While fooling each other and being pranked remains constant on every 1st of April worldwide. This day is widely celebrated worldwide as “April fool’s day”. People take this opportunity to have fun and prank each other, making it an attempt to laugh over keeping all the mundane day-to-day activities aside. Right from people cracking jokes and pranking each other at school, college even at the workplace makes, this day is all the more exciting and fun.
Considering the age-old practice of having fun, many brands indulge in pranking their audience. From popular brands to new emerging brands in the market, everyone is always a step ahead in planning advertising campaigns before the arrival of such events. However, this April, fool’s fun tricks in certain situations work to the brand’s benefit and garner huge profit and market visibility. However, in a few unfortunate cases, it can mislead the audience towards the brand and make the campaign go viral for all the wrong reasons. Sometimes these pranks can threaten the brand’s image in the market and lead to a lesson to learn from.
Here Are a Few Examples: What Type of Pranks Should be Avoided by Brands:
1. Mcdonalds Australia –
While this prank became a major hit with customers waiting for this new –Mcpickle burger, it became a huge disappointment when the brand stated it as a Mcdonald’s April fools’ prank. The post’s comments were filled with pickle lovers waiting for the burger already. While a few people understood the idea of a prank, others were disappointed.
Impact and Lesson:
Do not give customers false hope and promise them the products they need. False product launch news can make customers lose trust and be termed misleading, threatening your brand image. Instead, the company could take this opportunity to give people what they love considering its eagerness and excitement among customers to have the product.
What could they have done?
Example: In addition, Subway launched its hotdog for real – “Subdog” following their April fool’s prank. The company realized that customers were genuinely demanding the product, thereby launching the products that customers were all in and excited to indulge in.
Among customers’ massive comments, people were upset about the product being an April fool’s prank and not real. Months later, this is what the brand did in return for bringing back upset customers while also showing how the brand acknowledges and values its customers.
Click to see: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiYoqegN4TJ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
2. Google Mic Drop
Google introduced a new Mic drop feature on April fool’s day, making a small prank themed with Minion GIF in Gmail. Unfortunately, this fun prank later threatened the brand’s image in the public eye.
Impact and lesson:
This feature was initially taken as a fun GIF, adding a mic drop feature with minions-themed GIF until it turned horrifying when customers accidentally used it in the wrong places. The feature was accidentally caused by even using the send button. This made people outrageous over the incidents as their job and other opportunities were now at risk of danger. Google learned a lesson to be mindful of the pranks they play and took note of this trust-breaking incident; taking the matter under control, followed by an apology.
3. Volkswagen America:
Over the years, Volkswagen has come up with many April fool’s ideas. While some were fun and innovative, some ideas turned out awful too. They didn’t realize that this particular April fool’s ideas would go viral for all the wrong reasons. It sparked controversies for the brand enormously, considering its name change to “Voltswagen”. However, the idea behind this was to show how Volkswagen is increasing its domination of electric vehicles.
Impact and lesson:
This prank resulted in unrequired confusion about the brand name and overall brand identity. It is essential to note that a brand’s April fool prank should not come at the risk to the brand itself, resulting in it becoming a joke on the company. Later the famous company admitted to the name change being an April fool’s act.
Things to Remember Before Pranking your Audience in 2023:
Do’s | Don’t |
Keep your prank understandable so as not to cause any confusion or threat to your brand. | Do not hurt religious beliefs or make fun of other touching topics like caste, race, or physical appearances of your customers, hurting their sentiments. |
Understand your target audience and potential customers to make creative pranks drawing more customers towards your brand. | Refrain from using ideas that could make people lose trust in your brand. |
Speak our brand voice and promote its message. | Do not show insensitivity towards fellow human beings or to animals, unintentionally showing animal cruelty. |
Pick current social media trends and plan your prank accordingly. | Avoid making jokes related to politics or other ongoing severe happenings. |
Make smart use of words and slang that is both rememberable and attractive. | Do not use foul, offensive or insulting language in your prank. |
Avoid fake and misleading product launches. Example: Mcdonalds Australia’s Mcpickle burger. | If you plan on doing so, have a clear alternative to tackling this issue. Example: Subway’s Subdog. |
Subtly promote a better message through your prank. | Do not misjudge or make fun out of government rules and regulations, be it traffic rules or other restrictions. |
Your prank should cleverly align with your brand message. Example: Urban Company #AlarmAtHome | Do not risk your brand name or its services in the name of a trick. |
Good Example Promoting Brand Message:
At Impulse Digital- a Digital marketing agency in thane, we provide our clients with proper assistance through our services which help nurture the brand. We focus on actively providing needful solutions.
Our team of experts are well knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with clients from various sectors. “Together, we make your brand excel and grow subsequently”. So, are you ready with your prank ideas for 2023? If not, you can plan on one soon.
