theCynch

He’s always the guy that the other guys want to be like. The man’s man. The female attention is also a plus.

Laughter is a universal need and it’s something people can’t feel guilty about when they consume it. (That is…unless you’re like me and you snort when you laugh.)

You can laugh for free, it never gets old, it won’t make you gain weight, it won’t get you drunk, and it isn’t illegal—that is, unless you live in Alabama and wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.

No company has ever been accused of misusing laughter to draw in customers. It’s not subliminal advertising, and is often sought out by the consumer.

If done right, consumers will end up trying to find you for the free pick-me-up. Every time they do, brand awareness increases.

A win-win situation.

• Humor makes businesses more memorable.

A beer bottle doesn’t seem that funny, but Budweiser is known for being some of the funniest and most creative commercials around. They’re also the top beer brand.
If you look up “best commercials” on Google, you’ll find Budweiser, along with other companies on lists of the best-rated Super Bowl commercials.

They’re all top brands and they all have cute/funny commercials. Coincidence? No.

• Top marketers know that humor sells in really big way and is inherently viral.

Relative newcomers to the scene, like Digg and Youtube, are also top brands that are known for having the best humorous content on the web.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say: “Ooowww my gosh Cynthia, check out this dog on Youtube!” or “Did you see this funny sh$% on Digg today!?”

An even newer example is The Oatmeal, a website that’s  gotten as sticky and as tough to get rid of as the crusty, dried oatmeal in a soup bowl. In just 6 months, the site has grown to over 20 million page views per month, just because the content is just so darn funny.

The Cynch: Even if you aren’t in the comedy business, you can increase your value by adding the cute/funny factor. The opportunity to stand out is even greater if your business is something people typically think of as “funny.”

Laughter is something that is best shared with others. If people associate laughter with your business and are compelled to share the laughter with others, then your content and brand awareness will spread like an infectious laugh.