What humor is, at its worst
- The wrong joke at the wrong time. It can make your brand look amateurish and unprofessional.
- If people think you’re cracking jokes for the sole purpose of getting more attention, you’ll be seen as exploitative rather than funny.
- Humor can cheapen certain ideas or make them be taken less seriously.
- In some cases, humor can be outright offensive.
MORE IDEAS FROM THE ARTICLE
- Humor breaks down walls, shows personality a.k.a. shows a brand's human side.
- Humor is attention-grabbing. It is naturally colorful and original.
- People love to spread laughter. Making your campaign humorous will ensure it is shared more.
- Any message imbued with humor will be easier for your target demographics to remember.
- Humorous touches can almost always improve a piece that is already valuable on its own.
- If you’re sure a joke is going to land, it can make an effective advertisement. Test variations of the joke with a small audience first; that way, you can be sure the humor doesn’t cross a line.
- Brand differentiation. For example, Oreo has long differentiated itself by offering a quirky, tongue-in-cheek voice across its social media platforms. This is especially effective in dry, or otherwise “boring” industries.
- Personal branding. Elon Musk, for example, has separated himself from his companies Tesla and SpaceX by cracking jokes and roasting people on his own account.
- Tasteless or offensive humor. Careful with jokes abour specific group of people or sensitive subjects.
- Bad timing. If your brand is undergoing a PR crisis, or if there’s a natural disaster about to hit your city, people aren’t going to want to read your jokes.
- Brand misalignment. If your brand is one that takes itself seriously or appeals to people who prefer stoicism to levity, you won’t be served by including more humor in your campaign.
- You can also face backlash if you try to use a running joke or meme without fully understanding it.
RELATED IDEAS
Being funny can have both positive and negative consequences, in your personal as well as your professional life. And context is always important: when making a joke, for instance, you should definitely make sure the moment is appropriate for such a behavior.
Making the good jokes at the proper moment can help you become everybody's favorite at the workplace. However, making a bad joke can lead even to being fired: so make sure to choose your attitude appropriately.
Adding humor to your social media strategy can be a great way to get people’s attention.
If you’re not “humorizing” your brand, product or business, then you might be missing out on a ton of unseen potential.
- gets a point across
- lightens a mood
- is better than therapy for brightening the workplace and energizing all who may come your way.
The good use of humor in business is a gift - the correct use of humor is a finely tuned instrument.