Humor and Content Marketing: A #CMWorld Twitter Chat with Tim Washer

A priest, a rabbi, and a minister walk into a bar…

Let me know if you’ve heard this one already.

OK, you probably have heard it before. But it likely still made you stop. Why? Because laughter can not only boost engagement, but it can spur analytical thinking.

We wanted to learn more about using humor in our work, so we invited comedy writer Tim Washer to be our special guest on this week’s #CMWorld chat. Tim has a resume longer than your CVS receipt, having written for “Saturday Night Live” and Conan O’Brien and has appeared on “HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”

Tim is also no stranger to CMWorld. He has spoken in Cleveland and has generously shared his experiences with attendees. These two CMI posts provide key takeaways from his sessions.

• Comedy Pro Reveals How to Bring Funny to Content
• Ex-SNL Writer Reveals How to Spend 5 Minutes a Day to Improve Storytelling

Read on to discover some awesome insights our participants shared during the chat. And check out our Twitter Moment to view more tweets from the discussion.

PS, I tossed in a joke in at the end of this post. I hope it makes you smile.

Comedy is largely subjective. So how can you define what your audience will find funny?

a2: start with what YOU find funny. keep it clean and make sure it doensnt feel like the humor comes at the expense of a person or group #cmworld

— Tim Washer (@timwasher) July 31, 2018

A2: To understand the right humor for your audience, put on your social listening eyes and ears and see the jokes they are making about themselves and their challenges. #CMworld

— Erika Heald | Marketing Consultant (@SFerika) July 31, 2018

A2 Don’t overthink it. You know when you’re funny. And don’t offend anyone. #cmworld

— Dan Goldberg (@Jonas419) July 31, 2018

A2. I don’t think there’s a scientific method for determining what’s funny — I remember Sheldon trying to figure this out in The Big Bang Theory, and that it itself was funny! I think you have to know the audience. What do they laugh at? What do they discuss? #CMWorld https://t.co/rRjInC8WFp

— David Simanoff (@dsimanoff) July 31, 2018

What if you don’t consider yourself a funny person? Are there ways to develop your ability to create like a comedian?

A4 Follow, observe and learn from funny people (like @timwasher!). Model your own humor after their’s – though of course, don’t steal. #CMWorld

— Dennis Shiao ✍ (@dshiao) July 31, 2018

A4: I’m sure you can develop comedic abilities, but thinking that’s a long term solution. Consider hiring or outsourcing if that’s your goal. #CMWorld https://t.co/WPRnbxpyiU

— Jeremy Bednarski (@JeremyBednarski) July 31, 2018

A4: I’ve known comedians to carry notebooks & write down ideas as they happen while observing & living life.

In the words of @HowardFineAUS the only difference between comedy & drama is the subject matter; it’s always about overcoming a problem #CMWorld #contentmarketing https://t.co/AdJq7GUOjh

— Kristen McCabe (@AusmericanGirl) July 31, 2018

Have you found success using humor in your work? Let us know in the comments below.

Oh, and here’s the joke I couldn’t resist telling.

A man walks into a bar with a cheese sandwich under his arm. “A pint of beer for me and the sandwich,” he says to the bartender. “I’m sorry sir,” says the bartender. “We don’t serve food here.”

Catch our #CMWorld Twitter chat every Tuesday, when we bring together smart content marketers from around the globe. Have a topic suggestion? Know someone who would make a terrific guest? Tweet me at @MoninaW.

Tim will be at Content Marketing World, on set for the debut of #CMWorld Chatter! Swing by our studio and say “hello!” Still not registered? What are you waiting for? Do it now! (And use code SM100 for a nice $100 discount.)