Humor in sales and marketing emails is not a brand-new concept, but it is certainly gaining momentum, thanks to the fleeting attention span of consumers.

Every brand is striving to capture the attention of prospective customers. An effortless way to achieve this is by incorporating humor into your communications, especially in your cold emails—those initial contacts with potential customers.

Why? Well, for starters, humor can help you grab your readers' attention. The average person receives 121 business emails each day, so envision how you can break through the noise. Humor can be a powerful tool to get your message across.

Big brands are already embracing this approach. If you've encountered marketing communications from brands such as Ikea, Netflix, Spotify, and others, you'll understand what I'm referring to. Here's a brilliantly effortless example of using humor to make your messages stand out, as demonstrated by Burger King in one of their tweets. The way they added a twist to Maslow's hierarchy of needs is both amusing and appetizing.

Numerous other examples illustrate how the use of humor can not only capture your customers' attention but also inspire them to purchase your product or service.

Why use Humour in cold emails - 4 benefits to consider

a) Easing Tension and Building Rapport

Humor is not merely a tool to grab your customer's attention; it is also a valuable asset for alleviating the initial tension of "do I know you" when reaching out to them for the first time.

A report by Oracle and author-podcaster Gretchin Rubin reveals that despite 91% of people worldwide expressing a preference for brands with a humorous touch, a striking 95% of business leaders are apprehensive about incorporating humor into their interactions with consumers. Additionally, the study highlights a concerning statistic, indicating that 45% of individuals globally have not experienced genuine happiness for a period exceeding two years.

By infusing humor into your cold emails, you can effectively break the ice and gradually establish a rapport with your prospective customers.

b) Enhance Memorability

We all appreciate joy and happiness, don't we? Regardless of how serious a sales process may seem, it's crucial to remember that we are ultimately selling to human beings who crave genuine love, attention, and, of course, moments of joy.

A cold email that tickles the funny bone of your prospects can help you secure a place in their memories.

According to "The Happiness Report," a notable 90% of individuals are inclined to recall advertisements that incorporate humor, and a substantial 72% express a preference for brands with a humorous touch over their competitors. Surprisingly, the report highlights a significant disparity, revealing that only 20% of brands incorporate humor in offline ads, while a mere 18% utilize this strategy in online advertisements.

Surprising, isn't it? So, consider this your cue to begin incorporating humor into your cold emails and marketing communications.

c) Enhance Understanding

Incorporating humor into your emails can act as a potent catalyst for deepening your audience's understanding of your product or service.

By strategically infusing wit into your messaging, you can effectively simplify complex information, making it more accessible and engaging for your audience.

d) Encouraging open rates and responses

A witty and engaging approach in your email subject lines has the potential to capture attention, prompting recipients to open and explore your content eagerly.

By infusing humor to create a positive and enjoyable email experience, you not only stand out in the crowded digital landscape but also foster a more favorable response from your audience.

Here's a Cold Email Structure That Generates High Open And Reply Rates

How do you write funny emails when cold outreaching?

In a very informative video on ‘The Science of Selling With Humour,’ Andrew Tarvin shares an interesting concept of creating a humour MAP (Medium, Audience, and Purpose) when trying to leverage humour in your cold outreach strategy.

Medium - stands for figuring out HOW you are going to execute the humour, like in our case, via a cold email.

Audience - stands for having a clear picture of who your audience is, their pain points, and relevancy. Lacking situational awareness when writing a funny email can land you in big trouble.

Purpose - stands for defining why you are using humour.

Feel free to check out the full video here.

Now, let's delve into a practical example using Smartlead. Suppose I'm crafting a cold email to reach out to a prospect.

Smartlead is an innovative cold email outreach tool designed to elevate brands' success rates by sending engaging cold emails. Its features, including unlimited AI warmups, auto-rotating accounts, personalized AI messages, and a unified inbox for streamlined lead communication, make it a top choice for achieving better response rates and engagement.

Considering this, I recognize that my target customer is someone grappling with the challenges of achieving success in cold email outreach. Here’s what my cold email looks like:

Scenario: I have been following the prospect on LinkedIn and regularly engage with his posts and activities. I have seen him liking and commenting on posts related to cold emailing tips and tricks.

