Why So Serious: Add a Little Humor Into Your Social Media

“I’m funny how? I mean funny, like I’m a clown? I amuse you? Whattya you mean funny? Funny how? How am I funny?” - Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci), Goodfellas

“Why so serious?” Joker (Heath Ledger), The Dark Knight

I think the Joker hit the nail on the head. Why do we have to be serious all of the time? Why do companies and school districts feel they can’t be funny on social media? Are they afraid they will give their parents and students the wrong impression? Do they think it is bad to be funny when you are in the education business?

Whatever reason, they have it all wrong. I think humor is exactly what you need to win over your audience (Sometimes). They (Parents and Students) think you’re going to be serious all of the time. Why not throw them a curve.

In fact, some of the best tweets and Facebook posts we have done in my district have had a little humor. I am not talking about ROTFL funny. That might be a little much. However, there is nothing wrong with poking fun at yourself, or putting a little humor in your posts.

We had great engagement with our “Welcome Back” Twitter and Facebook message for our students returning from their winter break. Here is our attempt at a Meme poking fun at students being unmotivated to head back to school.

The above post had an engagement rate of 28.1% on Twitter and over 130 likes on Facebook. It was a success reaching people, and a success to lighten the mood about going back to school. It worked because we didn’t post a general message about going back to school. Students don’t want to see that. They probably don't necessarily want to come back to school. Have a little fun with them.

We also found success poking fun at the “Dallas Earthquake of 2015”. A 3.5 magnitude quake is quite a big deal in Texas. We tweeted in moments of the earthquake, collecting many retweets and favorites.

Don’t try and be funny all the time. We are night stand-up comedians. We don’t have to be on all the time. But when we decide to break funny, or use a little humor, it usually works pretty well. Try it sometime. You could see great results.

It’s like they say, sometimes laughter is the best medicine:

Give Your Body a Boost -- With Laughter