How can you use humor to create a winning pitch deck?

1 Know your audience

The first and most important rule of using humor is to know your audience. What kind of humor do they appreciate and relate to? What are their pain points, goals, and challenges? How can you use humor to empathize with them, show them the benefits of your solution, or address their objections? You don't want to use humor that is offensive, insensitive, or irrelevant to your audience, as that can backfire and damage your reputation. Do some research on your audience, their industry, and their culture, and tailor your humor accordingly.

3 Be original and authentic

The third rule of using humor is to be original and authentic. You don't want to use humor that is cliché, outdated, or borrowed from someone else, as that can make you look lazy, unoriginal, or untrustworthy. You want to use humor that reflects your unique voice, style, and personality, and that showcases your creativity and passion. You can use humor to tell a personal story, share a surprising insight, or reveal a quirky feature of your product, but make sure it is relevant, fresh, and honest. Don't try to be someone you are not, or copy someone else's humor, as that can backfire and alienate your audience.

4 Test and refine your humor

The fourth rule of using humor is to test and refine your humor. You don't want to use humor that is unclear, confusing, or misinterpreted by your audience, as that can lead to awkwardness, misunderstanding, or resentment. You want to use humor that is clear, concise, and consistent with your message, and that resonates with your audience. You can test your humor by asking for feedback from your peers, mentors, or potential customers, and by practicing your pitch in front of different audiences. You can refine your humor by editing, simplifying, or removing any jokes that don't work, and by adding, improving, or emphasizing any jokes that do work.

6 Learn from the best

The sixth and final rule of using humor is to learn from the best. You don't have to reinvent the wheel, or start from scratch, when it comes to using humor in your pitch deck. You can learn from the best by studying and analyzing some successful examples of pitch decks that use humor effectively and appropriately. You can find some pitch decks online, or watch some videos of pitches that use humor, and see how they use humor to capture attention, communicate value, and persuade action. You can also learn from the best by seeking advice, inspiration, or mentorship from some experts or influencers in your field, or in the creator economy, who use humor in their pitches, and see how they use humor to stand out, connect, and succeed.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?