Funny emails: 15 examples and how to use humor in your campaigns
Examples to copy, catchy subject lines and when it’s best not to joke
Adding a dose of humor to your email sends can make them more appealing to your subscribers. In this post we’ll look at how and why to send funny emails to your subscribers, with 15 examples of humorous emails you can copy.
Humor is highly subjective.
What one person finds hilarious, another may find offensive or outdated. While some people will find a video of a guy falling off a chair hysterical, others will watch it with boredom. And more sophisticated humor, like satire or jokes that reference other topics, may not amuse everyone.
So we can say that:
Sending funny emails in our newsletter is not a sure path to success.
You run the risk of boring or annoying your subscribers, because not everyone finds the same things funny.
And that’s not the only reason.
Being funny and original – not just copying jokes from a famous comedian – is really hard! Sure, we can all crack a good joke now and then. But not everyone can make other people laugh at will.
What do we mean by something funny? Benefits and risks
When we say something is “funny”, we usually mean it makes people laugh or amuses them.
En el contexto del marketing online, un correo o publicación “graciosa” puede contener chistes, juegos de palabras, anécdotas personales divertidas, memes, expresiones de la jerga de internet o un tono y estilo de escritura que produce diversión.
Benefits of using humor in online marketing
- It builds a personal connection: Humor can help humanize your posts and create a more personal connection with your recipients.
- It grabs and holds attention: A funny post is more likely to be read and remembered than a purely informative or formal one. Humor can make your message stand out from the crowd.
- It lifts the mood: A good joke can brighten someone’s day. This can be especially useful if you’re sending an email about a dull or discouraging topic.
- It breaks the ice: Humor can be a great way to break the ice, especially when you’re starting a new business or professional relationship.
Risks of using humor in online marketing
- Humor is subjective: What’s funny to one person may not be to another. If your joke doesn’t land, it can make your post look unprofessional or even offensive.
- Humor can be misinterpreted: In written communication, where nonverbal cues are missing, there’s a greater risk of humor being misunderstood.
- Humor can distract from your main message: If your post is too funny, the recipient may forget why you were writing to them in the first place.
It’s important to weigh these benefits and risks when using humor in your posts and publications.
Always consider your audience and make sure your humor is appropriate and respectful.
And remember, if you’re ever in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of caution and avoid humor that could be misunderstood or offensive.
Why use funny emails?
Why give it a try? It’s hard and it can go wrong, so why bother?
Well, that’s something you need to decide for yourself, but if you’re sure you:
- Know what kind of humor your subscribers like
- Can create something genuinely funny
- Are ready for a challenge
Then using humor in your sends can deliver great results, for several reasons. By definition, email marketing should provide value, and that value can take many forms:
Everyone likes to laugh
A subscriber we make laugh will feel a stronger affinity for our brand. If you can get your whole list laughing (or at least a good percentage of it), you’ll have run a very valuable email campaign.
Humor can give your subscribers another reason to open your funny emails
Think about it. Not everyone on your subscriber list will be interested in your next offer. But if subscribers expect to find a funny email, they’re more likely to open it. That means you’ll get better open rates. And you’ll stay top of mind.
Humor works really well online
There’s no denying it. I don’t know about you, but my Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) feeds are full of funny videos, images and jokes that people share with me and their other friends.
Most things that go viral are things that make us laugh
That’s another strong reason to send a funny email in our campaign.
Humor is easier to remember
Most advertisements that use humor are better remembered. Something similar can happen in our email campaigns: if we use humor well, people may remember our offers better.
That said, we want them to remember our brand or offer, not just the humorous element, so we need to make our corporate image clear.
15 funny email examples to copy
Looking for examples of funny emails you can adapt to your business? Here are 15, sorted by type of email. Each one comes with a subject line and a short text you can copy and change as you like.
The rule is always the same. Humor supports the message, but the message has to be clear: what you’re offering, until when and which button to click.
1. Welcome email
The welcome email is the one that gets opened the most. A playful touch here sets the tone for everything that follows.
