Progressive: Insurance on Mars
This is just a really clever play on the idea that Mars will one day be another livable planet for us human beings. I'm obsessed with space (and one day living there) and if I saw something like this I would definitely click to get my quote! Unfortunately, when I clicked the Ad Week link for this, the page was already reverted back to the traditional Progressive website. Maybe we really are closer to living on Mars than they originally anticipated! This fake advertisement's bottom line is that it promotes the Progressive selling point that they will always be there to offer plans, bundles and coverages to best protect people and their things. I wonder how Flo looks in a spacesuit?
Chugg Energy Drinks by Chegg
Chegg already offers great bundles for college students that order books. Usually their book boxes come with a Redbull, some TidePods and even coupons for Shutterfly, but wouldn't it be cool to see Chegg making their own brand of energy drinks? Out of all the April Fools products, I thought for sure Chugg, the Chegg energy drink, was real! This is a great time to release a clever, fake product line, that played up on the college culture. Currently, there are college students in the last weeks of their spring semester, probably wanting to hit their heads with their books rather than read them. But Chegg doesn't want to only provide the study materials, they want to provide the survival materials as well. It also comes in other flavors Bank Rupt and Struggle Bus!
Petco: Doodoo Drone
This ad was clearly a ridiculous service/product, but much like the Progressive ad, this gimmick was to solidify a service value that Petco is always there for you and your pets, no matter what the need or problem. A video that is humorous has the best chance of being shared over social media, so Petco had the right idea with this knock-off infomercial!
These April Fools ads are a great way for the brands to connect with their audience members. It shows a side of the brand that is relatable, humorous, and versatile; proving that they can strategically break from their own brand mold in order to best reach their customers.
Do you know a brand that habitually pranks their consumers?
Great post! I thought the Chegg one was especially funny, as I'm sure we can all relate to it right now. I saw another one from Auntie Ann's that they were going to release aroma therapy type scents of their regular pretzels and their cinnamon pretzels, but clearly it was just an April Fool's day prank.
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