Shannon Smith - Graphic artist and Motion designer

One of the hardest things anyone can do (ask any stand-up comic!) is make people laugh.  The concept of humor in marketing is not by any means new.  You can see this from the Coppertone® ad with the little girls bikini being pulled down by a dog on the beach, to the flatulent Clydesdale blowing flame at the couple on a sleigh ride .  If they can make you laugh, they can make you remember the advertising.

Can I do a humorous ad?

Why not?  There are as many things to laugh about under the sun as there are stars in the heavens. (bad paraphrase there I know.)  Let people know you have a sense of humor and they relax when thinking about you, and that is what your goal is all about.  The ad could have nothing at all to do with your business at all, or purposely give yourself a poke in the eye for good effect. (slap stick can work a wounder on the funny bone!)

Where can I get ideas?

EVERYWHERE!  Take a look at some of the most popular commercials being circulated on youtube, or elsewhere on the internet.  Watch T.V. and see what catches your eye.  This can help you come up with at least a direction to go in.  Take the idea to a video producer that seems to have the same sense of humor as you and work out the idea in story boards or some such, then have fun with yourself making it.   The more fun you have making it, the better the humor comes across to you potential clients.

The bottom line is, have fun and your clients will too.  once you have them laughing you will have more to do than you have ever dreamed.