7 Inspiring April Fool's Day Campaigns

7 un-ignorable April Fool’s Day campaigns to inspire you:

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

April 1st is a special day for marketers

It’s the only day when we can pitch downright weird campaigns and the boss might actually say yes

But the best marketers know weirdness only gets you so far—you’ve gotta sell stuff too

Let’s explore 7 smart 🧠 April Fool’s campaigns:

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

1/ H&M x Zuckerberg

H&M’s April Fools ad in 2016 announced a new collection inspired by Mark Zuckerberg

The ad was a clever way of making fun of Zuckerberg’s simple and minimalist style, which he said was meant to save his mental energy for more important decisions pic.twitter.com/xO24s6S6Zg

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

🧠 Why it’s smart

Zuckerberg is an influential figure but he’s no fashion icon

Meanwhile, H&M is known for fast fashion that changes constantly with loud prints and flashy patterns

Their garments are cheaply made and have more style than substance

The contrast was funny pic.twitter.com/X4ccn1ZJyw

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

2/ The Chocolate Whopper

Burger King had a wild idea for their 2018 April's fools campaign—a chocolate Whopper made entirely of sweet ingredients

Although the chocolate Whopper never made it to market, people were shocked and delighted by the idea of a dessert burger pic.twitter.com/3a5nipzR9A

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

🧠 Why it’s smart

Burger + chocolate?

That’s a bizarre mix you would never think goes well together… and that’s why it got people talking

We’re drawn to novelty and oddities like moths to a flame

A chocolate burger is un-ignorable

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

3/ Google Maps' Pokemon Challenge in 2014

Google Maps launched a campaign where users could search for and capture 150 Pokemon hidden within the app

Zooming into certain areas made some Pokemon appear so you could “CATCH ‘EM ALL!” pic.twitter.com/uUK6BnaZl8

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

🧠 Why it’s smart

If you grew up in the 90s then you (likely) grew up playing Pokémon

This ad was pure nostalgia that transported people back in time to happy childhood memories

And as smart marketers know... nostalgia is a helluva drug

Well played, Google

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

4/ American Eagle's "Skinny Skinny Jeans"

In 2010, American Eagle released a video promoting their new "Skinny Skinny Jeans"

These jeans were literally skin-tight because they were actually spray painted onto the model’s legs pic.twitter.com/dXERpVX2gZ

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

🧠 Why it’s smart

1) Calling the product “spray on denim” created buzz and curiosity among customers and media outlets, who weren’t sure if the product was real

2) It was playful and funny, thus humanizing American Eagle’s brand and making it more relatable to customers

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

5/ Netflix Live

Remember Netflix live?

Featuring Will Arnett, the series was a satirical take on live-streaming culture and reality TV
It hilariously depicted mundane activities being narrated as if they were live events such as microwaving a burrito or watching a toaster pic.twitter.com/Nh7dOxYvAT

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

🧠 Why it’s smart

People loved Netflix live because:

1) It was unexpected, surprising, and thus delightful
2) It featured a famous comedian thus benefiting from the halo effect
3) It poked fun at the absurdity of live televised events

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

6/ BMW's Magnetic Tow Technology

BMW's April Fool's ad promised fuel efficiency and reduced emissions by following other vehicles closely with magnetic towing

Was this cutting-edge innovation or just a clever way to make fun of BMW drivers as tailgaters? pic.twitter.com/SNUHQDxoFE

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

🧠 Why it’s smart

BMW owners have a reputation for being aggressive drivers

This playful ad reminds people that BMW is a leader in fuel-efficiency while also poking fun at common stereotypes

Self-deprecating humor is unexpected from a luxury brand

The result? A viral campaign

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

7/ "Pasta Hut"

Back in 2008, Pizza Hut announced a name change to "Pasta Hut" and a new focus on selling pasta

Though it was just a joke, many people actually believed it and the prank succeeded in drawing immense attention to the restaurant's new line of "Tuscani" pasta pic.twitter.com/lMShpiUFtN

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023

🧠 Why it’s smart

Pizza Hut is one of the best-known pizza brands

Super fans take mental “ownership” over their fav brands and don’t like changes (re: below)

Announcing a sudden name change caused controversy and got people talking about the brand—achieving the ultimate goal pic.twitter.com/rlwKXcIw4a

— Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour) March 28, 2023