What are some best practices for using memes and gifs in social selling?

2 Be authentic and original

The second rule of using memes and gifs in social selling is to be authentic and original. Don't just copy and paste memes and gifs that you find online, as that can come across as lazy, unoriginal, and spammy. Instead, create your own memes and gifs that reflect your brand personality, voice, and values. You can use tools like Canva, Giphy, or Meme Generator to create your own memes and gifs easily and quickly. You can also customize existing memes and gifs by adding your own captions, logos, or images. The key is to make your memes and gifs unique, memorable, and relevant to your message and audience.

3 Add value and context

When using memes and gifs in social selling, it’s important to add value and context. Don't simply post them randomly or without purpose, as this can be off-putting. Instead, use them to enhance your content, insights, or conversations. For instance, you can illustrate a point or problem that your audience can relate to, highlight a benefit or solution that your product or service offers, express empathy or support for their challenges or emotions, invite feedback or questions from them, or inject some humor or personality into your posts. When you use memes and gifs, make sure to include some text or captions that explain the context and value of your content. You can also use hashtags, emojis, or tags to add more context and engagement.

4 Test and optimize

The fourth rule of using memes and gifs in social selling is to test and optimize. Rather than using them blindly or randomly, use analytics and feedback to measure the performance and impact of your memes and gifs. Metrics such as impressions, views, likes, comments, shares, clicks, conversions, or leads can be tracked. Additionally, you can observe the sentiment, tone, or emotion expressed by your audience in response to your memes and gifs. To optimize the use of memes and gifs, consider adjusting the frequency, timing, or platform of your posts; improving the quality, relevance, or creativity of your content; experimenting with different types, formats, or styles; segmenting your audience based on their preferences or behaviors; and A/B testing different versions or variations. Testing and optimizing your memes and gifs is essential for ensuring that they are being used effectively in social selling.

5 Follow the rules and etiquette

When using memes and gifs in social selling, it is important to follow the rules and etiquette. Don't be reckless with your use, as it can have a negative impact on your reputation and relationships. Instead, use memes and gifs responsibly and respectfully. This includes respecting the copyright and attribution of the original creators or sources, avoiding controversial, political, religious, sexual, or violent content, being mindful of the tone, timing, and situation when using them, apologizing for any offense or misunderstanding caused by them, and balancing their use with other types of content, insights, or conversations. By adhering to these guidelines, you can use memes and gifs in a professional and ethical manner in social selling.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?