Marketing Myths You Probably Still Believe In Honor of April Fools’ Day

Hey there, savvy consumer. We, the marketing industry, need to come clean. You know that thing you swear by, that rule you follow, that “fact” you’ve accepted as truth your whole life? Yeah… there’s a very good chance a marketing agency made it up.

But before you grab your pitchfork and storm the nearest ad agency, let us remind you: we did this for your benefit. If we didn’t create cultural moments, plant trends, and give you things to debate over brunch, life would be tragically boring. And let’s be honest—you love it.

So, in honor of April Fools’ Day, let’s pull back the curtain on some of the greatest marketing schemes that worked so well that you were totally fooled. (sorry, not sorry.)

1. Diamonds Are Forever (And So Is This Campaign)

Once upon a time, people got engaged with whatever they wanted—a simple ring, a handshake, maybe a goat if times were tough. Then, De Beers and some very clever marketers came along and said, “A diamond ring is the only way to prove your undying love.” Boom. A cultural standard was born.
Before this campaign in the 1930s, diamonds weren’t even a particularly popular gem for engagement rings. Now? If your partner proposes without one, you have the legal right to stage a dramatic gasp, reconsider your options and post it all on TikTok.

2. Breakfast: The Most Important (and Most Fabricated) Meal of the Day

Fun fact: the idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day wasn’t based on nutrition—it was a slogan designed to sell bacon and cereal. In the early 20th century, a little PR wizard named Edward Bernays (the godfather of spin) worked with Beech-Nut Bacon to convince Americans that a big, hearty breakfast was a scientific necessity.

And just like that, bacon and eggs became the patriotic way to start your morning. Meanwhile, cereal companies took the opportunity to turn grains into a crunchy, sugar-laden empire. Today, people make an event out of breakfast and brunch, food blog their french toast and enjoy bottomless mimosas all thanks to some good ol’ fashioned marketing magic.

3. The 10,000 Steps Conspiracy

You know that smug satisfaction of hitting 10,000 steps on your Fitbit? Hate to break it to you, but that number isn’t a scientifically proven benchmark—it was a marketing gimmick from a Japanese pedometer company in the 1960s. The device was called “Manpo-Kei,” which translates to “10,000-step meter.”

No studies required—just a catchy number and a solid branding play. And now, millions of people are pacing around their kitchens at 11:58 PM to avoid breaking their streak.

4. Halitosis: The Disease That Wasn’t (Until We Said So)

Before Listerine’s marketing campaign in the 1920s, “halitosis” was not a well-known medical condition. But instead of saying, “Hey, maybe chew some gum?” marketers went big, positioning mouthwash as an absolute necessity for social acceptance.

The ads were brutal. Women were left single. Men lost business deals. All because of breath they didn’t even know was offensive. And just like that, a new consumer fear was born.

5. Beer, Wings, and the Big Game: A Totally Organic Tradition (Kinda)

Football and beer go together like, well, football and beer—but not because of fate. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, beer brands realized they could own the Super Bowl. They poured millions into ads, beer promotions, and product placements, and now, we collectively drink 325 million gallons of beer every Super Bowl Sunday.

And wings? The National Chicken Council (yes, that’s a thing) aggressively pushed the idea that football and wings were inseparable. Now, over 1.4 billion wings are consumed every Super Bowl. Marketing changed the chemistry of our brains to crave these items while watching football. That’s some voodoo mindtwisting magic there. (We’d be impressed if we weren’t still trying to get buffalo sauce off our shirts.)

6. Santa Claus: Powered by Coca-Cola

Santa Claus existed before Coca-Cola, but the jolly, red-and-white exact version of him that you know and love? That was heavily influenced by Coca-Cola’s 1930s holiday campaigns. They reinforced the image of Santa as a warm, plump, and friendly gift-giver (wearing Coke’s signature colors, of course), and today, that’s just who he is.

We’re not saying Coke invented Santa. We’re just saying that Santa used to look like this before his glow up:

What’s the Lesson Here?

Marketing agencies have been shaping culture for decades, and we do it so well you don’t even realize it’s happening. And the best part? You love it. The Super Bowl wouldn’t be the same without wings. A proposal without a diamond could potentially stunt the “yes.” And if breakfast wasn’t “important,” you’d have no excuse to order bottomless brunch and take omelette photos for Insta (#yummy).

So, on this April Fools’ Day, let’s raise a glass (of brand-name beer, of course) to the industry that sometimes uses a little trickery to make life a bit more interesting and memorable. And if you’re looking for a marketing agency that knows how to make people believe, you know where to find us.

P.S. If you just hit 10,000 steps pacing around while reading this, congratulations—you’ve been had. 😉