Greetings, dear readers! We hope your Friday is going well.

This week’s round up is short and sweet, a perfect treat to leave you with before the weekend.  This week, our Favorite Headlines include an article with some inspiration for taking on tough topics in your marketing, a note about what it takes to pull off an effective April Fool’s campaign, and some much-needed tips for focusing a wandering mind.

Without further ado, here they are:

The Takeaway: With more than a few brand missteps in 2017, it’s no surprise that brands must be more thoughtful than ever when it comes to their marketing messages. So how can brands who must address difficult topics do so without coming off as insensitive, tone-deaf, or overly-negative? These are just four great examples of using a different perspective to tackle difficult topics. Even if your marketing messages don’t have to address tough topics, this is a great read for anyone looking for some creative inspiration.

The Takeaway: As marketers, it can be so very tempting to get pulled into doing something just because it is fun and exciting – or worse, just because Google has done it. (I mean, Google is basically the pinnacle of success, right?) But this article is a great reminder to think carefully about what kind of impact you can reasonably expect from a single-shot marketing effort around April Fool’s Day. So, if you really want to do something fun for April Fool’s Day, ask yourself a few important questions before you put time and effort into a marketing campaign:

• Does this prank fit my brand? I can almost assure you that consumers don’t want pranks from their banks or insurance companies…
• Will the buzz generated from this campaign last beyond April Fools Day? Beyond April 2?
• Will the results of an April Fool’s Day prank help further my marketing and business goals?
• Can I justify committing time and money into a campaign that will last for a day?

If you answer “no” to any of these questions, we’d encourage you to focus your resources, time and budget included, to a campaign that will better fit your brand, help drive your goals, and create a lasting impression.

The Takeaway: This infographic may be especially helpful on a Friday afternoon, when it’s all too easy to catch yourself daydreaming about your weekend plans. If you’ve struggled to stay focused, try a few (or all) of these tips. You might find that some work better for you than others!