Subject: Welcome. You can stop pretending the office coffee is any good
Hi {nombre}, thanks for signing up. Every week we’ll send you recipes, news and the odd offer your coffee maker will thank you for. To start with, you get 10% off your first order. We promise not to send you more emails than the cups of coffee you drink in a day.
2. Abandoned cart email
Bringing products to life works really well in an abandoned cart email.
Subject: Your sneakers are still in your cart… and they’re getting nervous
You left them there yesterday and they keep asking about you. If you just got distracted, you can finish your order in two clicks. If it was the price, shipping is still free until Sunday.
3. Re-engagement email
For subscribers who no longer open your emails, a humorous winback campaign apologizes without the drama.
Subject: Are we still together, or are we history?
You haven’t opened our emails in a while and we don’t know if it’s us or your inbox. If you want to keep getting them, click the button. If not, we’ll understand (and cry a little in private).
4. “We made a mistake” email
Todos metemos la pata alguna vez. Una fe de erratas con humor quita hierro al error y suele tener más aperturas que el email original. Al fin y al cabo, la ley de Murphy también se cumple en la bandeja de salida.
Subject: Oops. Our cat took a nap on the Send button
An hour ago you got an email with the wrong price. The correct price is €24.90. To make up for it, the discount still stands until tomorrow. The cat has been banned from the keyboard.
5. Birthday email
A birthday email can take almost any joke, as long as the gift is real.
Subject: We won’t say how old you’re turning, but we will say how much you’re saving
Happy birthday, {nombre}. You get 20% off the whole store for 7 days. No candles, no off-key singing and nothing to blow out.
6. Unsubscribe confirmation email
A friendly goodbye leaves a good impression. And it leaves the door open for them to come back.
Subject: We’ll miss you (but we won’t write to you again)
We’ve unsubscribed your address. No more emails from us, not even a tiny one. If you ever change your mind, we’ll be right here.
7. Black Friday email
On Black Friday every inbox fills up with offers. A witty subject line helps yours stand out.
Subject: This Friday our prices are going on vacation (and dropping a lot)
From Thursday to Monday, up to 40% off across the whole site. No need to get up early or stand in line: all you need is your couch and your phone.
8. Appointment reminder
Reminders are boring by nature. One line is enough to get them read all the way through.
Subject: See you tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow. No, not the day after tomorrow
This is a reminder of your appointment at 10:30 at our hair salon. If you can’t make it, let us know by replying to this email. Our calendar (and our scissors) will thank you.
9. Maintenance notice
A technical notice can also raise a smile.
Subject: Tonight we’re turning it off and on again (the oldest trick in the book)
On Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 a.m. the website will be down for maintenance. If you’re up shopping at that hour, first: respect. Second: come back after 4:00.
10. Satisfaction survey
Asking for feedback is hard. If you promise it’ll be quick, and say it with a smile, more people answer.
Subject: Three questions. Not one more. Promise
We’d like to know what you thought of your last order. It’s three questions and it’ll take you less time than finding the TV remote.
11. Order shipped
Transactional emails can have personality too.
Subject: Your order is on its way (and it’s smiling)
We packed it with love and with bubble wrap that, we know, you’re going to pop. Here’s your tracking number.
12. January sales
The post-holiday January squeeze is great material for seasonal campaigns.
Subject: The January squeeze is easier with a discount
Up to 50% off coats, boots and everything you need to survive the winter. The sale runs until the 31st. As for the squeeze, we hope it ends sooner.
If you send your newsletter at the start of the week, play on that.
Subject: It’s Monday. This email can’t fix that, but it’s trying
This week we’ve got 3 ideas for organizing your pantry, a 15-minute recipe and a discount that lasts until Friday. The Monday part is up to you.
14. Subscription confirmation email
With double opt-in, the subscriber has to make one more click. A friendly tone helps them do it.
Subject: Just one more click (we promise it’s the last one)
Click the button to confirm your subscription and start getting our news. If it wasn’t you, just ignore this email. No harm done.
15. Last chance
The end of an offer is the perfect moment for a bit of over-the-top drama.
Subject: Final hours. At midnight, the offer turns into a pumpkin
The 30% discount ends today at 11:59 p.m. After that, it’s back to our usual prices, and you’re back to regretting it. Let’s not.
