Watch Pure Public Relations founder, Phoebe Netto, explain what businesses need to consider before jumping on the April Fools Day hoax bandwagon.
With the potential to go ‘viral’, April Fool’s Day has become a major event in the marketing world.
But should your brand or business get involved?
Any campaign that relies on humour or hoax is risky, as it comes with the real possibility of offending or upsetting your audience.
April Fools’ Day is no exception, requiring brands to navigate the delicate balancing act of shocking the audience just enough to make an impact, but not so much that they end up questioning the integrity of your brand.
To execute a great April Fools campaign, you need a thorough understanding of your audience. Not only should you consider what type of campaign would grab their attention, but how they will react to it in the short and long term.
The sweet spot is to engage your audience with light-hearted shock, confusion, or delight for a short period of time. The joke cannot overstay its welcome to the point where audiences become overly invested or reactive. When a joke is too believable, you risk embarrassing your audience or making them feel as though they can no longer trust your brand.
While your campaign should get a laugh from your audience, it’s important that they don’t feel like you’re laughing at them. There’s a fine line between injecting humour into your branding and making people feel embarrassed or taken advantage of.
A poorly executed April Fool’s Day campaign can undo years spent nurturing customer relationships. So while it might be tempting to get in on the joke, it’s important not to let it come at the expense of your reputation.
If you want to achieve impactful PR coverage for your brand, the team at Pure Public Relations is here to help. Get in touch with us today to find out how our tailored, results-guaranteed method can work for you.
