Quick Facts
- Memes are cultural ideas, behaviors, or styles that spread rapidly and are often imitated.
- Memes can be anything from a simple image or phrase to a more complex video or GIF.
- Memes often become viral when they are shared and spread rapidly on social media platforms.
- Tracking meme virality is important for marketers and brands who want to understand and leverage the power of memes in their marketing strategies.
- There are several tools and techniques available for tracking meme virality, including hashtag tracking, social listening, and sentiment analysis.
- Memes can have a lifespan of just a few days or weeks, so it is important to track their virality in real-time.
- Memes can be tracked on a variety of social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit.
- Memes can have a significant impact on brand awareness, engagement, and loyalty, making it essential for brands to track and understand their virality.
- Tracking meme virality can also help brands identify influencers and trendsetters in their industry, providing opportunities for collaboration and partnership.
- Effective meme virality tracking requires a comprehensive and data-driven approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data to provide a complete picture of meme performance and impact.
The Art and Science of Meme Virality Tracking
What is a meme?
According to the Oxford dictionary, a meme is:
> “An image, video, phrase, or piece of text, typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by internet users, often with slight variations.”
Why track meme virality?
- Helps us understand the current cultural zeitgeist.
- Can help promote brand awareness and engagement.
- Informs content creation and marketing strategies
How can we track meme virality?
- Google Trends: A free tool that allows users to search for specific keywords and phrases and see their historical popularity.
- Reddit: Browsing popular subreddits like r/memes, r/dankmemes, and r/me\_irl can show what memes are currently trending. Additionally, you can analyze subreddit data using tools like Pushshift or Reddit Metrics for an in-depth look at memes’ popularity and longevity.
- Social listening: Use tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Brandwatch to monitor popular hashtags, keywords, or social media accounts to observe which memes generate significant engagement and how users interact with them.
My meme virality tracking experience
As part of a social media internship at an e-commerce startup, I was tasked with curating a daily list of relevant memes for the brand’s social media pages.
My process involved reviewing popular subreddits and social media accounts to establish a list of potential memes. I used Google Trends and social listening tools to analyze these memes further, studying their historical popularity and engagement patterns.
After compiling my list, I organized the memes in a table using columns for the meme type (format), the timestamp indicating when I discovered it, and a link to the original post or source.
| Meme | Type | Timestamp | Source | Historical Popularity | Peak Engagement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mocking Sponge | Image | 2023-02-15 15:23:34 UTC | [Example Link](https://www.reddit.com/r/memes/comments/10zmuwk/mocking_spongebob_meme/) | Medium | 33,341 upvotes |
| Expanding Brain | Image | 2023-02-16 10:12:12 UTC | [Example Link](https://www.reddit.com/r/Animemes/comments/110dulh/boiling_point/) | High | 67,382 upvotes |
| One Punch Man | GIF | 2023-02-16 12:38:01 UTC | [Example Link](https://www.twitter.com/OnePunchMan/status/1497123618134993920) | Medium | 160,000 likes |
I then used data visualizations to present my findings, highlighting the historical popularity, peak engagement, and other relevant information. These visualizations helped my team make informed decisions about which memes to use and how to tailor content for our target audience.
What I learned from tracking meme virality
- Meme virality tracking combines elements of art and science.
- It requires creativity to identify and curate memes and analytical skills to understand their popularity and engagement patterns.
- Understanding different demographics helps cater to specific audiences.
- Data-driven decision-making is essential for content creation and social media strategies.
Meme Virality Tracking FAQ
What is meme virality tracking?
Meme virality tracking is the process of monitoring and analyzing the spread and popularity of memes on the internet. This involves tracking the number of views, shares, and comments that a meme receives on various social media platforms and other websites.
Why is meme virality tracking important?
Meme virality tracking can help individuals and businesses understand what types of content are resonating with online audiences. By tracking the performance of memes, you can gain insights into the interests and behaviors of your target audience, and use this information to inform your content strategy.
How can I track the virality of a meme?
There are several tools and platforms that you can use to track the virality of a meme. These include social media analytics tools, meme-specific tracking websites, and even manual methods such as searching for the meme on various platforms and checking the number of views, shares, and comments it has received.
What factors contribute to the virality of a meme?
There are several factors that can contribute to the virality of a meme, including its relevance, humor, and relatability. The timing of the meme’s release and the platforms on which it is shared can also play a role in its success.
Can I track the virality of a meme in real-time?
Yes, many meme tracking tools and platforms offer real-time tracking capabilities. This allows you to see how a meme is performing as it is spreading across the internet, and make informed decisions about how to engage with it.
How can I use meme virality tracking to inform my content strategy?
By tracking the virality of memes, you can gain insights into the types of content that are resonating with your target audience. You can use this information to inform your content strategy, by creating and sharing content that is similar to successful memes. This can help you increase engagement and reach with your audience.
