So dry, you can't surf there anymore.
That's what our Gerrit would say (and he would laugh at his joke.)
Or does humor not fit on those websites?
Mmm. That's a good question. You can imagine that with really sad subjects, something with children and such, humor really doesn't fit. Touché. But I mean the website about authentic leadership and such.
Authentic leadership (or standing in your power and such) is about life. Right? About doing what you believe in. About saying it like it is, even when it's wearing thin. About telling your colleague that you really can't help him, even though you want the whole world to like you so much, or at least not get mad at you. They shouldn't get mad at you anyway, that's the worst thing that can happen to you and yet you say no. Really good job.
Is there humor in that? That standing up, continuing, falling, speaking or just being completely silent when that is best, is a rather intense thing, or as they call it these days: Life.
How do you survive 'The Life' without humor?
Your brand lives through the words you choose and your readers on your site and wherever you show up online, they need to get a little excited. Yes, really, that's how I put it: 'your reader needs to get a little excited'.
He or she reads your story and then something has to happen. The heart rate has to go up, your words have to go straight into the bloodstream and those laughing muscles have to be tickled. Then your brand comes to life and then you really connect people to you.
Look at Coolblue. If you have ordered something there, you will get another screen with 'Waiting therapy' and then three options that tell you how to pass the time before your washing machine or juicer is delivered to your home. Including listening to some music. And if you see a van of theirs driving around somewhere, it says: Bus. Correct.
Also read: How to write that tricky about me page (without a stomach ache!)
Coolblue is irresistible because of its humor.It's a different way of thinking, but this is how you make your brand fun and fun is a value that should not be underestimated.
I have fallen in love in the past few months. Also so nice. She is married and lives in New York, it will not work out I think, but still: I am in love. Not with one of the women on one of those 14 dating sites, more about that another time. No, I have fallen in love with the American Laura Belgray , a copywriter.
She is so incredibly funny. You go through her website with a smile on your face. And with that she has completely won me over.
For example: everyone has on their website 'Do you have any questions or comments? You can reach me at… ' Can this also be funny? Can you also use this question to ask that question and at the same time entice people, to stimulate them?
How does Laura do it? Laura writes:
If you have questions, comments, or that overwhelming urge to say “I love you,” shoot me an email.
This makes me so happy. So incredibly happy. You want to belong to someone who has such a great sense of humor, don't you?
How do you do this too?
I hope that in this article I have at least made you think that it is possible, even better, that you make people so happy with it and your brand is rock solid. It does not all have to be formal to come across as professional.
1. List 10 examples
List at least 10 examples of exact, concrete, specific problems or specific desires that your target group has.
So, again: exact. Concrete. Specific. We want to see it for ourselves, 'we' as in: your readers. Make it cinematic. What time, where, with whom, what does it smell like? What do you hear? Who says what and how? Who starts screaming, who starts blushing? Who is deeply ashamed?
2. See the humor in it
How many of the above examples contain a good joke, or are funny in themselves?
That's why I asked you to be super specific. Now go to Netflix and watch a show by Jochem Myer, Youp, or Daniel Arends: all jokes consist of stories that you see in front of you. Telling or writing good greece telegram data stories is serving your readers images. The problems of your target group are tragicomic and they are the first to laugh about it.
How a manager says that 'the door is always open' and then snaps at the first person who asks 'yeah, don't come to me with every little thing!' Isn't that funny?
3. List 3 blunders
List three blunders that you can easily share with your target audience. Self-mockery. How attractive does someone become who doesn't always take themselves too seriously? No, not a story of 'I'm always a loser', but a healthy self-mockery.
You probably have a few stories to tell where you went festively wrong. Good blunders. If these stories also touch on your expertise in the theme, if they are also relevant to your target group, you have bingo. Share these on your website, tell a good story, for example on your about page .
But above all, know that it can be funny, that there can be some air in it, and that you don't have to be just that wise professor-like expert.
People want to be entertained, they want comfort in addition to training.
And what is more comforting than cheerfulness and a good joke.