Were you the fool for ignoring April Fools?
I enjoy comparing April Fools with the Super Bowl halftime in terms of advertisement. April Fools allows brands to create content in a fun way and enables them to share some values and products, resonate with consumers, and build a relationship.
Content marketing shares similar roots with influence marketing. Both of them try to dodge ad blockers by creating online content — blogs, vlogs, social media posts… — that subtly promotes the brand while stimulating interest in what they have to sell. They are entertaining the viewers who freely desire to engage because it can be fun, teach them lessons, be quick to watch, or even be addictive. The main difference is who is releasing the content, if it is an external party — a promoter/influencer — then it is influence marketing.
Barbie is a great example — for almost two years she has had a vlog! Yes! Barbie is a vlogger! While she is delivering content that may not be linked to the brand — Ken Does My Makeup Challenge — she is raising awareness and winning her target.
In a radical change, Comedy Central decided to replace commercials with branded content. Instead of ads between shows, they show ads that look like a TV show. They focus on the journey of a hand model who is making advertisements for other companies. It is enjoyable, and although it looks like a TV show, it is a disguised add!
April 1st is a sandbox for marketeers.
They can test a ludicrous product or feature and according to the feedback they receive, they may start adapting it to feasible grounds because they got a green light from their audience. They can also create fun and mesmerizing concepts in the hope that they will create a buzz and people will start sharing or tagging their friends.
It can make people desire your products:
It can connect with consumers and improve the way in which you are perceived:
It can raise awareness for future products or features for more information on this press here:
Or it can even turn products that may look boring and unappealing to advertise into the complete opposite:
What are your views on April Fools and which was your all time favorite prank?