Social media for comedians

There are so many social media platforms for comedians to use these days that it can be difficult to know where to post your content for best effect. I’m pretty sure that you don’t care much about which platform is which. Afterall, your a comedian, you probably don’t care about social media platforms much. In Spotlight on success: How a professional website can enhance a comedian’s career (with case studies) we showed how two comedians successfully incorporate their social media profiles into their new website.

Here we provide a list of the main social media platforms and how to use them to your advantage. This list is specifically for comedians, but can be referenced by anyone using social media as a publicity tool. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, so comedians often benefit from focusing on two or three platforms that align with their style and audience. If you want to break into a new, different audience, picking a new platform might be a good and cheap way to start.

YouTube

This classic platform is a long survivor. It is ideal for longer–form content, sketches, stand–up clips, and vlogs. It is excellent for stand–up specials or comedy series. Focus on high–quality video production and consistent uploads.

TikTok

Perfect for short, punch comedy bits, trends, and challenges. Leverage the platform’s algorithm to reach a wider audience. The algorithm can help content go viral, even for newer creators. As TikTok says:

If there’s one thing that TikTok users love, it’s a good joke. Together, videos posted to the hashtags #funny and #comedy have six trillion views.
—TikTok

Instagram

Great for visual comedy, memes, short videos, and behind-the-scenes content. Use Reels, IGTV, and Stories to engage your followers.

Twitter/X

Excellent for quick wit, one–liners, and engaging with current events and trending conversations. It’s a great platform for showcasing a comedian’s sharp humour in real–time.

Facebook

While its popularity among younger audiences has waned in recent years, Facebook still has a massive user base. It’s useful for building communities, sharing videos, and promoting comedy events.

Twitch/streaming platforms

If you have a knack for live performance and interaction, streaming can be a powerful tool for building a community. Twitch offers a platform to perform live comedy, host Q&A sessions, or even play games with fans.

Podcasts

Audio comedy is back. If you are a good storyteller or interviewer, this could be a good avenue for you.

Clubhouse

This audio–based platform is ideal for comedians who want to engage in discussions, host comedy rooms, or test new material.

Your own website

Your website should act as a central hub for all your online profiles, consolidating all your content and platforms into one place. It lends an air of professionalism and legitimacy to your career and gives you complete autonomy and control over the design, content, branding, and interaction with your visitors. You can use it to showcase your best work and testimonials and to build a mailing list to keep your die–hard fans in the know. And it gives you a direct line for fans and promoters to find out when and where you’re appearing, and to get in touch with you.

As time goes on, some of these will fall out of favour and others will crop up that don’t currently appear in this very short list. Unfortunately, you can’t stand still when it comes to social media because trends change, as we said in Beyond the stage: building your online comedy presence, use social media platforms but make your own website the central hub so that your content can always be found.

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