital conversations. By giving people meme-like tools they wanted to use, the brand became part of their humor and social language.
Takeaway
Meme marketing doesn’t always mean posting on your feed. Sometimes, the smartest move is to create content your audience will spread for you.
Starbucks Name FAIL
Starbucks has a thing for names… just not getting them right.
Ever since baristas started writing names on cups back in 2005, customers have been walking away with drinks labeled something wildly off.
“Emily” turning into “Lily”? Yep. “Theo” becoming a whole other word?
Source: Knowyourmeme
Happens all the time.
By 2010, people were snapping photos of these fails and posting them online.
Tumblr blogs popped up. Reddit threads blew up.
Twitter got in on the joke.
Even BuzzFeed couldn’t resist making listicles about it.
Why does it work?
Because it’s funny and weirdly relatable. Everyone’s had their name messed up somewhere, and Starbucks’ cups became the perfect visual punchline.
The best part?
Starbucks didn’t have to spend a dime. Customers created the content, and the meme marketing on the internet did the rest.
Political McFeast That Went Viral
McDonald’s accidentally found itself in the middle of meme culture again in November 2024.
A photo dropped online of Trump, Elon Musk, Don Jr., and RFK Jr. squished around a table in a private jet, digging into Big Macs and fries..
The picture came from Margo Martin (Trump’s comms chief), captioned: “POV: walking by the cool kids table.” People went nuts.
Within an hour, RFK Jr., the guy who’s been trashing “seed oils” for years, was photoshopped with the Grand Theft Auto “BUSTED” graphic.
Others joked it was like “making the new gang member do drugs to prove he’s not a cop.”
Reddit tossed in, “His body. His choice.” It snowballed from there.
McDonald’s didn’t comment. Didn’t need to. Their fries and red boxes were in every single frame. Viral meme marketing without lifting a finger.
Evil Duolingo Owl
If you’ve ever downloaded Duolingo to “finally learn Spanish” and then forgotten about it, you’ve probably known the green owl – Duo.
Duo, the app’s mascot, started as a friendly little bird designed to nudge you toward daily practice.
But somewhere along the way, the internet decided Duo wasn’t just reminding people, he was coming for them.
The turning point came in 2017, when a Tumblr user posted a photoshopped image of Duo holding a gun with the caption: “me: neglects my Duolingo app.”
It racked up over 150,000 notes, and from there, the “Evil Duolingo” persona took flight.
Soon, Duo was starring in countless memes where he threatened users for missing lessons, all in good fun, of course.
Instead of ignoring it, Duolingo leaned hard into the joke. In 2019, their Twitter account posted a dark, ominous photo of Duo stepping into a shadowy room with the caption, “Coming Soon.”
Source: Knowyourmeme
The replies went wild.
From Tumblr posts to TikTok skits, the brand has since embraced Duo’s chaotic, slightly unhinged side, turning him into one of the most recognizable characters in meme culture.
Why did it work?
The “Evil Owl” meme started with the community, which made it authentic. Duolingo’s decision to join in rather than shy away showed they understood internet culture and that they weren’t afraid to laugh at themselves.
Brand takeaway
If your audience builds a joke around you, don’t shut it down just because it’s a little weird. Sometimes, playing along not only humanizes your brand but turns you into a cultural icon. Just ask Duo… if you dare.
Spotify Wrapped – Annually
Every December, your social feeds probably look the same: friends posting neon slides showing exactly how many hours they spent listening to Bad Bunny or that one moody playlist they never talk about.
That’s Spotify Wrapped, the music recap that somehow became a social media holiday.
It started in 2016 as a little “year in review” feature, but it quickly became something bigger.
The trick?
It’s built to be shown off. Each card is perfectly sized for Instagram stories, the colors are impossible to scroll past, and the captions walk the line between clever and slightly self-roasting (“You listened to lo-fi beats for 47,000 minutes?”).
People share it partly because they’re proud, partly because they’re curious about what others listen to, and partly because everyone else is doing it. Once December hits, Wrapped is everywhere.
Why it worked
Wrapped isn’t just a recap. It’s a brag, a conversation starter, and a giant wave of FOMO rolled into one. Spotify made a personal stat sheet that’s as entertaining to show off as it is to look at.
Takeaway for brands
If your product creates interesting personal data, think about how to turn that into something fun and easy to share. Make it visual, make it bite-sized, and make it something people want to screenshot.
Squid Games Meme
When Squid Game landed on Netflix in September 2021, it didn’t just rack up views; it spilled into every corner of the internet.
The giant, dead-eyed Red Light, Green Light doll became an instant TikTok star, the dalgona candy challenge had people stabbing honeycomb with needles, and screenshots of Seong Gi-hun’s awkward ID photo started popping up as reaction memes.
It didn’t stop online.
Fans built their own Squid Game levels in Roblox and GTA, turning the series into a full-blown participatory event.
Why it blew up
The show gave people simple, recognizable visuals with a dark twist, easy for anyone, anywhere, to remix.
Brand takeaway
If you create something instantly recognizable and emotionally charged, the internet will spread it for you. Just make sure you jump into the conversation before it moves on.
Jet2 Holidays Meme
You know when a song worms into your brain and refuses to leave? Yeah, Jet2 did that.
Their sunny holiday ad — beaches, blue skies, Jess Glynne singing Hold My Hand, was supposed to make you book flights.
Then TikTok got hold of it.
