Last Updated on October 17, 2025 by Daniel Anderson
So, You Want to Run a Meme Account?
You’ve scrolled past them. You’ve laughed at them. You’ve probably even sent a few to your group chat. Meme accounts are a constant, buzzing presence in our social media feeds, a digital background noise that occasionally makes you spit out your coffee. But have you ever stopped to wonder what’s actually going on behind the screen? Who are these people, and more importantly, how in the world do they get so many followers?
It looks like pure, chaotic fun. And it is. But it’s also a serious social media strategy. Let’s pull back the curtain.
What Exactly Is a Meme Account, Anyway?
At its core, a meme account is a social media profile dedicated to creating, curating, and sharing internet memes. Think of it as a digital art gallery for our collective sense of humor. But it’s so much more than just a repository for funny pictures.
These accounts are modernday cultural commentators. They tap into shared experiences—the frustration of a Monday morning, the weirdly specific joy of finding a good parking spot, the universal pain of a slow internet connection. They make us feel seen. They build communities of people who all “get the joke.”
Funny story: I followed a niche account about the specific struggles of owning a particular brand of succulent. It wasn’t just about plants; it was about the quiet shame of overwatering, the pride of a new leaf, the shared delusion that this time, you won’t kill it. That account had hundreds of thousands of followers. Not because everyone loves succulents, but because everyone understands failure and hope. That’s the secret sauce.
The Unspoken Blueprint: How Meme Accounts Actually Grow
It doesn’t happen by accident. While it might seem like a random, overnight success story, the growth of a major meme account follows a predictable, if grueling, pattern.
Phase 1: The Identity Crisis (Niche Down!)
The biggest mistake I see people make is trying to be everything to everyone. “Funny memes” is not a niche. It’s a category. You need to dig deeper.
Are you going to focus on relatable memes for exhausted millennials? Surreal memes that feel like a digital fever dream? Anime memes for a very specific fandom? Wholesome memes that just make people feel good?
Your niche is your entire identity. It dictates your voice, your aesthetic, and who will follow you. An account that posts about the absurdity of corporate life will attract a very different crowd than one dedicated to video game glitches. Pick your lane and own it. Completely.
Phase 2: The Grind (Content & Consistency)
This is the unglamorous part. To gain traction, you have to post. A lot. And you have to do it consistently.
Here’s a pro tip from my own experience: Quality over quantity is only half the story. For meme accounts, it’s about relevant quantity. You need to be a student of the internet. You have to live on the platforms, understand the lifecycle of a trend, and know when to jump on a format before it gets stale.
- Create Original Content: This is the holy grail. Making your own memes from scratch is what sets you apart. It’s harder, but it builds a unique brand.
- Curate & Repurpose: Most accounts are a mix. They find great memes from smaller creators (always credit them!) and share them with their audience. The key is having a good eye for what will resonate with your specific community.
- Engage, Don’t Just Broadcast: Reply to comments. Ask questions in your captions. Run polls. Make your followers feel like they’re part of an inside joke, not just passive consumers.
You have to treat it like a parttime job, especially at the beginning. The algorithm rewards consistency above almost all else.
Phase 3: The Snowball Effect (Collaboration & CrossPromotion)
You can’t grow in a vacuum. Once you have a small but engaged following (even just a few hundred true fans), it’s time to leverage the community.
This means doing “shareforshares” (S4S) with accounts of a similar size. You feature their content on your story, they feature yours. You collaborate on a post. You get featured on a massive “curation” account. This is how you get your content in front of new, relevant eyes without paying a dime.
I watched an account dedicated to “Vintage Core” aesthetic memes blow up from 5k to 100k followers in a month because they got a consistent string of features on three major curation pages. It was a perfect storm of great content and strategic networking.
The Engine Room: Understanding the Algorithm
You can’t win the game if you don’t know the rules. And on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, the rules are written by the algorithm. It’s not some mysterious, unknowable force. It’s a machine designed to keep users on the platform for as long as possible.
It feeds on engagement. Likes, comments, shares, and—most importantly—saves and watch time. A meme that people save to their phone or send to a friend is pure gold. It tells the algorithm, “This is highvalue content. Show it to more people.”
That’s why you’ll see accounts begging you to “TAG A FRIEND” or “SAVE THIS FOR LATER.” They’re not just being annoying; they’re actively gaming the system to boost their reach. And it works.
Can You Actually Make Money from This?
Short answer: Yes. Absolutely.
Long answer: It’s a hustle. Once you have a sizable and loyal audience, you have a valuable asset. Brands will pay to access your followers. This usually happens in a few ways:
- Sponsored Posts: A company pays you to create a meme that features their product in a funny or relatable way. The key is making it feel native to your page. If it feels like an ad, your audience will revolt.
- Affiliate Marketing: You share a discount code or a special link. You get a small commission for every sale made through your link.
- Merchandise: If you have a strong brand and catchphrases, you can sell tshirts, stickers, or mugs. This is a great way to build a real business beyond just social media.
For a realworld look at how data drives this space, you can check out the Pew Research Center’s social media fact sheet to understand the sheer scale of the audience you’re playing with.
The Dark Side of the Meme
It’s not all laughs and brand deals. Running a meme account comes with its own set of headaches.
Creative burnout is real. How many ways can you meme about having no motivation? The pressure to be constantly “on” and funny is immense. Then there’s the issue of copyright. While most memesharing exists in a gray area, reposting an artist’s original work without permission can land you in hot water.
And perhaps the biggest pitfall: losing your authentic voice. The moment you start chasing virality instead of serving your community, the magic dies. Your followers are smart. They can smell a sellout from a mile away.
Your QuickStart Guide to Meme Account Domination
Feeling inspired? Here’s a condensed playbook.
- Pick Your Poison: Choose one platform to start (Instagram and TikTok are king for memes right now).
- Define Your Niche: Get hyperspecific. “Memes for people who work from home and have a cat that walks on their keyboard.”
- Build a Bank: Before you even launch, create or find 2030 highquality memes that fit your niche. This is your content runway.
- Post Consistently: Start with once a day. Use a free scheduler like the one on Buffer to plan your posts.
- Engage Relentlessly: Spend 15 minutes after you post replying to every single comment and engaging with other accounts in your niche.
- Network: Once you have 20 posts live, start reaching out to similarsized accounts for S4S.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. But the communities you build can be incredibly rewarding. Pretty wild, right?
Meme Account FAQs
Do I need to be a graphic designer to start a meme account?
Not at all! While it helps, most memes are made with free, simple tools. Apps like Canva, Imgflip, or even the basic photo editor on your phone are more than enough to get started. The idea is what matters most.
How many followers do you need to start making money?
It’s less about the raw number and more about engagement. A 10kfollower account with a highlyengaged, niche audience can be more valuable to a brand than a 100kfollower account with a passive, general audience. You can start exploring microinfluencer platforms with as few as 5k dedicated followers.
Is it too late to start a meme account in 2024?
It’s never too late. Internet culture is always evolving, and there’s always room for a fresh, authentic voice. New niches pop up every day. The key isn’t being first; it’s being the best at speaking to your specific corner of the internet.
What’s the biggest key to viral growth?
Relatability. A meme that makes someone think, “This is so me,” is the one they’ll share with all their friends. Virality isn’t about being the funniest person on the internet; it’s about being the most understood.
So, what are you waiting for? The digital world is your canvas. Your sense of humor is your currency. Go find your people.