Here’s a little marketing secret no one’s bold enough to print: your brand is not as serious as you think it is. The truth? It’s probably just boring online. I say this with love, of course. But somebody had to say it. Because while Sri Lankan brands are out here assembling dancing flash mobs to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” like it’s a school concert, brands in the West are doing something completely different; and winning big time.
They’re just having fun. Not “forced smiles and choreographed TikToks” kind of fun. Not “make the poor HR intern pretend to be a customer” kind of fun. I’m talking authentic, team-driven, unhinged, raw, behind-the-scenes, stupidly relatable fun. The kind that makes you forget it’s even marketing, because it feels human. And trust me, that’s where the gold is.
The Fun Brands Are the Fastest Growing Brands
Ever heard of Duolingo’s TikTok? They’re not on there preaching about grammar rules or teaching verb conjugations. Nope. Their owl mascot is out here being borderline feral, shooting its shot at pop stars and beefing with other brands. It’s chaotic, it’s weird—and it’s working.
Or look at Ryanair, the budget airline that trolls its own customers, its own flight delays, and even its own planes. And yet? Bookings are up. Because the audience feels like they’re in on the joke.
Why? Because when a brand lets loose online, it breaks the corporate fourth wall. It becomes a person. Not a policy. Not a press release. A person. And people trust people. Not PowerPoints.
Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, we’ve got companies saying:
“Guys, we need to be more relatable. Let’s make the finance department dance to Ice Spice.”
No, Raththaran. That’s not it.
Your Brand Needs a Personality, Not a Dance Crew
We’re not asking you to become comedians. But for the love of marketing, stop being a corporate robot with an Instagram account.
If your content plan includes “10 motivational quotes, 5 product photos, and one reel of Janaka from logistics attempting a dance trend,” it’s time to start over.
You don’t need a “dance strategy.”
You need a human strategy.
Start showing:
What your team is like after hours
What weird food combos your staff eats for lunch
What your founder’s first business card looked like
How you mess up and laugh about it
Your office pet (yes, the one everyone pretends not to like but secretly loves)
That’s the real content. That’s the real hook. That’s what builds community.
Because people follow people. Not brands. Not logos. Not mission statements.
The “Forced Fun” Epidemic in Sri Lanka
Now let’s address the TikTok in the room.
There is a national epidemic of forced dancing content in Sri Lankan corporate accounts. You’ve seen it. You’ve cringed. You may even be guilty of producing it. It usually features a group of mid-level employees, visibly uncomfortable, dancing to a trending sound from three weeks ago while someone in the back forgets the steps.
If I had a rupee for every one of these I’ve seen, I could buy your marketing team better ideas.
This is not how you “do content.”
This is how you traumatize your staff and alienate
your audience.
Because forced fun isn’t fun. It’s theatre. And your audience can smell the sweat.
Real fun is letting your team be themselves. It’s capturing what they’re actually good at. Let the funny guy write a script. Let the sassy receptionist take over the Instagram stories. Let the founder do a voiceover about why your first client left you. That’s content.
That’s fun.
Fun Content Converts Better. Period
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about engagement. This is about results.
When you show fun, authentic content:
People stay on your page longer
People share your content more
People remember your brand
People want to work with you
People want to work for you
Your employer branding? Sorted.
Your recruitment? Boosted.
Your marketing? On fire.
Your content calendar? Finally interesting.
All because you stopped taking yourself so seriously.
Remember: when your content is fun, your brand becomes magnetic. Customers feel like they’re part of something. Employees feel like they belong to something. And haters? Well, they just mute you. But who cares?
The Founder is Your Best Influencer
Let’s talk about founders. Because the best brands online? Their founders show up.
They’re not hiding behind generic captions. They’re out here talking. Telling stories.
Laughing at themselves. Posting Day 1 photos. Sharing the embarrassing first logo. Explaining why they started the business in the first place.
It’s not “content.” It’s connection.
So, if you’re a founder reading this, get in front of the camera. Stop saying, “I’m shy.” You weren’t shy when you pitched to investors. You weren’t shy when you negotiated supplier discounts. Don’t be shy now. Be awkward. Be funny. Be real. But be seen. You are the most underutilized asset in your own marketing team. Use yourself.
What Young Marketers Need to Hear
To all the young marketers reading this:
If your boss still thinks “serious is professional,” show them this article. If they’re allergic to fun, sneeze your way out of that company. Because the world has changed. Customers are not looking for the most serious brand. They’re looking for the most relatable one.
And that relatability? Comes from fun. Comes from honesty. Comes from creativity—not compliance. If your content calendar makes you fall asleep, your audience already has.
So, What Should You Do Tomorrow?
Here’s your No BS To-Do List for tomorrow morning:
Audit your last 10 posts. Were they human or robotic?
Stop forcing your staff to dance. Unless they want to (and are good at it).
Start documenting, not performing. Share moments, not scripts.
Give your team the mic. You’d be surprised who’s got talent.
Be funny, not fake. Internet users can spot both instantly.
Final Word from the No BS Marketer
In the world of branding, serious is safe, but safe is invisible. If you want to stand out, be human. Be bold. Be weird. Be fun.
Because the future of marketing belongs to the brands that make us feel something. And no one ever felt anything from a stock image of a smiling intern next to a quote about “innovation.”
So please, for the love of the algorithm, for the sanity of your staff, and for the success of your brand, start having some real fun. Your customers are waiting.
