Memes That Convert: How Meme Marketing Drives Real Sales in 2025
Discover how meme marketing boosts engagement, trust, and sales with data-backed examples from brands like Netflix, Poppi, and Slim Jim.
😂 What is a Meme, You Ask?
We all think we know what memes are, (right?) but just for fun let’s get a definition from the dictionary:
Meme; noun: an image, video, piece of text, etc., typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by internet users, often with slight variations.
Meme from 1919, Arranging a Date. A classic Expectation vs. Reality Meme format.
So a meme, by definition is not a format or image type, which it is so often confused with - but an image or video that has been distributed widely. A single image cannot be a meme no matter what format it’s in. It has to be copied and spread with variations to the original image. The word itself actually refers to a virus’ rapid spread and genetic mutation.
Memes aren’t something GenX created, they’ve been around since your Great Grandmother’s time, except then they were spread among friends and family via clippings from newspapers and magazines. Above is a meme from 1919, and there are others from the 1920’s, mostly in the Expectation vs. Reality format.
👀 Memes: Not Just for Laughs Anymore
In 2025, meme marketing isn’t just a playful trend, it’s a proven strategy to boost engagement, visibility, and sales conversions. For lifestyle brands, retailers, and service-based businesses, memes offer a direct line to younger audiences, emotional resonance, and viral potential.
Let’s break down the stats, take a look at few brand case studies, and strategies that prove memes really do sell.
📊 What the Studies Say: Memes Are Money
YPulse Research:
75% of Gen Z and Millennials share memes regularly
55% follow meme accounts specifically
Brands using humor/memes are seen as more relatable and trustworthy
👉 Trust = conversions. If your audience laughs with you, they’re more likely to buy from you.
HubSpot 2023 Social Trends:
Brands using memes are 3x more likely to grow their audience
And 2.4x more likely to report high ROI from organic social
Memes work because they connect emotionally, soften the reader’s rough edges, and travel fast.
SSENCE uses memes like few other brands
Enhanced Engagement Rates: SSENSE's shift towards meme-centric content has significantly improved their social media engagement. For instance, their engagement rate reached 0.20%, compared to a competitor's 0.08%, highlighting the effectiveness of their relatable content strategy.
Successful Campaigns: Their Kidswear Spelling Bee campaign, which humorously featured children spelling luxury brand names, garnered approximately 14 million views across social platforms. This campaign led to a 77% year-over-year increase in kidswear sales during the same period in 2023.
Cultural Relevance: By participating in viral trends like the "very demure, very mindful" meme, SSENSE has maintained cultural relevance, effectively promoting niche brands such as Chopova Lowena.
Key Takeaways for Brands
Authenticity Matters: SSENSE's success underscores the importance of authentic, relatable content in building trust and driving engagement.
Community Engagement: By actively participating in cultural conversations and trends, brands can foster a sense of community and relevance among their audience.
Strategic Humor: Incorporating humor and memes thoughtfully can humanize a brand, making it more approachable and memorable.
2. Slim Jim (Instagram Rebrand)
Grew from 5K to 1M+ via chaotic meme energy
Internal reports linked meme growth to sales bumps
📈 From 5K to 1.3M: The Rise of the “Long Boi Gang”
In 2018, Slim Jim's official Instagram account had a modest following of about 5,000. At the same time, a parody account named SlimJimsDoingThings, managed by meme enthusiast Andy Hines, had amassed 15,000 followers by posting humorous content related to the brand. Recognizing the potential, Slim Jim brought Hines on board to revamp their social media strategy. Under his direction, the brand embraced meme culture, leading to explosive growth:
Rapid Follower Growth: The Instagram account grew from 5,000 to 500,000 followers within a year, eventually surpassing 1.3 million.
High Engagement Rates: Posts began averaging between 45,000 to 270,000 likes, a significant increase from the previous average of under 500 likes.
🤘 The “Long Boi Gang” and Community Building
Slim Jim's rebranding efforts led to the creation of the "Long Boi Gang," a term affectionately used to describe their community of fans. By referring to their meat sticks as "long bois" and engaging with followers through memes and internet slang, they cultivated a loyal and interactive fanbase. This community-driven approach included:
User-Generated Content: Encouraging fans to share their own Slim Jim-related memes and content.
Active Engagement: Regularly responding to comments and participating in internet trends to maintain relevance and connection with their audience.
🧠 Strategic Meme Marketing
Slim Jim's success wasn't just about posting memes; it was about understanding and integrating into internet culture. Their strategy included:
Authentic Voice: Using humor and language that resonated with their target demographic, primarily 20 to 40-year-old males.
Trend Participation: Engaging with current internet trends and memes to stay relevant and increase shareability.
