Most signs you see on the road are either informative (“Watch out for dog”) or instructional (“No trespassing”), but sometimes you come across something a little more unusual.
The Facebook group Give Me A Sign features photos of signs, store windows, and car windshields. Many of the photos are funny, witty, and clever wordplay. If you’re feeling down, these posts might be a source of free laughs.
Following on from our previous article on Bored Panda, we have compiled a new set of photos from their page.
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This public Facebook group has over 950,000 followers as of this posting, and as stated in the “About” section, its goal is to be “a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of everyday life where you can just relax and laugh.”
Discussing politics, religion, and other hot topics is avoided primarily because it “ruins the fun atmosphere.”
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Funny billboards get everyone’s attention, and advertisers know it: According to online billboard company Movia, 30% of campaigns incorporate humor in some form, and 50% of TV ads employ the same strategy.
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Funny ads are powerful because they appeal to people’s emotions immediately, making the message memorable and lasting.
Market research firm Kantar Media lists six common styles of humor used in advertising: childish pranks, shock, everyday laughter, innocent smiles, put-downs and witty wit.
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But veteran content marketer and LinkedIn influencer Steve Olenski points out in a Forbes article that humor has potential downsides: Inappropriate jokes, for example, can make your brand look amateurish.
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Some people make the mistake of telling jokes to gain attention, but Olensky strongly discourages this.
“If people think you’re just making jokes to get attention, they’ll come across as exploitative rather than funny.”
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In addition to keeping things light, avoiding serious topics can discourage you from touching on sensitive issues, which Olensky says carry potential threats, and he advises being especially careful about making jokes about certain groups of people or issues.
“Kenneth Cole tried to make a joke out of the Egyptian riots in 2012 by linking them to his new spring collection,” Olensky wrote. “It didn’t work.”
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Conversely, Olenski outlined several key areas where humor can significantly strengthen your existing message, one of which is with works that are already valuable.
“If you’re writing an article or e-book to help people understand a complex subject, adding an occasional joke or writing in a tongue-in-cheek tone can make your piece more engaging and memorable.”
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Olenski said the power of humor can make a brand stand out more: it can be the X-factor that makes a brand stand out.
“For example, Oreo has long differentiated itself by making quirky, tongue-in-cheek statements on its social media platforms, which is particularly effective in a dry or ‘boring’ industry.”
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I was trying to take a nice photo of the house when I noticed something was wrong with the welcome sign.
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This is 2 miles from the local Renaissance Festival.
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