Memes have become an integral part of internet culture and social media. They allow us to express emotions, ideas, and jokes in a short, digestible graphic format that is easily shared online. With so many different meme formats out there – from classics like Bad Luck Brian to newer trends like Distracted Boyfriend – how do you know which meme format will work best for your content? In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most popular meme formats and what makes them effective, so you can determine the right fit for your meme goals.
Image Macros
One of the most common and versatile meme formats when using a meme creator is the image macro – a meme featuring a picture with stylized text on top and bottom. Some of the most well-known examples include Philosoraptor, Success Kid, and Condescending Wonka. Image macros work well for conveying short, punchy messages and jokes. The image provides visual interest while the text summarizes an idea or punchline. This makes image macros highly sharable, memorable, and great for expressing opinions. The image macro format is great for quick humor or commentary, though the limited space for text prevents in-depth messages.
Reaction Images
Reaction images are memes that feature a character or person reacting in an exaggerated facial expression. Popular examples include the “Da Fuq” meme and Picard Facepalm. These memes work by conveying an emotion that Internet users can relate to or identify with. They are especially popular for responding to surprising or frustrating online content. Reaction images are versatile – they can be paired with different captions to express displeasure, disbelief, confusion, or other sentiments. Their visual nature makes the reaction meme format perfect for adding color commentary to any situation.
Comic Strip Memes
Memes sometimes take the form of multi-panel comic strips, often using characters from pop culture. For example, the American Chopper Argument meme features characters from the reality TV show shouting at each other. Comic strip memes visualize a mini-narrative in a few panels, often ending in a comedic or ironic way. The sequential images allow for storytelling and escalation that add humor. Comic strip memes are great for telling short, relatable stories about relationships, daily frustrations, pop culture parody, and generational humor. However, they require more work as you have to think through a narrative rather than just add text to a single image.
Video Memes
Video memes set clips from TV shows, movies, or online videos to new audio for comedic effect. For example, one popular meme takes a clip from a nature documentary where a frog tries to swallow a fist-sized beetle, narrating the frog’s thoughts in a panicked internal monologue. Video memes build on the original content but put it in a new humorous context through the addition of audio. Short video clips work best for this format. The video element helps drive engagement and interest while the shareable format spreads the meme further. However, video memes require more technical skill to create.
Promotional Brand Memes
Many brands have started utilizing memes as part of their social media strategy. Oreo, for example, gained attention for timely, creative image macros reacting to events like power outages during the Super Bowl. When done well, these promotional memes allow brands to inject their messaging into viral web content. Brands can use various meme formats to seem trendy and relatable to younger demographics. However, there is also risk – poorly executed attempts may seem lame or out-of-touch rather than funny or timely. Brands have to walk a fine line to effectively leverage memes for promotion.
Finding Trending Meme Templates
When creating memes, it often helps to start with a trending meme template that is already familiar to your audience. Sites like KnowYourMeme can showcase currently viral meme formats that are likely to get engagement. Basing your meme off a trending template means the setup is already understood, so you can focus on writing the text and injecting your unique humor. Leveraging trending meme formats taps into what is already resonating with Internet audiences. Just be careful not to force a template that doesn’t actually fit your content.
When creating a meme, consider both your content and target audience – which format will resonate most? Image macros and reaction memes tend to work well for short jokes or commentary, while comic strip and video memes can tackle more complex narratives. Brand memes require extra care and strategy. There is no one “best” meme format. Experimenting with different structures allows you to express yourself in the way that feels most intuitive.
