When I first started making comedy sketches, I didn’t set out to “break into social media.” I just wanted to make people laugh. I had no marketing strategy, no viral formula, and no fancy equipment. All I had was a phone, a ton of ideas, and a weird itch to create. But over time, what started as a fun side project slowly turned into a growing audience. It turns out comedy, especially short-form comedy, might be one of the most powerful (and underrated) tools for getting noticed online. If you’re trying to build a presence in this ever-evolving digital world, here’s how I did it, and how you can, too.
First off, start small, but start funny. There’s a misconception that you need a team, a studio setup, or a budget to make content that stands out. You don’t. My first videos were filmed in my room with a phone and no tripod. But what I did have was a point of view. I made sketches that made me laugh, even if they didn’t hit right away. That’s key: your content must amuse you first. If you’re making something because it’s trending, but you don’t actually enjoy it, it shows. Authenticity is your secret weapon, especially in comedy. People can smell forced jokes a mile away. Start with something that feels like you, even if it’s rough around the edges.
Finding your voice is a journey, and you won’t nail it with your first ten sketches. I didn’t. In the beginning, I tried everything: character bits, relationship jokes, office humor, parodies, even sketches where I played multiple versions of myself trapped in a group chat. Most of it was chaos. But in that chaos, I started to notice patterns. The stuff that landed tended to be fast-paced, absurd, and slightly surreal. So, I leaned into that. But I didn’t stop experimenting. That’s a trap a lot of creators fall into. They find something that “works” and repeat it endlessly. The truth is social media audiences crave familiarity and surprise. You’ve got to be consistent enough to build trust, but unpredictable enough to keep things fresh.
Speaking of consistency, let’s talk about the truth: posting regularly matters more than posting perfectly. I see so many creators paralyze themselves with the idea that their next video has to be “the one.” It doesn’t. You’re not making a Marvel movie; you’re making content for a scrolling audience with a five-second attention span. I committed early on to posting two to three times a week, no matter what. That consistency didn’t just train the algorithm, it trained me. It forced me to get better, faster, and more confident with every post. Some sketches flopped. Some soared. But the momentum was everything. If you treat every post like a stepping stone instead of a finish line, you’ll keep improving.
Now, let’s talk platforms. Each one plays by a separate set of rules, and you’ve got to learn the game if you want to win. On TikTok, grabbing attention in the first two seconds is everything. Your hook must be so tight that people stop scrolling just to see where it’s going. On Instagram, the vibe shifts. Relatable content with strong captions, emoji use (yes, I said it), and story reposts are gold. YouTube Shorts is all about energy and high replay value. What works universally is a strong joke and punchline with a premise that makes people feel something fast, whether it’s laughter, confusion, or second-hand embarrassment.
Beyond the content itself, engagement matters. Not just likes and shares, but real interaction. I make it a point to reply to comments, especially the funny or offbeat ones. Sometimes I respond in character. Sometimes I make jokes back. It makes the whole experience feel like a two-way street. And when someone shares your video or tags a friend, respond. Let them know you’re a real person, not a content robot. The creators who build the strongest communities online are the ones who show up like humans and not a brand.
All of this leads to what I think is the actual “secret sauce”: persistence with a sense of play. If you can stay consistent while keeping the joy in what you do, you’ll outlast the trends. Comedy is inherently playful. It thrives on observation, exaggeration, and surprise. The moment you start seeing it as just a job or just a numbers game, the spark fades, and your audience will feel that. But if you treat every sketch as a chance to try something dumb, smart, weird, or honest, people will keep coming back, even if it’s just to see what you do next.
Breaking into social media through comedy shorts isn’t about having the biggest budget or the most polished camera work. It’s about knowing what makes you laugh, showing up consistently, and being willing to share your uniqueness with the world. It’s about finding the sweet spot between discipline and spontaneity. That’s where the magic lives. So, if you’ve got an idea for a sketch about a barista who gives therapy with every latte, or a time-traveling dad stuck in a modern PTA meeting, film it. Post it. See what happens.
And if it flops? Great. You just learned something. Now make another one.