April Fools’ Day is a day filled with pranks and jokes, and many brands have taken this opportunity to create some memorable and hilarious marketing campaigns. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the best April Fools’ Day brand examples that have left a lasting impression on their customers.
1. Google Nose
In 2013, Google announced a new feature called “Google Nose” that allowed users to search for scents on the internet. The concept was so ridiculous that it was obviously an April Fools’ Day prank, but the video that Google released was so well done that many people actually believed it was real. The video showed a man using his computer to search for the scent of a flower, and then being transported into a virtual world where he could smell it. The prank was so popular that Google decided to bring it back in 2014 as an easter egg on their search page.
2. BMW’s self-cleaning car
In 2014, BMW announced that they had developed a car that could clean itself. The video they released showed a car driving through a muddy field, and then using some kind of magical technology to clean itself as it drove. The video was so convincing that many people believed it was real, but of course, it was just an April Fools’ Day prank.
3. T-Mobile Onesie
In 2017, T-Mobile announced that they had developed a new product called the “T-Mobile Onesie.” The concept was a full-body onesie that was also a 4G hotspot, so you could stay connected to the internet no matter where you were. The video they released showed a group of people wearing the onesie and lounging around outside while browsing the internet. The prank was so well done that many people actually wanted to buy the onesie, but unfortunately, it was not a real product.
4. McDonald’s milkshake sauce packets
In 2019, McDonald’s Australia announced that they were releasing a new product called “Milkshake Sauce Packets.” The concept was a series of packets filled with different flavored milkshake sauces that you could use to add extra flavor to your McDonald’s meal. The video they released showed people dipping their fries into the packets, and even squirting the sauce directly into their mouths. The prank was so popular that McDonald’s Australia actually ended up releasing a limited edition run of the sauce packets.
5. Ikea’s “Buy With Your Time” campaign
In 2021, Ikea announced that they were launching a new campaign called “Buy With Your Time.” The concept was that instead of paying with money, customers could pay with their time by performing certain tasks in the store. For example, if you spent an hour assembling a piece of furniture, you could get it for free. The campaign was obviously an April Fools’ Day prank, but it was so well done that it actually fooled some people.
In conclusion, April Fools’ Day is a great opportunity for brands to show off their creative side and create some memorable marketing campaigns. These examples show that with a bit of imagination and a good sense of humor, you can create a prank that will leave a lasting impression on your customers.
