April Fools’ Gold: How Brands Turn Pranks into Profit with Email Marketing

A little humor goes a long way—especially in marketing.

In this episode of Email After Hours, hosts Danielle Gallant and Guy Hanson examine April Fools’ Day from a marketing lens and explore how brands can use humor to stand out in the inbox. They’ll break down the dos and don’ts of comedic campaigns and share real-world examples of pranks that paid off with serious engagement.

You’ll learn:

• How legendary brand pranks like BBC’s spaghetti trees and Dunkin’ Donuts’ name change created memorable marketing moments
• Why 91% of consumers prefer funny brands, yet 95% of business leaders fear using humor in customer interactions
• The science behind why humor builds brand relationships and drives engagement in email campaigns

…and so much more!

Are you an email marketing expert with bold opinions on the industry? Come chat with Guy and Danielle on a future episode! Drop a comment, ping us on LinkedIn, or simply fill out this guest form.

SOME EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• (10:43) The science of humor in email marketing
• (12:07) Strategic opportunities for humor in email campaigns
• (14:30) Guidelines for safe and effective humor
• (17:22) When to avoid humor in email marketing