4 ideas for marketing your business on April Fool's Day.

Although its origins are unclear, many believe that April Fool’s Day started in 16th-century France. Ever since, this 24-hour period on the calendar gives all of us a chance to play pranks on each other, and that includes those of you who own a business. Implementing some timely strategies on this date can elevate your customer experience and pad your profits not only on April 1, 2023 but for the rest of the year as well.

1. Come up with a zany product.

Everyone loves a good joke. If you’re not convinced that’s true, just ask the millions of consumers who responded positively to Procter and Gamble’s bogus bacon-flavored Scope mouthwash. When you come up with a gimmick that tickles your funny bone, take some time to promote it far and wide on your social media pages.

Of course, behind any good marketing campaign is the desire to bring customers into your store or onto your website and money into your pocket. To that end, use your humorous sales item to entice shoppers to get to know you better. While they’re visiting, offer very real incentives and compelling products that could transform them from one-time laugh seekers into loyal patrons who return again and again and refer friends and family to your business.

2. Make a preposterous announcement.

On April 1, 1996, Taco Bell boldly proclaimed that it had purchased the Liberty Bell. Within minutes, thousands of Americans deluged the fast food chain’s corporate headquarters with calls even though it was obvious to most that the famous Philadelphia historical landmark had never been on the auction block.

You can use social media to have the same galvanizing effect on your customers. Encourage them to come to your store by promising something obviously phony. In the end, your real goal is to get people laughing as well as interested in your store and what you have to offer. The real benefits will come thanks to your point of sale system. Your POS system features will help you to easily capture the contact and demographic details that engaged customers will be happy to provide once they are in on your joke. You can then translate those nuggets of information into gold that you can use in future marketing campaigns.

3. Change up your emails.

With junk messages seeming to increase in number every day, the emails you send out to your current customers are always in jeopardy of being summarily deleted. Especially right before April Fool’s Day when levity is in the air, it’s time to relax a bit and use your outbox to spread a little laughter.

Here are a few ideas that you could try out.

• Try silly fonts or insert funny pictures into your newsletter.
• Come up with a subject line that will pique shoppers’ curiosity and compel them to open the message. Then wow them with your offerings, perhaps sweetening the pot even further by offering a discount or gift for everyone who signs up for your special “members only” newsletter.
• Mix humor with straightforwardness. While corniness can be fun, people also respond positively to a genuinely good deal. In other words, make sure you never sacrifice your underlying integrity just for the sake of a seasonal joke.
• Throughout your message, keep your brand image front and center. Never do anything that damages it or hurts your customers.

4. Engage your social media followers.

One of social media’s most compelling features is its ability to create sensations overnight. Even if you aren’t a world-class online influencer with millions of fans, you can still harness sites like TikTok and Instagram to lure people to your website or into your shop. Grab their attention with a silly pranky poll, or come up with an April Fool’s scavenger hunt that ultimately brings them to your store or product page.

Of course, the rewards lie in great products and promotions for those who participate and precious customer contact information for you. Use it throughout the year to send targeted emails and coupons that reflect the person’s interests and shopping history. Because everyone wants a unique and personalized relationship with their favorite stores, taking these steps will go a long way toward helping you to establish a warm and dynamic rapport with your best customers.

Although some people are glad that April Fool’s Day only comes once a year, you should not let it pass you by unnoticed if you are a business owner. Harness some of these suggestions, and no joke, you just might increase your sales not only on April 1 but throughout the year.