Every year - come April 1st - I fear the worse. I look at where I'm working, I size up the office pranksters and do my utmost to avoid being made a fool of for the morning (though in writing this I’ve probably put a large bullseye on the back of my chair for future April Fools days).

As a business, April Fools Day offers quite the opportunity to generate a different kind of buzz about your company - by releasing a spoof advert. As one half of VIVA’s Team Digital I thought I’d take a look at some of the best spoof adverts to hit the web in recent years and see how the big boys do it.

These types of adverts are a great way to show a more light-hearted side of your brand - potentially broadening the appeal of your company and products. Let’s face it - in life we often try to associate ourselves with funny people and those who make us laugh.

IKEA jokingly had this product listed on their website, the HUNDSTOL dog chair.

Guinness teased an alternative pint while Pepsi joked about loving their main rival.

Waitrose offered a hybrid fruit, BMW offered a badge wiper and Vaseline teased a Marmite flavour lip balm.

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