The above cold email template has a higher chance of eliciting a response for several reasons:

• ‍Not a Direct Sales Pitch: It avoids coming across as a typical sales pitch, focusing instead on providing value.‍
• Addresses the Recipient's Pain Point: It highlights and addresses the pain point of the recipient, emphasizing the solution to their challenge.‍
• Clear and Powerful CTA: The call-to-action is simple yet powerful, offering the recipient a tangible solution to their problem.

Remember, aligning your cold email with the intent and needs of your audience is crucial. Take the time to understand your prospect before crafting a message.

Write better emails with these 101+ Cold Email Templates

How Using Wrong Humor Can Hit You Back? Things to Look Out for While Writing Funny Emails

Using the wrong humor in emails can indeed backfire and potentially lead to misunderstandings or offense. Here are some things to consider and watch out for while trying to be funny in emails:

• Humor can be subjective and culturally specific. Consider your audience's background, preferences, and relationship with you before using humor. What might be funny to one person could be confusing or offensive to another.
• The tone of a funny cold email can be easily misinterpreted without visual or verbal cues. Sarcasm or dry humor, for example, can be challenging to convey effectively in text. Ensure that your tone matches the message you want to convey.
• Steer clear of sensitive topics like politics, religion, or personal beliefs. Jokes related to these areas can easily offend or alienate recipients who may not share your views.
• Be mindful of personal boundaries. Jokes about sensitive subjects such as physical appearance, personal habits, or disabilities can be hurtful, even if meant in jest.
• Ensure that your humor is relevant to the conversation and appropriate for the situation. Random or out-of-context jokes might confuse recipients and come across as awkward. 
• Using humor excessively in professional communications can undermine your credibility. Balance lightheartedness with clarity and professionalism.
• Sometimes, humor can obscure the main message. Make sure that your primary message is clear and easily understood before adding humor.
• Avoid using language or themes that could be offensive, including profanity, discriminatory remarks, or inappropriate innuendos.
• Different mediums (email, chat, etc.) have varying levels of formality. Adjust your humor accordingly to match the expected tone of the platform.

By being mindful of these considerations, you can use humor effectively in emails without risking miscommunication or causing offense. Always prioritize respect and sensitivity when crafting funny messages in professional or personal contexts.

Examples of Incorporating Sales Humour When Writing Cold Emails

Funny Cold Email Subject Line Examples

The subject line of your funny cold email is the first thing your prospects notice. Including humor right in the subject line can help you grab their attention quickly.

Humorous subject lines not only stand out but also create positive associations with your brand, making your communication more memorable.

• An Email on a Monday? You should definitely not miss it!
• Breaking News: We Can Help With Your Taxes! (Just Kidding)
• Fashion Emergency: Your Wardrobe Called, It Needs a Makeover!
• Your cat would definitely love this email! {Hint: there’s an offer on cat food}
• We heard you were hungry - here’re some food coupons
• Why Did the Gym Mirror Blush? Because You're Here! Get Ready to Flex!

When crafting humorous subject lines, steer clear of creating clickbait. Remember, your goal is to bring a smile to your prospects' faces genuinely. Therefore, keep it real and relevant.

Check out these 80 Cold Email Subject Lines to Increase Your Response Rate

Funny Email Memes Body Examples

#Example1

Scenario: The person writing the email works in a travel agency, and is just promoting a holiday season offer on their gold membership card

Subject: I am writing this in the middle of eating my pizza

Hi {first name},

I know, I know, it’s a Friday - and you must be busy wrapping up your week’s tasks. Trust me, I am too busy finishing off my last pizza slice. But, just wanted to give a heads-up to you about the upcoming Holiday season and how you can save up to $250 on your next vacation with us.

At {Brand_Name}, we are running a free offer on our Gold Membership card. Sign up for just $1 and get up to 35% off on your next bill with us.

Amazing, right? Don’t wait, just grab the offer today. {Include CTA link}

Regards,

{Your Name}

#Example2

Scenario: An individual working with an email lead generation tool is reaching out to a fellow member of a Facebook group, promoting a YouTube video that discusses tips and tricks to increase open and reply rates. The person knows that the recipient is a fan of Star Wars.

