I doubt that April Fools’ jokes will be in wide use this year by marketers. But just in case your company is considering one, here are my… Read more “5 Rules for Fools’”
Tag: april fools
5 Rules for Fools’
Happy April 1st. Check out the reprint of my 5 Rules for Fools’. Every year someone tries to make something go totally viral by posting an all-in-good-fun… Read more “5 Rules for Fools’”
And the Winner for April Fools’ 2014 is…
Bethlehem Community Church in Laurel, Mississippi who adhered to all 5 Rules for Fools’ when it pranked its congregation with a visit from George W. Bush…
Here’s how it broke down:
They Did No Harm
The worst that happened to anyone involved was spending a little more time in church than they would have otherwise. Priceless!
They Made It Relevant to Their Brand
A Christian church used the image of the most openly Christian president in modern times to get national air play. Awesome!
They Had a Business Goal in Mind
Or at least a spiritual goal to get their message out to more people and draw in a new audience. I hope they saw a difference in their collection plates, as well. Brilliant!
They Were Convincing
They were even careful enough not to tell the congregation who was coming that day! Otherwise, Bush’s people may have flagged it. Genius!
Everyone Laughed, or At Least Smiled, at the Reveal
No harm, no foul. Even the people who felt duped gave them props. Amazing!
Regardless of your political or religious leanings, you have to hand it to them for crafting such an elaborate prank that garnered so much positive attention.
Bravo!
5 Rules for Fools’
Every year someone tries to make something go totally viral by posting an all-in-good-fun hoax on the Internet on April 1st. A well-crafted prank can bring much… Read more “5 Rules for Fools’”