Using real-life, relatable humor in marketing can humanize your brand, connect with your audience, and make your message memorable. Here are some tips and examples to help you incorporate relatable humor effectively:
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Tips for Using Relatable Humor in Marketing
- Know Your Audience
- Understand your audience’s lifestyle, challenges, and interests. Use humor that resonates with their daily experiences.
- Be Authentic
- Humor works best when it feels natural. Avoid forced jokes or trying too hard to be funny.
- Keep It Simple
- The best humor is easy to understand. Avoid overly complicated setups or punchlines.
- Use Universal Themes
- Tap into common human experiences like work stress, parenting fails, or funny social interactions.
- Be Timely
- Use humor tied to current trends or cultural moments to stay relevant.
- Stay On-Brand
- Ensure the humor aligns with your brand voice and values.
Real-Life Relatable Humor Examples for Marketing
- Relatable Office Life (B2B Marketing)
- Example: A SaaS company posts:
“Another meeting that could’ve been an email? Upgrade your communication tools and save 10 hours a week!” - Why it works: Most professionals can relate to inefficient meetings.
- Example: A SaaS company posts:
- Parenting Struggles (B2C Family Products)
- Example: A cleaning product ad:
“Kids: ‘I didn’t do it.’ Stains: ‘We’re not lying.’ Let us help you win the battle of denial.” - Why it works: Parents constantly deal with cleaning up after their kids.
- Example: A cleaning product ad:
- Online Shopping Habits (E-Commerce)
- Example:
“Add to cart. Leave in cart. Wait for sale. Repeat. We get it—here’s 20% off to speed things up!” - Why it works: It pokes fun at a common online shopping habit while offering a solution.
- Example:
- Fitness Goals
- Example: A gym posts:
“Sign up today! We promise you won’t regret it… after leg day.” - Why it works: Fitness enthusiasts laugh about the pain of leg day but know it’s part of the process.
- Example: A gym posts:
- Social Media Procrastination (Social Media Tools)
- Example:
“Spent 2 hours scrolling and now you’re here? Schedule posts ahead and reclaim your time!” - Why it works: It highlights a universal social media habit while promoting a solution.
- Example:
Formats to Use Relatable Humor
- Memes
- Use popular meme formats to connect with trending humor.
- Example: “Me: I’ll stick to my budget this month. Also me: Buys unnecessary items because they’re on sale.”
- Short Videos
- TikTok or Instagram Reels featuring humorous skits.
- Example: A skit showing someone dramatically “giving up” caffeine and crawling back to coffee the next morning—with your brand’s coffee front and center.
- GIFs and Images
- Share funny, relatable situations.
- Example: A coffee brand: “When the barista spells your name right—instant happiness.”
- Engaging Captions
- Create short, snappy, relatable taglines for posts.
- Example for a food delivery app: “Cooking? In this economy? Let us handle dinner.”
- Email Subject Lines
- “Forgot your cart? So did we…until now.”
Why Relatable Humor Works
- Creates an Emotional Connection: People love brands that make them laugh.
- Increases Shareability: Funny content is more likely to be shared on social media.
- Builds Brand Loyalty: A brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously is often seen as approachable.
