April Fool’s? Don’t be a tone-deaf brand

Corporate April Fool’s Day pranks are yet another example of brands becoming less “stuffy” by using humor, personality and even a bit of irreverence to connect with their customers. This strategy has proven successful for many companies, but it can backfire if not thought out properly.

In a recent blog post, I share my thoughts on how Tesla’s Elon Musk completely missed the mark with his April Fool’s Day prank.

After coming off of one of the worst stretches in the company’s history, was this really the time to be making jokes? I, and many analysts and investors, thought not.

– Mike Trainor S&A Communications