Funny or Die - When in Rome

Another reason the HBO videos struck a chord is because the content is relatable, Hall says. And that is her first tip for creating successful funny videos.

"Videos are funniest when the audience can relate to the content in a personal way and people are more likely to laugh if they can see themselves in the scenarios," Hall says.

Another brand to produce relatable video content is Fiat, which partnered with comedy website Funny or Die on its Neighbors series, which includes five videos with about 890,000 combined views as of July 30.
"The Fiat brand's playful personality and Italian heritage give us license to find new ways to tell our brand story," said Olivier Francois, chief marketing officer (CMO) at parent company Chrysler, in a prepared statement.

Francois also noted the brand has seen an uptick in web traffic since the launch of this series "and this deeper engagement with our brand ultimately leads to Fiat Studio visits."

A Fiat rep was not available for further comment by deadline.

"While some of the material may resonate more with Italian viewers, the scenarios lend themselves well to everyone while reinforcing the culture of the brand and its playful personality," Hall adds.

Hall has four additional tips for brands seeking to engage consumers with humorous video content.