Funny Persuasion Through Comedy Copywriting

Funny Persuasion Through Comedy Copywriting

Funny persuasion through comedy copywriting. Humor is an effective tool for delivering a persuasive message and creating a memorable advertising campaigns. And here are three things to keep in mind as you do.

When I first started freelance copywriting I used humor all the time. I’ve backed off since then. The most important goal in copywriting is to present your message clearly and persuasively. If humor helps, great. If not, forget it. So let’s consider a few questions to guide you in humor writing.

Funny persuasion through comedy copywriting. Do you think it’s funny?

Granted. We all have a different sense of humor. What you consider funny, I don’t and vice versa. My kids like to remind me that laughing at my own jokes doesn’t mean I’m actually funny. I agree with them in principle, but still consider myself hilarious. Because self-denial is much more satisfying. But the point remains. You should be your greatest fan and your greatest critic.

It stands to reason that if you don’t think something is funny then probably no one else will either. And to a certain degree, humor writing is a form of self-entertainment. There’s a motivating sense of satisfaction in writing a joke that you enjoy. But if you’re the only one laughing at the punch line then everyone else may be laughing at you rather than with you. However, in writing humor, it’s a risk you have to take.

Funny persuasion through comedy copywriting. Does it support the message?

Here’s where I strayed early on. I was so determined to be funny that the humor sometimes overshadowed the message. Okay if you’re just going for a laugh. But the goal in copywriting is to make a point…to persuade your audience somehow. If their attention is focused on the humor and misses the point, then what have you accomplished?

I still see this frequently today and I’m sure you do too. What about those Super Bowl ads? One year, not one of them even produced a chuckle from me. My family was aghast. And some of the ads tried so hard to be funny the message was completely lost. A tragedy considering the millions it costs to air them. The reason? Humor needs to be naturally woven into the story line. Otherwise it is forced. And forced humor just isn’t funny. For someone who so thoroughly enjoys comedy, this is hard for me to admit. But sometimes, straight to the point is better.

Funny persuasion through comedy copywriting. Is it right for your audience?

This too seems like common sense. The humor for a plumber’s convention will be different than for physicians, for educators and so on. The more specific the audience, the more customized the humor. The wider the audience, the more general the humor. This presents the greatest challenge. The most effective approach is to find the humor in universal life experiences. We identify with the frustrated woman who declares, “Where’s the beef?” And we attempt to create our own versions of the exceptionally clever, “Got milk?” Because we’ve been there. We relate. And we laugh together at the shared experience. As you consider your audience, ask yourself: “What are they dealing with?” Look for a common pain or problem. Then present it in a humorous manner and offer a solution.

Humor is an entertaining way to make a point. Copywriting that uses it successfully will increase sales. And you’ll laugh all the way to the bank.

About Chip Tudor:

Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview. This blog is originally published here.

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Three Tips For Writing A Church Comedy Drama

Three Tips For Writing A Church Comedy Drama

Clown face cop points at church comedy drama

Writing a church comedy drama can be fun and rewarding. They may be amateur productions, but don’t have to be amateurish. You have many talented church members to call on. Maybe not professional comedians, but they can still be funny. Other professionals in your church can also provide needed resources.

In one of our church productions, a church member who was a commercial, graphic designer created a set design that far surpassed what a local professional scene designer accomplished. He also produced all the visual marketing material. And another church member who owned a local manufacturing company made a fake display of elevators that supported the event.

They were so real looking that during the night of the production, guests that didn’t attend the church tried to use them. Now that was funny!

Use these tips to guide your efforts for church productions that make a spiritual impact.

Decide on a Theme for Your Church Comedy Drama

Whether it’s a 4-5 minute skit or a full play, start with the theme. Write it down in one or two sentences. If you start writing your script without nailing down the theme, you may write funny jokes just to get a laugh. It’s a common trap for those who enjoy writing comedy.

Two clowns act in church comedy drama

Humor is extremely effective when writing church comedy skits and drama. But in a church context, it should always focus on making a spiritual point. So be clear at the start what that spiritual point is and keep that target always before you.

For example, in my one-act, church comedy drama, What’s In a Promise? the theme is… God made a promise to us that He kept, so we should keep the promises we make. The entire church comedy script is written to support that theme and the resolution supports it too.

Create Characters For Your Church Comedy Drama

Professional actors are skilled at changing their persona to match a variety of different funny characters. Their professional career depends on the ability to be versatile. You give them a funny character and that’s who they become.

In church comedy, you’re mostly working with amateur actors. Although, there are many people in your congregation with natural comedy acting abilities too. It’s just not what they do all the time, so they’re not as versatile in portraying humorous characters as a professional actor. They tend to have a few, funny personas where they excel, but as they move away from characters that are natural for them, they become more stilted.

So rather than create funny characters and then ask your actors to portray them, create humor that is tailored to the natural strengths of your actors. In other words, think of the natural abilities and personalities of the people you want to use as actors, and then create comedy characters and humor that feature their strengths.

Does someone have a funny, foreign accent? Can they impersonate someone famous? Do they have a natural tendency you can exaggerate to create humor? The more you capitalize on their natural, humorous abilities, the more natural and funnier they will be.

Use Popular People in Your Congregation For Your Church Comedy Drama

Donkey laughs at church comedy drama

Is there a favorite church usher that everyone adores? And he has a funny habit you can exploit? A church youth pastor with a well-known quirk? Impersonate these people and exaggerate their particular traits and quirks to make your church comedy skit funny. Of course, be sure they possess a sense of humor and don’t mind getting picked on a little. People can be a little funny about laughing when the joke is on them.

Things that might not be that funny generally, will be hilarious to your congregation. And can be used effectively to make a spiritual point in a church comedy skit used to enhance a sermon.

What about the time someone slipped in the church baptistery and splashed water into the choir loft? Something funny that happened on a church retreat or mission trip that everyone knows about? They make great material for church comedy skits and your congregation will laugh harder because they’re all in the joke.

Keep these three tips in mind as you write your scripts and you’ll produce church comedy skits and dramas that are both funny and spiritually effective.

About Chip Tudor:

Chip Tudor is a freelance copywriter, published author, playwright and pastor. He publishes drama at www.chiptudor.com, books on Amazon.com, and articles on his blog.

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