It’s that time of year again when people all around the world play April Fool’s Day jokes on each other. Some of the best April Fool’s Day jokes are even pulled by big brands. They have the resources to create elaborate hoaxes that can easily fool unsuspecting customers. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the funniest and most ingenious April Fool’s Day pranks from big names in business. From Google to Sephora, these brands know how to have a little fun on April Fool’s Day and their pranks will have you laughing (or scratching your head)!

1. Burger King’s Chocolate Whopper

In 2018, fast food giant Burger King teased customers with the launch of the new Chocolate Whopper. The April Fool’s Day prank promised a chocolatey twist on the classic burger. Made up of a chocolate cake bun and a flame-grilled patty coated in chocolate sauce, the Chocolate Whopper was sure to be a hit with sweet-toothed customers. After all, fast food chains are always coming up with new menu items, so why not a chocolate-flavored burger? However, the prank was just that – a prank.  

2. Google Nose Beta

In 2013, Google pulled the April Fool’s Day prank of releasing Google Nose Beta. Inspired by Jon Wooly’s puppy who “sniffs around every nook and cranny” in order to get “information about her world”, the search engine promised to allow users to smell the results of their searches. From the comfort of their own homes, users could sniff out anything from the scent of a rose to the stench of an Egyptian tomb.

Even though it was simply a prank, the hilarious idea behind Google Nose Beta was so clever that it is still remembered today.

3. Pupbucks

In 2019, Starbucks introduced what would have been a new ‘breed’ of stores, Pupbucks. The coffee company teased a range of Pupbucks stores exclusively for dogs. The ad featured dogs playing with Starbucks-themed toys such as stuffed latte cups and bagels. The April Fool’s Day prank was met with a positive reaction but ultimately left many customers disappointed that this wasn’t a real plan in the making. As Starbucks already has a menu item for dogs known as the Puppuccino, the concept of a Pupbucks store does not seem too far removed from reality.

4. Sephora Collection Sheet Hack

In 2015, Sephora announced the ‘ultimate lazy girl’ beauty hack, a sheet that puts all your make-up on for you. The fake product promised to make your morning routine a whole lot quicker, and apparently a whole lot creepier. 

This ridiculous idea was actually believable enough that many people were fooled by it, which is a testament to Sephora’s clever marketing.

5. Heinz & Innocence

Just last year, Heinz announced a new product in collaboration with smoothies brand, Innocence. The pair teased a supposedly delicious blend of Heinz’s classic Cream of Tomato Soup and Innocent’s most popular smoothie, Strawberry and Banana. Although this left many fans surprised and confused, this April Fool’s Day prank was successful in fooling many people, as the product looked realistic and even sounded somewhat appetizing to many customers of the brands. 

April Fool’s Day is a great opportunity for brands to show their clever and inventive side, and have a bit of fun with their customers. We wanted to share with you some of our favourite April Fool’s Day jokes from some of the biggest brands in business. Some of these are so simple yet ingenious. We hope you enjoyed them as much as we did uncovering them! Happy April Fool’s Day, everyone! 

At Evolution Digital we are a Digital Marketing Agency that understands how to create effective campaigns that will reach the right audience. Our team of experts are passionate about helping businesses harness the power of Digital Marketing to reach new heights. 

Are you looking to communicate your brand’s fun and creative side? Get in touch with us today!