Why Humor Belongs in Your Email Marketing
Your emails should do more than deliver useful information—they should reflect your brand’s personality and connect emotionally with readers. One great way to do that? Humor.
When done well, humor can:
- Make your emails more memorable
- Help your brand stand out in crowded inboxes
- Drive engagement and conversions
But not all humor works. Let’s look at the dos and don’ts—plus 7 examples that show you exactly how to do it right.
Dos and Don’ts of Funny Emails
1. Keep Humor Relevant to Your Brand
Before cracking jokes, consider:
- Your brand voice
- Your audience
- The purpose of the email
Avoid edgy or controversial jokes that may offend. Start with light humor or puns—like:
“I don’t trust those trees… because they seem kind of SHADY.”
It’s safe, simple, and effective.
2. Make Humor Serve a Purpose
Funny emails should do more than entertain—they should drive action.
For example, use humor in cart abandonment emails. Monitor how recipients respond. If engagement goes up, try it in other campaigns too.
3. A/B Test Humor vs. Your Normal Tone
Test two versions:
- One standard email
- One with a humorous tone
Track which performs better. You can also ask for feedback from colleagues or friends before sending it to your list.
4. Balance Fun with Professionalism
Unless you’re a comedy brand, not every email needs to be funny. Strike the right balance so customers take your message seriously—even if they’re smiling while reading it.
7 Funny Email Marketing Examples That Work
1. Whisky Loot – Cart Abandonment Humor
Whisky Loot uses a fun checklist in their cart abandonment emails to remind subscribers of what they’re missing. It’s playful and effective.
2. Really Good Emails – Funny Subject Line
Their Halloween subject line:
“Creepin’ it real”
adds a spooky pun that grabs attention and stays on-brand.
3. Deliveroo – April Fools’ Prank Email
Deliveroo teased a fake telepathic ordering service for April 1st. The joke was funny, the CTA enticing, and the result? Engagement with their “Watch the Video Now” button.
4. Poncho – Witty Weather Updates
Poncho turned boring weather alerts into fun, colorful, cartoon-style emails. This playful approach made their updates worth reading.
5. Really Good Emails – Humorous CTA Button
Even their CTA copy is fun. Humor doesn’t stop at headlines—it’s in the details, and it encourages clicks when aligned with the message.
6. Zomato – Pizza Promo with a Smile
Zomato injects humor into its pizza promotions, often through clever wordplay and vibrant visuals. Even if subscribers don’t order, they’ll leave with a smile.
7. Teespring – Re-Engagement with a Puppy
Teespring’s win-back email features a sad puppy image, playful copy, and clever statistics. Emotional + funny = re-engagement done right.
Bonus: Tough Mudder – Hilarious Chat Screenshot
Tough Mudder used a fake chat screenshot GIF to promote a discount. The punny humor and visual storytelling made the offer impossible to ignore.
Over to You
Crafting funny emails is part art, part science. The right joke can:
- Cut through inbox clutter
- Humanize your brand
- Boost open and click rates
- Make your emails shareable
Start small, test often, and most importantly—make them smile.