Subject: Unleashing the Email Jedi within You 🚀

Hey [First Name],

Hope this message finds you dodging the Monday blues like a pro! 👊 I stumbled upon your insightful posts in our [Facebook Group Name], and I couldn't resist reaching out.

Picture this: you, me, and a virtual coffee chat. ☕️ I've got some top-secret email hacks that can turn your inbox into a powerhouse of leads. And guess what? I've spilled all the beans in my latest YouTube video.

I won't spoil it, but let's just say it involves email sorcery, a sprinkle of charm, and maybe a Jedi mind trick or two. Intrigued? Check out the video here: [Insert YouTube Link]

Feel free to share your thoughts, or if you're up for it, let's swap our favorite email war stories over a virtual cuppa!

May the open rates be ever in your favor!

Regards,

{Your Name}

#Example3

Scenario: A person is contacting a marketing team member to get the email of the department head, in order to promote a product offering.

Subject: Quick Help: Can Batman (You) Point Me to [Department Head's Name]'s Inbox?

Hey [Marketing Team Member's Name],

Quick favor – I'm on a mission to connect with [Department Head's Name] and feeling a bit like Batman without Alfred. Any chance you can be my hero and point me to the Batcave of their inbox?

Your assistance is superhero-level awesome!

Cheers,

[Your Name]

Funny Email Follow-up Examples

#Example1

Subject: Hey, I just had an Interstellar moment

Hi [Recipient's Name],

I was recently engrossed in watching 'Interstellar' and couldn't help but draw a quirky parallel. Is it possible that my last email got caught in a time warp, doing its best Matthew McConaughey impression?

If you've got a spare spacecraft handy, could you help rescue my email from the gravitational pull of cyberspace? Eagerly await your thoughts on our previous exchange.

Best,

[Your Name]

Important: When quoting a movie reference, ensure that you have some idea about the interests of the recipient.

#Example2

Subject: Feeling Ross and Rachel Vibes 😅

Hi [Recipient's Name],

Hope all's well! Your silence is giving me serious Ross and Rachel vibes – the last time I felt this hurt, they were "on a break."

Let's fix this email heartbreak, shall we?

Looking forward to your response.

Regards,

{Your Name}

#Example3

Subject: One Last Peek – I Promise! 🙈

Hi [Recipient's Name],

I hate being that pesky salesperson, but I also hate the thought of missing a chance to connect with you. This is my last gentle nudge to see if you're still interested. Just one last peek – I promise!

Cheers,

[Your Name]

Winding-up - treading on thin ice

While humour can be a great addition to your cold emails, you must take care of the following factors before implementing it:

• Know Your Readers: Understand your audience's sense of humor. Following them on LinkedIn or having common groups can help.
• Keep it Casual: Maintain a light, friendly tone without overdoing it.
• Choose the Right Moments: Introduce humor where it complements your message naturally.
• Balance Professionalism: Be personable but ensure it aligns with your brand's professionalism.
• Avoid Common Jokes: Be original; steer clear of clichés for a fresh approach.
• Test and Learn: Experiment with humor styles using A/B testing for optimal results.

I hope you enjoyed reading the article.

Sales Humour FAQs

When to use humour in sales?

Humour is effective in sales when aiming to build rapport, lighten the mood, or create a memorable interaction. Use it when you understand your audience's preferences and cultural context.

What are some funny ways to end emails?

Concluding emails with a light touch can leave a positive impression. Consider humorous sign-offs like "Stay punny," "Keep smiling," or "In laughter and success."

Is it professional to send fun emails?

Yes, sending fun emails can be professional when it aligns with your brand voice and the nature of your relationship with the recipient. Ensure the humor is appropriate, relevant, and doesn't compromise the message's integrity.

When not to use humour in your emails?

Avoid using humour in sensitive situations, such as delivering bad news, addressing serious issues, or when dealing with formal and strictly professional communication. Additionally, be cautious if you are uncertain about the recipient's sense of humor. Stay away from sensitive or religious/cultural references when leveraging humour.