“ChatGPT, Can you Give me 10 April Fools Ideas for my brand”
April Fool’s Day is a time-honoured tradition of pranks, hoaxes, and jokes that date back centuries.
In recent years, brands have gotten in on the action with clever and creative marketing campaigns designed to entertain and engage their audiences. We even managed to create a whole new business for our client, The Bottled Baking Co with our baking mix for dogs idea — check out Doggy Baking Co.
This year was no exception, with companies big and small releasing some truly memorable April Fool’s Day campaigns.
So we thought we’d share some campaign ideas that brands could have used yesterday. And we got a little help from ChatGPT to do it.
I’ve been a tad terrified of this AI tool since it’s release in November 2022, BUT then I thought, this is probably something that can be used to our advantage.
Starting with a blank page can be the most intimidating thing in the world. You’ve got to start a blog article, or come up with ideas for a campaign, and your head is as empty as the page in front of you.
This is where ChatGPT can come in. Asking it for some initial ideas to get your creativity flowing can be a godsend. So, we asked, then we reworked the ideas to give this list of 10 April Fools Ideas that these top brands could have used.
Feel free to take some inspo from them for April Fools Day 2024, or give ChatGPT a go yourself!
Google PetSpeak
For Google, a potential April Fool's Day campaign idea could be "Google PetSpeak," a feature that uses Google Assistant to translate your pet's thoughts into understandable language. This campaign could feature humorous videos of pet owners talking to their furry friends and getting unexpected responses. The hashtag #GooglePetSpeak could be used to encourage social media engagement.
TeslaToast
Tesla could launch a fake product for April Fool's Day called "TeslaToast," a toaster that can only be powered by Tesla batteries. The campaign could feature a mock ad with a catchy jingle, and the tagline "Start your day with a jolt!" Social media posts could encourage users to share their own TeslaToast creations using the hashtag #TeslaToast.
Colonel Cologne
For KFC, a potential April Fool's Day campaign idea could be "Colonel Cologne," a range of fragrances that smell like the fast food chain's famous fried chicken. The campaign could feature funny videos of people reacting to the unusual scent, and the tagline "Smell like the Colonel, all day long!" The hashtag #ColonelCologne could be used to generate social media buzz.
Back to the Future
Airbnb is known for its creative marketing campaigns, and this year’s April Fool’s Day campaign was no exception. The company could release a mock ad for “Back to the Future” rentals, featuring a DeLorean car parked in front of a suburban home. Guests could travel back in time to any year they choose and stay in a period-appropriate Airbnb rental. On social media, users could share their own ideas for time-traveling vacations using the hashtag #AirbnBackToTheFuture.
Impossible Pickles
Impossible Foods could launch a fake product for April Fool's Day called "Impossible Pickles," a line of pickles that taste like meat. The campaign could feature a humorous video of a carnivore trying the pickles and being pleasantly surprised, and the tagline "Get your meat fix without the meat!" Social media posts could encourage users to share their own Impossible Pickle creations using the hashtag #ImpossiblePickles.
Glossier Scents
Glossier could launch a fake product for April Fool's Day called "Glossier Scents," a line of perfumes made from unusual ingredients like crayons or fruit snacks. The campaign could feature a quirky video of people sniffing the scents and reacting with surprise, and the tagline "Make a statement with your scent!" Social media posts could encourage users to share their own Glossier Scents ideas using the hashtag #GlossierScents.
Simba Snacks
Simba, the beloved mattress brand, could launch a fake product for April Fool's Day called "Simba Snacks," a line of sleep-inducing snacks that help you drift off to dreamland. The campaign could feature humorous videos of people munching on the snacks and then falling asleep in unexpected places, and the tagline "Satisfy your cravings and get your Z's!" Social media posts could encourage users to share their own Simba Snacks creations using the hashtag #SimbaSnacks.
Dollar Shave Bot
Dollar Shave Club could launch a fake product for April Fool's Day called "Dollar Shave Bot," a robot that shaves your face for you. The campaign could feature a comical video of a man getting a shave from the robot and then showing off his smooth face, and the tagline "Say goodbye to nicks and cuts, and hello to the future of shaving!" Social media posts could encourage users to share their own Dollar Shave Bot ideas using the hashtag #DollarShaveBot.
What was your favourite campaign idea from 2023? Let us know below!
