Humor is often the one thing that will draw a person in when they are unsure of something or just plain can’t make up their mind. If you can get them to laugh, smile, snicker, or snort, you know you’ve won them over. The snappier your catchphrase or content, the more likely it is to get stuck in their head, just like the annoying song on the radio that replays on a perpetual loop for days on end. It might make them crazy, but you can rest assured they won’t forget you or your little snippet of memorable magic.
Making Your Point
For any content to be effective it needs to be easy to read, to the point, and able to spark at least a smile or giggle. A local bail bonds agency uses the slogan “Let us get to you before your cellmate does!” It’s quick. It’s to the point and it begs the question, “Do you really want to be in jail long enough to find out what happens next?” Probably not, and guess what!? Their number is now on speed dial. Just in case! It’s this type of content that makes your page memorable and fun to read. You give them what they least expect and they will always come back wanting to see more.
Choose Your Words Wisely
Always choose your words wisely. Even when you are trying to send a message with serious undertones, adding a hint of humor will draw a person’s attention to the heart of the matter. When your goal is to catch someone’s attention and keep them intrigued, making them smile will almost always do the trick. No matter what type of business you are creating content for, there will always be a way to add a little bit of humor. Even funeral homes can jump in on the act with phrases like, “People sure dig our plots” or “Still want that smokin’ hot summer bod? We can do that!”
Punctuation! Punctuation! Punctuation!
Everyone today uses some form of slang, but almost everyone wants to be the grammar police when it comes to commas and other types of punctuation. Let’s face it, poor punctuation can mean the difference between eating Junior or calling him for dinner. “Let’s eat Junior! or Let’s eat, Junior! Two sentences, two different meanings and one fly-speck of a comma to tell the difference. While using proper punctuation can make your piece sound professional and well-written, it’s fine to throw in a few zingers to see if your readers can catch your meaning. When you want to make a point, your words will send the message but your punctuation will drive it home.
Humor is the lifeline we all cling to in our fast-paced lives. We all want a reason to smile or laugh but sometimes we are so busy trying to make sense of our day, the smiles or laughter is forgotten. Your content can be the three or four minutes out of a person’s day when they can actually let themselves laugh or smile. Make it worthwhile! Look for the subtle ways to catch your reader off guard. Kickstart that loop that will play over and over again in their head like the funky disco music of the 70s. Get them to actually giggle and the trap will be set. All you have to do is snag them with the hook and reel them in!
Wendy M writes on a variety of topics with health and environmental topics being her most common subjects. She has most recently been published on both eHow.com and Livestrong.com. Wendy specializes in health, fitness, diet and alternative therapy pieces.
