Want more followers? Show your funny side on social media

During Internet Week, I braved the Manhattan heat with a couple of colleagues to learn from professional comedians how to use humor effectively on social media.

The star-studded panel for this event included Witstream CCO Michael Ian Black, Judah Friedlander of 30 Rock fame, comedian Sara Benincasa, and Alf LaMont, vice president of marketing and development at The Comedy Store.

Though much of the discussion focused on how comedians use Twitter and Facebook to market themselves, you can apply their advice to businesses looking to build their brand on these platforms.

Here are five tips from the panel to help make your social media feed more fun:

1. Find what makes you stand out.

A brand often jumps out to consumers because it offers something unique. If you provide your audience with something quirky or different, they are more likely to be interested in what you have to say. Taco Bell is a great example. It often uses comedy on Twitter to engage with customers, helping it to stand out from its competitors.