Taco Bell: I feel like the stunt that works for a company like Taco Bell works because they have the flexibility of not having to take themselves seriously. Had it been a company like Merrill Lynch, it would have made them sound like pranksters and no one would trust them or their service.
ProShade: I like the fact that they used humor to get the journalists to write about them. Even if their offer wasn't serious, the situation was humorous enough to catch the attention of the journalists. This ad's success is due almost completely to its ridiculous claims.
GoldenPalace.com: This company got off light because they only spent $28,000 and received international press. It is interesting to note that the lower the expectations of your company, the more outlandish stunts you can execute. I think this company was smart to pick a religious object because religious people don't support their business from the start.
Burger King: I view the Burger King stunt as a failure because it did not attract the same amount of attention that the Taco Bell stunt did. Had they actually manufactured left-handed burgers it may have been different but it seems that calling it an April Fools prank is a cop out.
SonicYoga.com: I like the idea of attaching important names to yourself if you are a small business. I think Fields got lucky because the premise of his pitch was inherently interesting which made it easier for bigger publications to take notice of.
DC Comics: I remember when this comic came out. My and my brother waited all day at the comic book store for The Death of Superman. I even bought two because I figured the value would appreciate over time as a collector's item. The next month when I returned to the comic book store to see The Return of Superman, I remember feeling dooped. I never read another DC comic book again.
Maui Beverages: I recognize the importance to reinvent yourself as a brand. If there is no reason to be serious, then why be serious? I think having a lighthearted atmosphere in the company when you have a lighthearted product yields positive results. It attracts employees and gets you noticed in the newspapers.
Del Monte Foods: I think it is always smart to donate or perpetuate any kind of charity. Meow Mix is clever for tying their product with pet adoption. However, I wonder how much this stunt costs to produce. I would attach some non-profits to pick up the leg work in the adoption agencies.
Half.com: I don’t understand the mentality of town’s like this. I can’t see the benefit of renaming a town beyond the immediate monetary reward. Had half.com promised to make their base of operations in Halfway, Oregon it would make more sense bring jobs and expand the town’s economy. So when I heard about companies doing this I see it as a pretty obvious stunt and dismiss the companies’ creditability.
Pokershare.com and casinoshare.com: This stunt seems like a good way to combine two idea that don’t have anything to do with one another. Using current events to