Want more ideas? Our email marketing examples include 20 more templates, with subject line, text and button.
Your newsletter, with your sense of humor
Design emails with images, GIFs and your own tone in the Mailrelay editor.
Let’s find some inspiration!
If you’ve made it this far, I think you’re ready for the challenge of creating funny, entertaining emails.
Where do we start?
The best thing to do is look at other campaigns that have used humor, to find some inspiration.
Use humorous copy (but carefully)
The first example is something of a cautionary tale. Take a look at this campaign that Marketo once wrote about.
It perfectly illustrates that what’s funny to some people is offensive to others.
The email’s subject line read “Pick you up at 7?”, and here’s what we found inside the email:
The copy creates humor through deliberate, exaggerated familiarity. It highlights how other B2B referral companies ask their customers for “too much, too soon”.
The Marketo blogger describes the campaign as “awesome” and “brilliant”. But the first comment on the post, from a copywriter named Rhonda, says “I found the content arrogant, I don’t think I’d like to receive this kind of message.”
Make sure your email copy suits your subscribers.
Make a funny video for your email
It’s getting easier and easier to include video (or a link to a video) in your emails – and a video can feel more personal than text.
If you have a naturally good sense of humor, making a funny video may work better than writing text
Take a look at this example of a video in a follow-up email from FunnyBizz, a company that helps other businesses “harness the power of humor”.
In the video, the sender, Rachman, starts by saying it’s “a follow-up email to see if the guys and gals at Close.io still need help getting results”. Then two singers appear and start singing a song full of social media references. “No need to post it on Pinterest / I just want to know if you’re still interested”.
It may not be the funniest video in the world, but it shows creativity and a sense of humor – and that goes a long way.
Use funny images and drawings in your emails
Many email campaigns include a large image. It’s a good place to add some humor. Visual humor tends to be simple and easy to understand.
You can use your own image, drawing or photo – although that can be expensive. The example below, from a campaign asking users to “come back to Dropbox”, shows in a fun way why it’s a good idea.
The internet is full of funny images, GIFs and memes.
Many of them are in the public domain, many others can be used in your email campaigns under a Creative Commons license, and others you can use by reaching an agreement with the author. But make sure you don’t use copyrighted images without permission.
Ways to use humor in your emails
Humor can be a very effective tool for adding personality to your email communications.
Here are some of the ways you can bring a bit of humor into your emails:
- Jokes: A simple, lighthearted joke can be a great way to make someone laugh. Make sure the joke is appropriate for your audience and relates in some way to the content of your email.
- Personal anecdotes: Sharing a funny personal story can make your email more memorable and help build a personal connection with the recipient. An anecdote about something funny or embarrassing that happened to you can add a human touch to your email.
- Images or memes: Funny memes or images can be a great way to inject humor into an email. They should be relevant and appropriate for the context and the audience. Remember that a picture may be worth a thousand words, but it can also ruin your message if it’s misinterpreted!
- Puns and wordplay: A good pun can make people laugh while highlighting the message you want to get across. Well-crafted wordplay can be clever and show that you’ve taken the time to think about your email.
- Tone and writing style: The tone of your writing can make an email funny. Some people use a very formal tone for trivial topics to create a comic effect, for example. Don’t hesitate to play with language and experiment with different writing styles to find the one that best suits your message and your audience.
Remember that although humor can be a great tool, it’s important to use it carefully so you don’t offend or confuse your recipients.
Always consider your relationship with the recipient, their sense of humor and the context in which the message is received.
Funny subject lines that work (and why)
The email subject line is where humor has the most impact. It’s the first thing people read, and it decides whether your email gets opened or not.
| Subject line | Technique | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| We messed up (and it’s not the first time) | Self-deprecation | Humanizes the brand and sparks curiosity |
| Your cart misses you | Personification | Brings an object to life and reminds them of the pending purchase |
| Open this email. Or not. Your call | Reverse psychology | Breaks away from subject lines that give orders |
| Spoiler: we’re not selling you anything today | Surprise | Stands out in an inbox full of offers |
| This is more important than your TV show (well, almost) | Exaggeration | Raises expectations with a wink |
| We’ll explain it with a cat | Absurdity | Creates a mental image instantly |
| Bread, milk and… a discount? | Broken list | The list ends with something you don’t expect |
| Today’s plan is to do nothing (except open this email) | Contradiction | Plays on the reader’s laziness |
Emojis help too. A 😅 or a 🙈 at the end of the subject line reinforces the tone without adding words. You’ll find ideas in our post on emoticons in the subject line.