And suddenly… that feel-good soundtrack was slapped over videos of delayed flights, soggy fish and chips, and people looking miserable at the airport.
The fun was in the clash, with a tropical tune and very un-tropical vibes.
Here’s the twist: Jet2 didn’t hide. They leaned in with a meme marketing moment, created their cheeky clips, and even threw a #Jet2Challenge at the internet, offering a free holiday up for grabs.
Takeaway for brands:
Ride the wave, make people laugh, but know when to jump off before it crashes.
How to Create a Winning Meme Marketing Campaign
If you want your brand to join the conversation without sounding like a teacher trying to talk slang, you’ve gotta play the game the way the natives do.
Let’s see how you can begin with meme marketing –
Start Where Memes Are Born
Memes don’t magically appear; they start somewhere and snowball.
Your first mission: lurk in the meme habitats.
- Reddit: r/memes, r/dankmemes, r/wholesomememes.
- Twitter/X: Search trending hashtags or phrases.
- TikTok: Look for trending sounds and caption styles.
- Instagram: Meme pages like @daquan or @memezar.
👉 If you’re new brand, Reddit is gold. It’s where a ton of meme formats pop up before they spill onto Instagram and Facebook.
Learn the Format Before You Touch It
Each meme format has “unwritten rules.”
- Drake Meme: Good for “this vs. that” comparisons.
- Woman Yelling at Cat: Works for overreactions or petty arguments.
- Two-Panel GIF: Perfect for expectation vs. reality.
Brands like Slim Jim regularly use the Drake Meme to hype their product as the “yes” choice and something boring as the “no” choice.
Pick a Relatable Truth
The meme only lands if your audience feels it instantly. Ask:
- “What frustrates my customers?”
- “What’s a universal reaction in my niche?”
For example, if you are running a cafe, you can do something like –
☕ “Me without coffee” = a sad raccoon picture
☕ “Me after coffee” = raccoon dancing with sunglasses
Make It — The Easy Way
Let’s make one meme right now using Imgflip.
- Go to Imgflip Meme Generator.
- In the search bar, type a format like “Distracted Boyfriend.”
- Click the template you want.
- Add your text — keep it short and conversational.
- Top: “Working on my to-do list”
- Bottom: “Suddenly deciding to reorganize my desk”
- Adjust text size and placement so it’s readable at a glance.
- Download it — and if it fits your brand vibe, add a tiny logo in the corner (don’t plaster it across the whole image).
Test Before Posting
Send it to someone who isn’t on your marketing team. If they laugh instantly, you’re good. If they just reply “haha” or “lol,” it’s probably not funny enough.
Post Where It Belongs
Don’t drop your meme on LinkedIn unless it’s B2B humor and you know your audience will get it. For maximum impact:
- Funny/chaotic → TikTok, Reddit, Twitter/X.
- Relatable/lifestyle → Instagram, Facebook.
- Niche/industry jokes → LinkedIn, specific subreddits.
Platforms Which Love Memes
| Platform | Best Meme Style | Why It Works | Growth Potential |
| Image memes, carousel jokes, Reels | Visual-first platform with strong share culture | High – great for building brand identity and reach. | |
| TikTok | Short video skits, sound-based memes | Algorithm pushes timely, engaging content to millions fast | Very High – fastest platform for going viral. |
| Twitter / X | Snappy captions, reactive event memes | Speed and wit drive virality | High- perfect for real-time engagement. |
| Niche, community-specific humor | Highly engaged, topic-focused audiences | Moderate- requires a deep understanding of each subreddit. | |
| Relatable, nostalgic memes | Longer content lifespan, older audience base | High — strong for reach among diverse demographics. |
Your Audience Is Ready for Meme Marketing — Are You?
Memes aren’t just for laughs — they’re one of the quickest ways to connect with your audience.
Start small, test a few formats, and keep your humor in line with your brand’s tone.
Pay attention to what your audience reacts to and join trends while they’re still fresh.
The right meme at the right time can turn casual scrollers into loyal fans.
How can a meme make your brand the star of someone’s group chat?
If you create content that’s funny, relatable, and shareable, people will do the spreading for you—turning your brand into a conversation starter.
Why do some memes explode overnight while yours might fizzle out?
It all comes down to timing and relatability. When you hit the cultural vibe at the right moment, your meme can spread fast; if not, it gets ignored.
Yes! If you focus on creativity over cash, clever captions or trending formats can make your content go viral without spending a fortune.
Are fan-made memes sometimes better than what your team creates?
Often, yes. Fans understand the culture and humor. By joining their joke, you can amplify buzz and make your brand feel authentic.
Which platform is the best playground for your memes?
It depends on your style: TikTok for chaotic humor, Instagram for visuals, Twitter/X for snappy captions, Reddit for niche audiences, and Facebook for relatable content.
Can your serious brand pull off a meme without looking like a try-hard?
Absolutely. Use subtle, industry-specific humor, and post where your audience hangs out, and you’ll engage without forcing it.
How do you know if a meme will make people laugh or roll their eyes?
Test it outside your team first. If someone laughs instantly, your meme lands. If not, tweak it until it feels natural.
Do your memes need to feature your product to work?
Not at all. Often, it works better when your brand is part of the joke rather than the punchline itself.
Can one perfect meme turn casual scrollers into loyal fans?
Yes. When you make people laugh or nod in recognition, your brand becomes humanized, and fans keep coming back.
Jump in early, stay true to your brand, and know when to bow out; timing and subtlety make all the difference.
