Humor can be a powerful tool to engage your audience, make your message memorable, and build trust and rapport. But how do you use it effectively in an explainer video script, without sacrificing clarity, accuracy, and relevance? Here are some tips to help you balance humor and information in your explainer video script.
Before you write anything, you need to understand who you are writing for. What are their needs, goals, pain points, and preferences? How familiar are they with your topic and your brand? What kind of humor do they appreciate and respond to? You don't want to alienate or offend your audience with jokes that are inappropriate, insensitive, or irrelevant. You also don't want to bore or confuse them with humor that is too obscure, complex, or niche. Do some research, create personas, and test your assumptions to find out what kind of humor works for your audience.
Humor should not be used for its own sake, but to support your main objective and message. What are you trying to achieve with your explainer video? What do you want your audience to learn, feel, or do after watching it? How does humor help you convey your value proposition, differentiate your brand, or persuade your audience to take action? You don't want to use humor that distracts, contradicts, or undermines your purpose. You also don't want to use humor that is too subtle, vague, or ambiguous. Be clear, concise, and consistent with your humor and your information.
Humor can have different effects on your tone, depending on how you use it. You can use humor to lighten up a serious topic, to add some personality and warmth to a dry topic, or to spice up a boring topic. You can also use humor to challenge, provoke, or criticize a topic, but be careful not to cross the line into sarcasm, mockery, or hostility. You don't want to use humor that is too harsh, negative, or aggressive. You also don't want to use humor that is too silly, childish, or cheesy. Find the right balance between humor and information that matches your tone and your brand voice.
Using the human voice and the music for a video, gives that visual an emotional context. Use SOUND. It's important! And give it some thought before you start the visuals - or at least AS you start the visuals. What do you want to accomplish with your video? Show with the visuals - Guide your audience to CARE with your audio.
Humor is tricky. When it works, it can REALLY work. When it doesn't, well ... it doesn't. I would say, workshop the "funny" to a point where it doesn't cross a line ... but maybe kicks some dirt over the line. I agree with the use of sound to punctuate visuals.
Integrate Humor Naturally: Introduce humor in a way that feels organic and relevant to the content of the video. Use humor to illustrate concepts, break down complex information, or add levity to serious topics
Humor can be expressed in different ways in an explainer video script, depending on the format and the medium. You can use humor in your narration, your visuals, your sound effects, your music, or your transitions. You can also use humor in your structure, your style, your pace, or your timing. You don't want to use humor that is too redundant, repetitive, or overdone. You also don't want to use humor that is too disconnected, disjointed, or out of place. Use humor in a way that enhances, complements, and integrates with your information and your format.
Humor can be tricky to pull off, especially in an explainer video script. You need to be careful not to overdo it, underdo it, or misuse it. You don't want to use humor that is too long, too short, or too frequent. You also don't want to use humor that is too risky, too controversial, or too offensive. Know your limits and respect your audience's boundaries. Use humor in moderation, with caution, and with good taste.
Humor can be a great way to make your explainer video script more engaging, memorable, and persuasive. But you need to balance it with information, and make sure it aligns with your audience, your purpose, your tone, and your format. And remember, humor is subjective, so always test, refine, and improve your script based on feedback and results.
I agree with all the comments and would just add that you need to make the humor subtle. Not in your face jokes, but funny "ah ha's" work great!
Humor, much like a spice, can enhance or overwhelm. Always use it with intention and with an eye to your audience first. Perhaps it's to break the tension before or after introducing a serious topic. Or to add a bit of humor that speaks to a common or universal challenge in your audience. Above all, do not inject humor for the sake of "being fun" or "making it interesting," Your role is not to entertain but to educate; when in doubt, leave the zinger out.
Humor should be: 1. Relevant - there should be a clear connection to the topic. 2. Appropriate - there is a time, a place, and an audience. Mess up any of those three, and there could be regrettable consequences. 3. Practiced! Practiced! Practiced! - Nothing ruins a joke like a tongue-tied punchline. Don't believe me? Ask a comedian!