Memes, Marketing And Promotion: Start Your Viral Spiral - Increase Backlinks, Traffic And Have Fun

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This is a pertinent image of Dawkins and memes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Your first question should be, "What, exactly, is a meme?" Your second question should be, "Could you give me several examples of memes?" And your third question should be "How can I utilize memes to build blog and website backlinks and increase traffic?"

We at The Mad Marketing Tactics Blog (we actually have a secret slogan, soon to be incorporated into a graphic meme which is Get MAD... Get CRAZY... Get MOVING... Get ATTENTION!

1) But what exactly is a MEME?

According to Wikipedia, a wonderful and underfunded source of information...

"An Internet meme is an idea that is propagated through the World Wide Web. The idea may take the form of a hyperlink, video, picture, website, hashtag, or just a word or phrase, such as intentionally misspelling the word "more" as "moar" or "the" as "teh".

The meme may spread from person to person via social networks, blogs, direct email, news sources, or other web-based services. An Internet meme may stay the same or may evolve over time, by chance or through commentary, imitations, parody, or by incorporating news accounts about itself. Internet memes can evolve and spread extremely rapidly, sometimes reaching world-wide popularity within a few days.

Internet memes usually are formed from some social interaction (Rage comic or reaction faces), pop culture reference (Xzibit in "Yo Dawg" or Bear Grylls in "Better drink my own piss"), or situation people often find themselves in (Socially Awkward Penguin or Futurama Fry / Not Sure If X).

Many memes also come from video games (such as the "arrow in the knee" from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim). For researchers it's hard to track down the birthplace of memes due to their viral nature, as well as the high chance of the meme spreading to the major websites nearly instantly.

Their rapid growth and impact has caught the attention of both researchers and industry^. Academically, researchers model how they evolve and predict which memes will survive and spread throughout the Web. Commercially, they are used in viral marketing where they are an inexpensive form of mass advertising."
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NOTE: Of course, if the above thesis was too complicated (or too boring) for you to understand/endure, Timmy's Uncle Bart gives this very simple definition while enjoying a ride on the front porch swing:

"An internet phenomenon or a meme is an image, video, phrase or simply an idea that spreads from one person to another seemingly for no logical reason at all. When people see a meme, no matter how silly it usually is, they find it amusing for one reason or other and forward it to their friends; soon millions of people know about it thanks to how fast the information can spread online and the viral effect. That's the whole doggone ball o'wax, Timmy! Now go get me a root beer, nephew."

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2) Could you give several examples of MEMES?

Why of course! We'll even vary them in terms of types, styles and sources so that you'll have a good picture. Her are some examples of memes and links to examples of memes. All we aks (in New Yawk) is that if you visit a link, that when you've finished devouring all of the content there that you hit your browser's "BACK" button and return to continue reading this article. Really....we don't ask for much.

http://www.ranker.com/list/the-50-greatest-internet-memes-of-2011/williammtx

http://www.squidoo.com/top-10-internet-memes

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/inception

Memes truly are very simple, easily generalized, broadly applicable words (spelled correctly or inkorekly), pictures, word-embedded pictures and symbols. They are easily transmitted, require minimal translation and were probably created for internet use by the same geniuses who created emoticons. Favicons are a whole different matter.

3) How can I utilize MEMES to build blog and website backlinks and increase traffic?

Now we're getting down to business! Let's address the ways in which you can utilize MEMES to build blog and website backlinks and traffic... and there are quite a few...just insert the search terms: Memes+Increase+Website+Backlinks+Traffic into your Google search engine and you will wind up with a veritable cesspool roiling with imaginative possibilities.

4) Why Are Memes So Effing Powerful???

Memes are powerful (superficially and psychologically) because:

they usually contain a unique, memorable and simple picture -- which often incorporates some symbolism or stereotype;

they have a simple slogan or catchphrase embedded into them;

simple, large-lettered words embedded into pictures are very easily memorable;

they may express a great deal more than merely the sum of an image and the "wise" saying embedded upon it -- this is a sort of meme synergy;

They tell a miniature story, or express a feeling which is a fabulous shortcut for writers and social media jabberers who don't like to write (they usually txt, instead, lol!) to send a quick message effortlessly to an acquaintance :-) ;

Memes self-propagate more rapidly than ever before because of the increasing use of such media as Pinterest, Vimeo, Instagram and Slideshare;

Social media sharing tools produced by ShareThis, AddThis, and some interactive toolbars allow memes to be shared, with comments added across the full expanse of social media, for example.....

Memes are little powerhouses of information -- and the Human Brain enjoys them - they are easily digesible.

5) Hey, Dougie [don't you dare to call me that, you knave -- why, I'll cuff you to a rawness out behind the old woodshed if you ever do it again -- "Doug" might have been a wiser choice], do you have any memes of your own which me may enjoy?

Yes indeed. One place to find a pile of them is to do a Google search (under images) for Lingovations. But, heck, here are some special ones for you, my faithful fans and friends of The Mad Marketing Tactics Blog:

Now that you've gotten a good grasp on the meaning and uses of memes, have some fun. Find a rather boring but emotionally-charged image, and put your bold slogan on it. Use Popsicle sticks, library paste, and elbow macaroni. Be sure that their is an adult (mom or dad would be just swell!) to supervise you before you start your project.

Seriously, you are now ready to master the world of memes. Create or choose them. Then use them.

I hope that you've enjoyed the show. Thank you, as always, with your friends, colleagues, co-conspirators, cronies, contacts and connections through the use of your for sharing my articles (of clothing, occasionally) through the use of the increasingly varied social media platforms. Like us, they are increasing in number, capability and bandwidth. Use your sharing tools responsibly.

Douglas E. Castle

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