Fun fact: did you know that when you are doing business all the humor you had once in life is sucked out of your brain, leaving you with that grey rainy-day-type-of-mood?
Well, this can’t be real, but most of the people act like this was the total truth. As soon as you inject some humor into your business communication, especially funny emails, people will call you unprofessional.
The reason “people” don’t like funny emails or any humor in business communications is that they take themselves too seriously. They use suits, drive fancy cars, go to expensive dinners and convinced the world and themselves that they are saving the world, making it a better place – so, there is no place for jokes.
Ironically we tend to remember more about the marketing message that made us laugh our asses off, and not just remember them but share with our colleagues, friends, and family. Here’s why:
One – Likeability. If someone makes us laugh we tend to like them.
Two – Social Value. We want to look cool, so we share things that we think will make us look good with people that we interact with, and brands are counting on that virality to make their messages spread like a virus.
Some places where you can use Funny Emails
Cold Funny Emails
This is it, you need more leads, you know a few companies out there that would love your product/service but you know… this is the internet, every single company is doing the same, just going HAM in this outreaching thing, it’s the hustle culture.
If you want to do cold emailing, you will have to get attention, stand up from those same old boring emails people send over and over.
And there is no one better than the master of funny cold emails Jon Buchan in this segment, and here’s an example of a cold email that he wrote a while ago and ended up making him famous.
“You won’t have heard of me. (Hi, I’m Jon!). I got your details from a list *gasp*. But hey, that means you’re list-worthy; that’s gotta be something, right? 😉
OK, let’s get down to brass tacks. I’m writing to you from the office of Render Positive, a highly creative marketing and advertising agency I run with my brother Gary, and a team of 20 people far more talented than me.
For over five years, we’ve run our amazing agency – and we absolutely love it. It’s a wonderful feeling to know we’re not ripping clients off and producing the best work of our lives.
We’re looking to win new clients over to our side and away from those evil (ok, maybe not evil… but not as good) other agencies.
If you let me have a chat with you about your digital marketing or advertising, spectacular content creation, or bedroom tidying needs – I will buy you lunch/coffee/tequila shots and promise to be somewhat entertaining. If you’re lucky, I may even wear a top hat. First off, I’d love to provide you with some ideas you are free to steal.
I have included a sticker containing a picture of a ferret that has been dressed up. According to the internet, his name is Colin. I trust this will charm you into submission.
I’ll be in touch on email when you least expect it… Dun Dunn Dunnn!
I await your profanity-filled response.
Have a splendid day,
Jon.”
Onboarding with Funny Emails
Another opportunity to send a funny email is when a user/customer joins you, after all, that first impression can be the difference between the person reading your welcome email become eager to read what you have to say and your emails just sitting there in that dark inbox room without never seeing the “open light”.
Newsletters
You can use your newsletters in order to show how cool and funny you are, even when you are doing something deemed as boring as sitting there and just staring at your watch praying to God to make the time pass because you are on a bad date. Yes, I am talking about emails here, stay woke, because it’s time to hustle:
Promotional Funny Emails
This is an example of the ending of a long email, where Jon says everything you will get if you subscribe to his service, note the funny lines he uses to make all that heavy sales pitch “go away”:
As you can see, you don’t need to be a clown, just use the right dosage of humor in order to soft things. You can still manage to look all business without losing your humanity. Like everything in life, equilibrium is a must.
Leaving the Cart Funny Emails
Another place where you can work your magic is by using humor on the emails you send your customers when they leave something in the cart – sometimes they forget about it, or maybe they decided not to buy it. Either way, you could bring this “awkward” conversation using a touch of humor instead of some “in your face” strategy some companies use and make yourself noticed:
Using Funny Emails to bring back Inactive Users
This is the tricky part, most of the time when someone is churning is because they simply don’t want anything to do with you anymore. Something went really wrong from your side, and the last thing they would want from you would be a “smart-ass” attitude.
But luckily, it could be just a side effect of the information era, too many people fighting for their attention, and they ended up forgetting about you, that can happen as well. And for this second case, some humor might be just the antidote you need to bring them back.
This is not a failed proof thing, some will come back, some won’t even bother. But hey, you had them lost anyway, so why not try something out of the box.
Conclusion
A business only makes sense if they are making money. Sometimes customers don’t like humor in business – in their minds, a company must be serious if they want to get their money.
Before you start experimenting with funny emails on a large scale, try to do it on a smaller scale and see the reaction from your audience.
Avoid political jokes.
Animals are cute and safe way. Everybody likes cute animals doing cute stuff – use them.
Last but not least, don’t go find that smart reference that only 0,001% of the world population can understand. Go pop culture in order to make sure people – at least most of them – will understand the humor.
Funny Emails – It’s Ok to Go Rogue from the Corporate World
PS. Gifs help, too.
