What were you up to at 7.30am on 2nd November 2017? Yawning all over your fellow commuters on the bus? Repeatedly snoozing your alarm? Or maybe like us, you were being super-productive and taking in some top tips from I Choose Birmingham’s, Tom Cullen, at Social Media SL/CED. If you still aren’t subscribed to I Choose Birmingham or don’t follow them on social media, you’re not only missing out on all the juicy Birmingham secrets, you’re missing out on a good laugh.
The importance of injecting personality, particularly humour, into your social media was one of the key themes of Social Media SL/CED and is something I Choose Birmingham are expert at. Javan and Tom both discussed the importance of humanising your brand. Using a certain tone of voice on social media can make a business or an individual seem more accessible to others. Think about the type of tweets that go viral. The vast majority of them have hit 10K retweets because they’re funny and they’re relatable. When you hit the retweet or like button, it’s usually because you think the tweet is hilarious, it’s an opinion you agree with, or it makes you say, ‘OMG that is so me!’.
As we’re a quarter of the way through 2018 already and probably all need a little pick-me-up, we’ve compiled our favourite tweets of the year so far and taken a look at why they racked up the likes and retweets.
1. Always look for opportunities to be reactive and relevant – even to the weirdest news stories
He was always the softer of the two Mitchell brothers. pic.twitter.com/GDxaGZ61AV
— I Choose Birmingham (@ichoosemag) March 17, 2018
In their role as Birmingham ambassadors and comedians, I Choose Birmingham of course responded in a typically hilarious fashion to the news that Ross Kemp felt more fear in Brum than he did in Afghanistan. By following both Birmingham news and general trending topics, I Choose were able to get in there with a quick quip that amused their Brum-centric audience, demonstrating their ability to be relevant and reactive.
2. You can’t go wrong with a good pun
https://twitter.com/Jon_Digital/status/956437942494552064
Andy Cheyne of the Pointless question gang, just told me that Dicken’s ‘A Tale Of Two Cities’ was first serialised in two local newspapers.
“It was the Bicester Times, it was The Worcester Times”
???
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) February 26, 2018
A well-executed pun is a thing of beauty, and the sort of thing that lights up your timeline when aimlessly scrolling. If the opportunity arises for a hilarious pun, grab it! It might be simple, but you’ll be guaranteed to make your followers laugh/groan in equal measure.
If the first tweet has gone over your head, familiarise yourself with 2000’s finest, Papa Roach…
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3. Turn horror into humour
My boyfriend: *leaves the room*
The fbi agent in my webcam: No I totally see what you mean.
Me: right? He's weird today. How's your husband?
FBI agent: he wants us to open our marriage
Me: that's rough janet.
— josh hall (@joshwillhall) January 28, 2018
me talking to a friend: like yes, intimacy is great, but am i really ready for a full relationship right now?
instagram ad: Do you feel like yes, intimacy is great, but am i really ready for a full relationship right now? If so, you should shop at this online thrift store— giabucchi (@jaboukie) March 5, 2018
There has long been suspicions that our every move on the internet is being watched by the powers that be (and the recent Facebook data scandal adds some solidity to this theory). So, the internet does what it does best – expresses our outrage and fear through humour. Of course, there are times when being serious is the only response (check out the mistake I Choose made last year), but making light of a situation is something popular tweeters do often and do well.
As a teacher, I knocked myself out headbutting ceiling pretending to be a particle, star-jumping off a desk.
I've set my arm on fire when lit ethanol trickled down sleeve, from my hand.
I've burnt my ear listening if gas was coming out of a bunsen.
Please don't give me a gun.
— Philip Clarke (@ClarkePhil) February 22, 2018
See also, using humour to make a serious point. Whilst the bulk of this tweet makes you chuckle, it ends on a poignant note, with the humour acting as a device to further reiterate the ridiculousness of giving teachers in the US guns. A great example of how important a single tweet can be.
4. Relate to common interests
at a work conference yesterday we were asked why people don’t ask to work from home more. we could send answers anonymously and they’d appear on a big screen. one answer read in 72pt font: “because I do not like my children”
— bobby shawarma (@hummusandpizza) March 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/adamhess1/status/976490644544860160
https://twitter.com/zaktoscani/status/979448251546927104
Deep down, every human is pretty self-interested, which is why we enjoy content that relates to our own lives. Funny tweets about working and family life tend to gain popularity, probably because they serve as a reminder of the humour amongst the stress of both. The vast majority of your followers are going to have a job and a family, so tweeting about the humorous elements of these parts of their lives is a sure-fire way to create relatable content.
We highly recommend reading Zak Toscani’s thread on the stolen lunch mystery, by the way…
5. Be Chrissy Teigen
And for an extra treat, here are some of the best tweets of the year so far by serial viral tweeter, Chrissy Teigen.
things I am *unreasonably* bitter about on instagram: you, standing on the edge of an infinity pool. the flowers you received. you, showing your boobs but the caption is not something simple like 'I like my boobs' it's something deep and uncorrelated. your alive dog (mine died)
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) April 4, 2018
John said there would be leopards today. But it’s lepers. I uh, am not good with the Bible.
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 26, 2018
I’m gonna sign you dumbass up for pottery barn emails https://t.co/sHbvyXxPsJ
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) April 3, 2018
no but if I ever attend a dinner party with the world’s most boring people I’ll be sure to bring up this newfound fact of mine https://t.co/9CvmFFB0tK
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 17, 2018
my husband didn’t even take his last name? https://t.co/BMo6OsgcVv
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 22, 2018
I got home today and ran to go peepee and you know when you’re so close to the bathroom so you kind of release because you know you’re about to pee, well I did that and my toilet was gone.
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 25, 2018
like there was no toilet pic.twitter.com/CIn3Vdy1P9
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 25, 2018
Feeling inspired to work on your social media strategy? Get in touch with us to discuss a social media strategy that works for you.