Absolutely, meme pages can turn those laughs into some cash. Here are a couple of ways they do it:
- Meme Merch: This is a classic. Popular memes can be plastered onto t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more. There are services that handle the printing and fulfilment, allowing meme page owners to create online stores without much hassle.
- Endorsements and Sponsorships: Brands are always looking for ways to connect with younger demographics. A meme page with a large and engaged following can attract sponsorships and endorsements from companies that want to get their product in front of those eyeballs.
- Affiliate Marketing: Meme pages can promote products they like and earn a commission for every sale that comes through their unique affiliate link. This works well if the product aligns with the meme page’s content and audience.
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Platforms to earn from meme
While there isn’t a single platform solely dedicated to earning money from memes, here are avenues you can explore to monetize your meme creations across various platforms:
1. Print-on-Demand (POD) Websites:
- Redbubble: Create an online store and sell your memes on t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more.
- Society6: Similar to Redbubble, allowing you to sell meme designs on various products.
- Spreadshirt: Another POD platform with a focus on custom apparel and accessories.
2. Social Media Monetization:
- Instagram Shopping: If you have a large and engaged following on Instagram, you can set up Instagram Shopping to sell your meme merchandise directly through the app.
- YouTube Channel: Build a YouTube channel around memes. You can include compilations, reactions, or even behind-the-scenes content about meme creation. Monetization options include ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.
- Twitch Streaming: Stream yourself creating memes or reacting to memes. You can earn money through subscriptions, donations, and bits from viewers. (Twitch uses a virtual currency called Bits that viewers can purchase and use to tip streamers).
3. Paid Collaborations:
- Meme Licensing: If your memes go viral, you might be approached by brands or companies interested in licensing your meme for marketing purposes.
- Sponsored Content: Partner with relevant brands to create sponsored meme content for your social media pages.
4. Sell Memes Directly (Limited Reach):
- Meme Stock Photo Sites (niche): A few niche websites allow selling memes as stock photos, but the earning potential might be limited.
- Freelance Platforms (niche): Platforms like Fiverr might have some opportunities to sell custom memes to clients, but this approach might not be very scalable.
Keep in mind:
- Copyright is crucial. Ensure you have the right to use any images or content within your memes before selling them commercially.
- Building a large and engaged audience is key to success on any platform.
Remember, meme success is fluid. Focus on creating high-quality and engaging memes, and explore creative ways to monetize your work across these platforms.
Here are some examples of meme pages
- 9GAG: They have over 55 million followers on Instagram alone and a massive following across other platforms. They have a website selling merch and have collaborated with brands like Samsung in the past.
- Cheezburger Ironic Memes: This meme page is part of the Cheezburger network, a popular meme and humour website. They have a large and engaged following and sell merch through their website.
- FailArmy: With over 40 million followers on Facebook, FailArmy curates funny fail videos and gifs. They have a merch store and have partnered with brands like Snickers in the past.
- Memes: With a whopping 400 million followers on Instagram, Memes is one of the most popular meme pages out there. They post a variety of relatable and humorous content that resonates with a broad audience, and they have a merchandise store where you can buy everything from t-shirts and hoodies to phone cases and mugs.
- Barstool Sports: This popular sports and pop culture blog also has a thriving meme page on Instagram, with over 66 million followers. They are known for their edgy and often controversial humor, and they have a large and engaged following. Barstool Sports has a merchandise store that sells a wide variety of clothing and accessories, and they also partner with brands for sponsorships.
- F**uckjerry:** This meme page was once one of the most popular on Instagram, with over 13 million followers at its peak. However, the page was shut down in 2019 due to copyright infringement issues. F**uckjerry was known for its dark humour and often offensive memes, but they were also very successful in terms of generating revenue. The page had a merchandise store and partnered with brands for sponsorships.
Future of meme pages
The future of meme pages looks bright but with a few potential twists. Here are some trends that could shape how meme pages evolve:
Continued Monetization: Expect meme pages to get even savvier about making money. We might see more:
- Subscription Services: Exclusive content, early access to memes, or ad-free experiences could be offered for a monthly fee.
- Direct Brand Integration: Memes that seamlessly incorporate a brand message could become more common.
- Focus on Niche Communities: Large, general-purpose meme pages might struggle. Pages that cater to specific interests could thrive by building a highly engaged audience.
Rise of the Machines (Sort Of): AI could play a bigger role in meme creation. Imagine meme pages using AI to:
- Identify trending topics and formats.
- Personalize memes to user preferences.
- Generate entirely new meme ideas based on current events.
However, human creativity is still likely to be valued. The key for meme pages might be finding the right balance between AI automation and human originality.
The Metaverse Beckons: If the metaverse takes off, meme pages could find new ways to engage audiences. Imagine meme galleries in virtual worlds, interactive meme experiences, or meme-themed avatars.
The Need for Authenticity: In an age of information overload, people crave genuine connections. Meme pages that can build a strong community and a sense of belonging are likely to succeed. This might involve:
- More interaction with followers in the comments.
- Behind-the-scenes content about the meme creators.
- Charitable causes or social awareness initiatives aligned with the page’s audience.
Remember, the meme landscape is constantly changing. The most successful meme pages will be the ones that can adapt to new trends, technologies, and audience preferences.
It’s important to remember that while some meme pages become social media empires, for many it’s more of a passion project. But with creativity, hustle, and a dedicated following, there’s definitely potential to turn those funny memes into a funny income
