Many companies think humor is unprofessional and shouldn't be used in the workplace or when dealing with customers. Clearly, we disagree. If you have ever been in a strategy meeting with the Tribute Media staff, you likely had some good laughs. But when is humor too much, and how should you use it?
Get Your Own
It isn't enough to be funny; you need to be your kind of funny. What sort of jokes fly around the office all day? As a company, what type of humor do you encourage and enjoy?
Own Your Humor
Once you have your own humor, you have got to own it. Don't be tentative about your sense of humor, let it be a part of your content, your flyers, the images you choose, and the way you interact with customers. Of course, some companies will have a mild, dry sense of humor, some will be flat-out slapstick in nature; that's okay. Just don't be afraid to use the humor you choose.
Yes, There is a Line.
Humor is fun! We employ it on a daily basis. From our 404 Error page to the use of our mascot, Wally the Narwhal, we love cracking jokes and being a bit irreverent. But there is a line. Make sure you are gentle with your humor, be sensitive to who you are working with in a given situation, and make sure you understand your audience. They might prefer more clever humor to slapstick or vise versa.
Start thinking about your sense of humor as a business person, and how that should translate into your marketing. You'd be surprised how much people enjoy a company with a sense of humor.
