April Fools Pranks
Be aware of the April Fools Prank. It might seem like a cute idea to post something outrageous on your blog. It is likely to increase traffic and attention to your website. However, thanks to search engines, the joke of the day will last a lifetime on the Internet.
If you don’t want to be bombarded with comments, emails, and backlash, then make sure to make it clear after April 1st that it was indeed a joke. This way when people find it six months from now, they will know that it was all in jest. Remember on the Internet information is always fresh. That’s why I still receive email forwards that first surfaced in the 1990s. New people will find it, take it for fact, and then act accordingly. Sure, everyone loves a good joke. It’s just harder to make sure everyone ‘gets it’ through this new media.
April 1st has already begun in some parts of the world. Several bloggers have posted their pranks and many have fallen for it. Some have even blogged their response to their “news” only to have to later retract everything. Jokes are fun but just remember that the audience will be reading it long after April 1st, so make sure that after April Fools has past to edit your article.
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