How to Use Computational Humor to Improve Your Marketing Efforts
When we think of artificial intelligence, we often think of machines that can help us process information or automate tasks. However, there is another aspect of AI that is often overlooked: humor. Computational humor, or the use of algorithms and natural language processing to generate jokes and other types of humor, is a growing field with applications in marketing, advertising, and customer engagement.
So, how can you leverage computational humor to improve your marketing efforts? Here are a few things to consider:
1. Add personality to your brand
Humor is a great way to make your brand more relatable and personable. By injecting a bit of humor into your marketing materials, you can help your brand stand out from the competition and connect with your target audience on a deeper level. For example, MailChimp is known for using quirky illustrations and witty copy to make their email marketing campaigns more engaging and memorable.
2. Increase engagement on social media
Social media is all about having conversations and building relationships with your audience. By incorporating humor into your social media posts, you can create a more lively and engaging experience for your followers. Memes, witty one-liners, and silly videos are all fair game when it comes to making your social media presence more entertaining.
3. Improve your email open rates
Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to reach your target audience. However, getting people to open your emails can be a challenge. One way to increase your open rates is to use humor in your subject lines. This can help your emails stand out in a crowded inbox and encourage people to click through to your website or landing page.
4. Create shareable content
In today’s digital age, creating content that people want to share with their friends and followers is key to building your brand and expanding your reach. Humor is one of the most shareable types of content and can help you attract new followers and customers. Whether it’s a funny meme or a tongue-in-cheek blog post, creating content that makes people laugh is a great way to generate buzz and boost your online visibility.
While computational humor is still a relatively new field, there are already plenty of examples of brands using AI-generated humor to great effect. For example, Burger King created a chatbot that used jokes and quirky dialogue to promote their menu items on Facebook Messenger. Meanwhile, Toyota teamed up with IBM Watson to create an ad campaign that used AI to write jokes based on social media trends and news stories.
Of course, like any other marketing tool, computational humor has its limitations and potential drawbacks. Some people may find AI-generated humor too formulaic or impersonal, while others may be put off by jokes that miss the mark or come across as insensitive. Additionally, there is always a risk that using humor in your marketing materials may be seen as unprofessional or inappropriate.
Despite these potential pitfalls, however, the benefits of computational humor are clear. By adding humor to your marketing mix, you can inject some much-needed personality into your brand, increase engagement and shareability, and create a more memorable and enjoyable experience for your audience. So, if you’re looking for a way to differentiate your brand and stand out in a crowded market, consider incorporating computational humor into your marketing strategy.