The Pros and Cons of Humor in Marketing


two women laughing at something they see on a phone

 

A wide range of factors can make a company’s marketing more engaging. Some campaigns focus on providing in-depth information to readers. In contrast, others may appeal to empathy, emotions, or even fears to persuade potential customers toward that company’s services. But in the age of online memes and comedic short-form media, more companies have opted to utilize elements of humor in marketing for their brand. Tandem Buzz is breaking down the pros and cons of this tactic and how it can be used properly to drive results.

 

The Benefits of Humor in Advertising 

Thought-out and intentional humorous marketing can be extremely useful when done right. It can present several qualities to a content piece that grabs a reader’s attention and can help them to remember the product or the company that gave them a quick chuckle.

Some of these benefits of humor for a company can include:

  • Relating to readers and potential customers, especially if the humor focuses on being relatable.
  • It is scientifically proven that a message that involves humor is easier for a company’s audience to remember.
  • Humor is more likely to grab a person’s attention by inquiring about that related topic.
  • The shareability of that piece of content shoots up because of people’s natural inclination to spread humor and laughter.

When done thoughtfully and correctly, humor in marketing can significantly enhance the performance of SEO content and advertising efforts. With that being said, misusing it can present numerous issues for you and your company.

 

How Bad Humor Can Hurt Your Brand

Humor is an art form that can harm a company’s reputation as much as it can help it. It takes consideration and tact to execute it properly, and being negligent of this fact can lead to undesired results.

Things to consider include:

  • Misplaced humor can make certain items or ideas appear cheap or not worthy of being taken seriously.
  • People are perceptive. If they believe a company is telling jokes solely to gain notoriety, this can come off as predictable or ingenuine.
  • Often crafting comedy is like walking a tightrope. Using the wrong joke at the wrong time can seriously hurt a company’s image, making it come off as unprofessional.
  • Some jokes are just downright offensive. Not practicing caution and tact when including it can have serious consequences for your brand.

Now that we have a better understanding of how humorous marketing can help and hurt a company, we’ll discuss the best ways to put it into practice.

 

Audience Targeting Is Key

A crucial factor to consider in all kinds of effective SEO services is the types of people you are targeting in your marketing. For instance, the way you would write content for an older demographic would look significantly different than that of a younger audience. It is a similar concept to presenting a meme to a teenager, who is more likely to understand the humor than someone older or elderly.

It is also worth considering these factors when deciding what kind of humor you will employ in your marketing or if you should avoid it altogether. In any capacity, always write your content as if you were the target demographic. Employing empathy in this way can help you create content that sounds more natural and relatable, another major benefit of utilizing humor correctly and tactfully. 

Additionally, consider the product or service that you are selling. It is not recommended to employ jokes when advertising items related to medicine or medical services, or other more serious clients. Again, it is all about practicing discretion and possessing a clear understanding of the tone of the brand you are advertising.

As a leading Fort Lauderdale digital marketing company, we work to employ a variety of tactics when crafting SEO content for our clients. We are capable of helping companies from numerous different industries reach their full potential through the implementation of effective SEO tactics mixed with that special touch of ingenuity and creativity. We work hard to make sure our clients see the results they desire for their businesses. If this piques your interest, give us a buzz and learn more about the services offered at Tandem today!

Source:

  1. ScienceDirect – The Effect of Humour and Mood on Memory Recall

 

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