Since YouTube first hit the World Wide Web back in 2005, people have been trying to find internet fame—and many have succeeded. The ability to upload your own video to the masses has democratized content creation, no studios or networks required.
YouTube’s success paved the way for power-to-the-people platforms such as Vine (R.I.P.), Instagram, Vimeo, and TikTok. You can find all kinds of content on these apps, but comedy reigns supreme. More specifically: The skit is king.
Google this question and you’ll get a lot of different definitions. This is because some use “skit” and “sketch” interchangeably. Is that wrong? Surprisingly, yes!
While both are short comedic scenes, a skit is generally shorter than a sketch, which can be as long as five minutes or more. But a skit usually runs under three minutes.
Another major difference is that a skit is usually built around a single comedic character, idea, or joke. A great example is Lea Denim (one of our top TikTokers for actors to follow) and her nine-second take on “female birds just existing”:
@lea_denim ♬ original sound - Lea
As such, skits usually focus less on character development and story structure than they do on punchlines. Sketches, on the other hand, often unfold multiple layers to get to a different place than their original premise.
Though a skit might not require a full understanding of character arc and structure, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. (If it was, we’d all have a million followers.) It all begins with the first stage: writing. It might be more condensed, but the process for getting started is similar to penning a feature script or TV pilot.
1. Research and inspiration: It’s always a good idea to watch other skits (and even sketches) to get a sense of what works and what doesn’t. What’s gone viral in the last week, month, or year? What seems to make others laugh? More importantly, what makes you laugh? How do other short-form comedy masters—Tim Robinson, Will Sasso, the Lonely Island, Brittany Broski—pack so much in such a short amount of time? From there, the wheels should be turning and ideas forming.
2. Develop a POV: Once you’ve done some research and landed on an idea, personalize it and make the concept unique to you. What are the specific quirks of where you live, work, and hang out? What moments and events have become inside jokes within your social circle? In what way does your background and worldview affect the way you interact with the world? Don’t be afraid to embrace your weirdest ideas.
How to Come Up With Short Film Ideas “For the most part, I honor whatever idea excites me as a creator because I think an audience can feel that,” Caroline Klidonas (@carolineklidonas on TikTok), who has garnered more than 39 million likes on the platform, told us. “Some of my best videos have been ones where I experimented and tried something new. There’s really no guarantee of what will work, so staying open and listening to your creative intuition is the key.”
3. Outline: Since a skit is fairly short, you don’t need to go overboard. Think of constructing a skit as crafting a great joke. You’ll need to figure out the setup, create an escalation, and then hit us with the punchline.
4. Script: Not all skits need a fully fleshed-out script. (And they can be a great place to test out your improv skills.) However, depending on the complexity of your idea, it might be good to put pen to paper. If you’re new to content creation, it can make the process smoother and offers an opportunity to find new, funnier layers to your initial lightbulb moment.
5. Get notes: Always, always, always get feedback from people you trust. Make sure others find the skit funny—at least on paper—before taking the time to film, edit, and upload. Perhaps the joke isn’t landing? Maybe there’s a punch-up? Every writer needs to get notes.
6. Rewrite: Writing is rewriting—no two-ways around it. You’ll always find a way to make your skit better.
How to Use Dry Humor in Your Comedy How to make your skit for the internet
It’s time for production! Luckily, advances in technology have made the process easier than ever. No longer do you need to go out to Best Buy, B&H, or Samy’s Camera to drop thousands of dollars on equipment—instead, you can always use the camera on your phone. Just keep in mind that different platforms might have different ideal formatting. Consult a few of our guides:
- How to make and edit a TikTok to go viral
- How to optimize Instagram videos for size and length
- How to optimize YouTube content for size and length
Similar to equipment, the point of entry for video editing is easier than ever. You can edit most of your skits directly on your phone or in the app you plan to post on. There’s also the option of exploring cheap (or free!) video editing software for beginners.
As for your performance, remember this about comedy: Timing is everything. You may have nailed the joke on paper, but the last thing you want is for the bit to drag and lose its punch. In the social media age, people can easily scroll to the next video; a strong start and smart pacing are the keys to holding an audience’s attention. Look to Delaney Rowe (@delaneysayshello on TikTok), who absolutely nails the movie trope of “absolutely insufferable female lead of an indie movie goes out in the rain” in just 37 seconds.
@delaneysayshello Quincy I know you’re scared.
♬ Little Life - Cordelia
Understand your niche: Remember all that research you did at the very beginning? Go back to it, because that’s your niche audience. If your skit is reminiscent of a Lonely Island video or a Tim Robinson bit, pay attention to where that content gets watched and shared the most. On the internet, your competition is in the millions—standing out means cornering the market on the most specific piece of that pie you can find.
Utilize SEO tools: Yes, the content itself must be top-notch. But everything under the hood is also going to help you get seen. The algorithm behind platforms such as YouTube and TikTok take into account things like keywords, hashtags, titles, and thumbnails.
“When you want your video to be seen on YouTube, you need to understand how important the non-video components of your video are,” Joe Karasin, chief marketing officer of DigitalWill.com, told us. “The video’s title should contain the major keywords associated with your content. Your video description should be rich and not shy away from using search terms.”
Engage: You don’t just want a big audience—you want an audience that comes back. A great way to foster loyalty is to engage with the people following and commenting on your skits. Keep it positive and, again, always listen to feedback! (Don’t get too troll-y or snarky in the comments section.)
Beyond that, interact with other creators you admire. Fostering relationships is the most surefire way to get ahead in the entertainment industry. Get your name outside your own ecosystem by spreading positivity. “A comment that goes beyond ‘love this’ or heart emojis stands out these days,” says Austen Tosone, a digital content creator and influencer expert.
Keep creating: Look, the fact is, whether it’s skit creation or screenwriting, generating new material is a must. For one thing, social media algorithms favor consistent posting. But also, the entertainment industry is a “what have you done for me lately” business. Fans and gatekeepers are always looking for creators who can consistently create good, quality material. Sure, your skit hit 100,000 views. Now, it’s time to create another one that doubles it.