Cross-Platform Presence: Expanding their meme-centric content beyond Instagram to platforms like TikTok, further broadening their reach.
3. Poppi
Poppi meme featuring Taylor Swift
Poppi's marketing approach is deeply rooted in humor, relatability, and community engagement. Their social media presence is characterized by unfiltered, founder-forward content that's both meme-aware and culturally resonant. This strategy has been pivotal in building a loyal customer base and driving brand awareness.
📈 From Memes to Millions: The Impact on Sales
The effectiveness of Poppi's meme-centric marketing is evident in their impressive sales figures:
$100,000 in Sales from a Single TikTok: In 2020, co-founder Allison Ellsworth posted a spontaneous TikTok video that led to an additional $100,000 in sales within 24 hours.
$500 Million in Revenue by 2024: Poppi's innovative marketing strategies contributed to a staggering $500 million in revenue in 2024, marking a nearly 38x increase from 2020.
Acquisition by PepsiCo: Recognizing Poppi's market potential, PepsiCo acquired the brand for $1.95 billion in March 2025, underscoring the value of their marketing prowess.
Hilarious TikToks + memes drove app downloads
Resulted in significantly increased daily user numbers
✅ Why Memes Work for Sales
Grabs Attention: Memes stop the scroll faster than polished ads
Builds Emotional Connection: Humor makes you more human and likable
Generates Shares: Which creates exponential brand exposure
Combined with a product Call to Action? That’s the magic.
💡 How to Meme Your Way to Sales
Try these tactics to build memes that actually convert:
Timing: Use trending formats (while they're hot)
Know your Audience: understand their struggles
Pair humor with product benefits
Stay on brand (match your voice — sassy, chic, gentle, etc.)
Keep your designs clean and professional looking (search for “memes” under designs in Canva for templates).
Don’t jump on trends that have no relevance to your brand
Include a CTA (“Shop now,” “DM us,” “Link in bio”)
🌟Popular Memes This Week!
1. Italian Brainrot: AI-Generated Absurdity
This surreal meme trend features AI-generated creatures with faux-Italian names like Tralalero Tralala and Bombardino Crocodilo. These bizarre hybrids—think a shark in sneakers or a crocodile-bomber plane—are paired with nonsensical Italian-accented voiceovers. The result? A chaotic, post-ironic humor that's taken over TikTok and Instagram.
Why it works: It taps into Gen Z's love for absurdist humor and AI-generated content.
Brand opportunity: Create your own quirky AI character related to your product and join the trend with a humorous twist.
2. Pope Leo XIV Memes: Holy Humor
With the election of Pope Leo XIV—the first American pope with a math background—the internet is ablaze with memes blending religious themes and mathematical puns. Think "In the name of sin, cos..." and playful nods to his Chicago roots, dubbing him "Da Pope."
Why it works: It combines current events with clever wordplay, appealing to a broad audience.
Brand opportunity: If your brand has any connection to math, education, or Chicago, this is a timely moment to engage with witty, respectful humor.
3. Eurovision 2025 Memes: Fashion and Fandom
The first semifinal of Eurovision 2025 sparked a flurry of memes, especially targeting Iceland's avant-garde outfits and Poland's dramatic performance. Fans took to social media to share their humorous takes, making it a trending topic.
Why it works: It leverages a popular international event known for its flamboyance and fan engagement.
Brand opportunity: Fashion and lifestyle brands can capitalize on this by sharing their own playful critiques or homages to the standout performances and outfits.
🔥 Top Platforms to Discover Trending Memes
A popular platform showcasing a wide array of user-generated memes.
Regularly updated with fresh and trending content across various categories.
An extensive database documenting the history and evolution of memes.
Provides detailed explanations and origins of viral content.
A community-driven subreddit where users share and upvote the latest memes.
Great for gauging what's gaining popularity in real-time.
TikTok – Trending Memes Channel
A hub for viral meme videos and challenges.
Ideal for discovering audio trends and visual meme formats.
🧠 Tips for Staying Ahead
Set Up Alerts: Use tools like Google Alerts with keywords like "meme trends" to receive updates.
Engage with Communities: Participate in forums and social media groups dedicated to meme sharing.
Monitor Social Media: Regularly check platforms like Twitter and Instagram for trending hashtags and viral content.
💬 Final Thought: In 2025, Memes = Market Share
For food brands, candle makers, and lifestyle companies, memes aren’t just cute content, they’re a growth engine. Done right, meme marketing builds trust, reach, and clicks that convert.
💌 Need Help Creating Meme-Based Content? At Boxwood Co, we help brands blend strategy and humor into scroll-stopping, lead-generating content.
📥 Ready to add memes to your marketing mix? Book a discovery call or DM me on Instagram. ✨Let’s meme something magical.
