Podcast Summary: The Marketing Millennials - "Why Memes Are the Real Marketing Superpower | Bathroom Break #65 🚽"

Release Date: July 21, 2025

Hosts:

• Daniel Murray - Host of The Marketing Millennials
• Jay Schwedelson - Host of Do This, Not That podcast

1. Introduction to "Bathroom Break" Series

In this episode, Daniel Murray from The Marketing Millennials teams up with Jay Schwedelson from Do This, Not That for a special collaboration titled "Bathroom Break." This series is designed to deliver quick, actionable marketing tips in a concise format, perfect for those brief moments when you're taking a break or multitasking.

Daniel Murray kicks off the conversation with a playful introduction:

“Welcome to a new special series called the Bathroom break. That extra 10 minutes you either have to listen to marketing tips or use the bathroom or both. But I don't recommend both. But that's your choice.” (00:02)

Jay Schwedelson adds:

“This collab is going to be super fun. We have Daniel Murray from the Marketing Millennials and me, Jay Schwedelson from the Do This Not That podcast and subjectline.com each episode in the series, we are going to go over quick tips about different marketing topics.” (00:14)

2. Light-Hearted Banter: Condiments Conversation

Before diving into the main topic, Daniel and Jay engage in a light-hearted discussion about condiments, showcasing their personalities and rapport.

Jay shares his experience:

“I used to live in New York when I moved down to Florida. I was 15 years old. One of the first things I did was I went to McDonald's. I was hungry and I got a burger and I almost threw up. Because in Florida, they put mustard and ketchup on your burger just automatically. But in New York, they only do ketchup. And I thought that was actually the most disgusting thing I've ever encountered in my life.” (00:57)

Daniel responds with his preferences:

“I am a. I. I'll add one thing. I don't know if you. I'm a big mayo guy. Mayo on a burger. A mayo on anything.” (00:57)

This segment not only adds humor but also sets a relaxed tone for the episode.

3. The Power of Memes in Modern Marketing

Transitioning from casual conversation, the hosts delve into the core subject: memes as a formidable tool in contemporary marketing strategies.

Jay Schwedelson emphasizes the misconception brands have about using memes:

“Whether you're a business brand in a boring, conservative industry, we can't use memes. Wrong. Consumer brands absolutely should be using memes. Memes are critical now to have in your toolkit.” (02:34)

He introduces Daniel as the "king of memes," highlighting his success in leveraging memes for a substantial media presence.

a. Memes as the Language of the Internet

Daniel Murray elaborates on why memes are indispensable:

“It is the language of the Internet. If you look at your DMs on Instagram right now or what your friends have sent you, it's not ebooks, it's not white papers, it's not long posts. It's usually a meme or some sort of video format that someone's sending you.” (02:34)

He underscores the ubiquity of memes in everyday digital communication, making them a natural medium for brands to engage audiences.

b. Enhancing Brand Engagement Through Memes

Daniel explains how memes can amplify brand messaging:

“Memes get shared with people. And if you want to spread the word, memes is a good way to do it.” (02:34)

He highlights that memes not only increase visibility but also demonstrate a brand's understanding of its audience's preferences and cultural nuances.

c. Strategies for Integrating Memes into Marketing

The conversation shifts to practical approaches for brands to incorporate memes effectively:

• Aligning with Brand Voice: Daniel advises brands to ensure that memes fit their identity:

  “It all starts with, like, what's your brand? What's your voice? Like, how you, how you feel. If you're not, like, don't want to add any fun to your brand then, or any humor, then it's fine.” (02:34)

• Creative Customization: To avoid copyright issues, brands can:

  • Use trending images with their own twist, such as featuring employees.
  • Create original meme formats or cartoon characters.
  • Utilize non-copyrighted images to maintain originality.

• Ad Format Advantages: Memes are highly visible in social media feeds, making them excellent for capturing attention:

  “Memes are really good, great ad format for businesses because they get seen in the feed. People recognize it. So it's a really good way to like, say things.” (02:34)

d. Static vs. Video Memes: Choosing the Right Format

Jay inquires about the evolving formats of memes:

“What has been changes to memes? I see you post a lot of video memes now and not just static image memes. Is that what everyone should be doing or we? Or is there another format?” (05:16)

Daniel responds by explaining the importance of platform-specific strategies:

“It depends what platform you're on too, like Instagram, like if you're trying to get net new follower growth or seen by net new followers, video memes are very good at like getting served too because a lot of people are watching reels versus scrolling feed and seeing static.” (05:53)

He further differentiates the effectiveness of static and video memes:

• Static Memes: Offer predictability in likes and shares.
• Video Memes: Possess higher potential for virality and broader reach.

e. Navigating Social Media Algorithms

Understanding platform algorithms is crucial for meme success:

Daniel sheds light on common pitfalls:

“If you add watermarks to something, it's going to get deducted in the feed... if you repost the same meme on the same day or same post in the same day, it's going to get deducted.” (07:04)

He stresses the importance of adhering to each platform's unique rules to maximize meme performance.

4. Best Practices for Meme Reuse and Adaptation

Jay shares effective techniques for recycling successful meme content:

“If you have a meme that crushed it six months ago, you want to resize that image. You don't want to take the image, download it, repost it again, because they won't like that. You take the image, resize it a little bit different, make it a little bit different, and then post it, and then it should take off.” (09:34)

This approach ensures content remains fresh and complies with platform guidelines, preventing algorithmic penalties.

5. Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

As the episode wraps up, Daniel and Jay circle back to lighter topics, briefly discussing their favorite fast-food sauces, maintaining the episode's friendly and relatable atmosphere.

Daniel concludes with a call to action:

“It's once a week, the Bathroom Break. We talk about marketing tips that we just spew out and it could be anything from email subject line to any marketing tips in the world. We'll talk about it. Just give us a shout on LinkedIn and tell us what you want to hear. Peace out.” (10:53)

Key Takeaways:

• Memes are Integral to Modern Marketing: Serving as the internet's universal language, memes offer brands a dynamic way to engage and resonate with their audience.

• Customization is Crucial: Brands should tailor memes to align with their voice and avoid copyright issues by creating original content or modifying existing formats.

• Platform-Specific Strategies Enhance Effectiveness: Understanding and leveraging the strengths of each social media platform, whether through static or video memes, can significantly boost reach and engagement.

• Algorithm Awareness Prevents Content Penalties: Adhering to platform-specific rules, such as avoiding watermarks and preventing repetitive posts, ensures optimal content performance.

• Repurposing Content Maintains Freshness: Slight modifications to previously successful memes can reinvigorate content strategies without risking algorithmic downgrades.

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