We’ve all sat through a boring, dry corporate video that tries to communicate some new organizational change or service offering — something really important — that falls flat.
Maybe the messaging isn’t relevant to the audience, the budget is too low or it’s just a flat-out chore to watch. Whatever the reason, if you need to create your own corporate video, you’ll likely find yourself trying to avoid all of the above.
What are some techniques that can make a corporate video notable?
One effective method of communicating a memorable message to your employees or customers is to use humor. While not easily accomplished, a successful corporate video that relies on humor as a mechanism or framing tool can get across your message in ways that those dry videos can’t hope to match.
Of course, the downside is if you’re not careful, you might create a cringe-inducing video that becomes a celebrated flop on YouTube.
With that in mind, here’s how you can create an effective corporate video using humor that won’t be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Slightly Heightened Moments
First off, one of the important rules to any video using humor is not to overdo it. While humor can be a powerful tool for engagement, excessive use can dilute its impact and even alienate viewers who may not share the same sense of humor.
What does this mean?
Generally, the bigger you go, the higher the likelihood you’ll fall flat on your face. You want to create exaggerated moments that produce a chuckle or two but, more importantly, stay memorable for your audience.
As an example of heightened moments, let’s take a look at this video we shot for FP Mailing Solutions that highlighted one of their technology services.
Behind the Scenes Info on the Shoot
In collaborating with FP Mailing Solutions on their video project:
- The concept was developed as a soap opera, as per FP Mailing Solutions’ preference.
- Visual gags were integrated into the video in consultation with the client.
- Jokes were refined with the assistance of a comedy writer for added impact.
Noteworthy visual elements included exaggerated scenes, such as a comically large stack of USPS boxes and sped-up sequences of our hero preparing them for mailing. Additionally, the use of the talking head interview style, that were popularized with TV Shows like The Office or Parks and Recreation, signaled lighter, more humorous segments.
Importantly, these comedic elements seamlessly complemented the promotion of FP Mailing Systems’ Mail One 2.0 service, with the video primarily focusing on showcasing the benefits of the service and navigating through its interface.
The narrative approach intertwined FP’s main message with a lighthearted storyline, emphasizing the efficiency of the Mail One 2.0 service through a relatable scenario. Everyday situations were amplified for educational and comedic effect, drawing viewers in with heightened stakes and delivering the core message with humor and impact.
What to Avoid while making Comedic Corporate Videos
Now, we should probably note that humor is subjective.
What one viewer might find funny, another might see as just kind of blah. So, there’s some risk involved in relying on humor in a video like this
The risk of a video not being funny can be easily minimized by following some of these general rules:
- Write a solid script and make sure you get all the pages shot, but don’t be afraid to improvise, modify and let the funny, talented people you’ve hired bring new ideas to the shoot.
- Avoid anything even vaguely offensive.
- Hire professional actors. There’s nothing more cringe inducing than poor acting — especially if it’s meant to be funny.
- Work with a film crew you trust. Select a crew with previous experience creating humor videos and develop your idea with them. Trust us, it’ll greatly increase your video’s odds of success.
Interested in Adding Humor to Your Corporate Videos with Video Parachute?
If you’re intrigued by learning more about how humor can enhance your corporate, internal, or external marketing videos, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Simply fill out the form on our website, and we guarantee a response within one hour. We’re here to help bring your vision to life with creativity and impact.
In our line of work, we watch countless hours of video, but sometimes we see one that really sticks with us. The ones we remember often have similar characteristics – they’re creative, they’re both affective and effective, and their message is crystal clear.
