Why you should be funny on social media

Humor nabs people’s attention and, when it’s done right, can make the moments where you aim to make sincere connections land better.

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It’s hard to put your finger on funny. Funny tends to have a certain je ne sais quois (which I believe is Gaelic for “snake that slithers westward”). I can’t comprehensively define “funny” but, as Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart defined pornography, I know it when I see it. For now, forget how and consider why your brand should use humor.

Whether your brand’s voice is wacky, serious, lighthearted, sardonic, inspirational, or anything in between, it needs at least a few moments of funny. Here’s why.

Numbers don’t lie

In the social media universe, humor done right can get you lots of attention. Several highly popular brands rely heavily, if not exclusively, on humor. Just check out Old Spice and its 2.5 million Facebook fans, or Taco Bell and its 10 million Facebook fans. Then watch the two interact on Twitter:

The results are wonderful, both in quality of content and quantity of interactions.

Humor makes you stand out

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