Humor, used carefully, is always useful, especially on certain dates or for certain events. It breaks the monotony, creates a relaxed atmosphere and sets a positive mood. That said, if you use it in your email campaigns, remember that respect comes first.
Jose Argudo, CMO de Mailrelay
When not to use humor in your emails
Hay emails en los que una broma sobra. Antes de enviar, piensa en lo que siente quien lo va a leer. Y no solo cuenta el texto: la historia de Comic Sans demuestra que hasta una letra desenfadada puede estropear un mensaje serio.
Complaints and issues. If a customer has a problem with their order, they want a solution, not a joke. Fix it first and, if anything, smile afterwards.
Billing and outstanding payments. Joking about money can come across as mockery. Here the tone needs to be clear and respectful.
Sensitive topics. Health, layoffs, loss or sad news. Not even a gentle wink fits.
Legal or pricing changes. If you change your terms, what matters is that they’re clearly understood. Humor can make someone not take them seriously.
An audience you don’t know yet. If your list is new, start with a friendly tone and test things gradually.
What if you’re not sure your list will laugh with you? Run an A/B test. Send a humorous subject line to some of your subscribers and a serious one to the others. Then see which one gets more clicks, and that will be your tone.
Test your funny email with an A/B test
Send two versions of the subject line, one with humor and one without, and let your subscribers choose.
How Mailrelay helps you send funny emails
With Mailrelay you can bring your funny ideas to your campaigns without any hassle:
Visual editor. Add images, cartoons and animated GIFs by dragging blocks. GIFs animate in most email clients.
A/B tests. Compare a funny subject line with a serious one before sending the campaign to your whole list.
Segments. Send the humor only to people you know will enjoy it and keep a more serious tone for everyone else.
Automations. Set up your witty welcome or birthday email once and it will send itself, on the free account too.
And with the free account you can send up to 80,000 emails a month to 20,000 contacts, with human support on every plan.
Make your subscribers look forward to your next email
Create your free account and send up to 80,000 emails a month to 20,000 contacts.
Above all, make sure the humor is relevant to your email marketing campaign
Finally, something you shouldn’t forget:
Even if you create a funny email marketing campaign, making people laugh is not your main goal
Your goal is to get a response to what your campaign is offering. Humor is there to help, not as an end in itself.
That’s why you need to make sure the humor in your campaign is relevant to your brand and to what you offer. It’s not just about telling a joke, pasting in a funny image or using a humorous tone in your copy.
Make sure the call to action still takes center stage – however humorous the email is.
Good luck with your next campaign! Do you have more ideas for creating funny, entertaining emailings to surprise your subscribers?
Frequently asked questions about funny emails
What is a funny email?
It’s an email that uses humor to grab attention or connect with the reader. It can be a subject line with a pun, copy with a playful tone, a meme or a funny image.
Do funny emails work in email marketing?
They can work really well if they fit your brand and your audience. They tend to get more opens and make people remember your message. But there are no guarantees: the best thing is to test it with an A/B test.
Yes. You just need to make sure you’re allowed to use the image (it’s yours, it’s in the public domain or it has a license that allows it). And remember that some older versions of Outlook only show the first frame of a GIF.
Which emails shouldn’t use humor?
Replies to complaints, payment reminders, legal changes and any email about a sensitive topic. In those cases, a clear and friendly tone is better.
How do I write a funny subject line?
Try exaggeration, self-deprecation or an unexpected ending. Keep it short, make sure it’s understood without explanation and that it relates to the content. If the subject line promises a joke, the email has to deliver it.
Jose Argudo
CMO at Mailrelay. Writes about email marketing, copywriting and conversion for SMEs and entrepreneurs.