Welcome Home, Artemis II

During the last ten days, NASA's lunar fly-by mission has captured the world's attention. As we watched the mission from Earth thanks to the Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, four astronauts made history by setting a new record for distance traveled into space. And today, the astronauts returned safely home.

To celebrate the Artemis II's inspiring mission, let's take a look at memorable social media posts from ten brands:

KRISPY KREME

This doughnut brand shared on Twitter/X on March 30th, "A historic orbit around the moon calls for a sweet celebration. Introducing our NEW Artemis II doughnut collection, inspired by the Artemis II mission - landing at a Krispy Kreme near you on March 31st for a limited time!"

And on March 31st, "The Artemis II Doughnut is officially in orbit. Artemis II will be NASA's first crewed mission to orbit the moon in over 50 years - celebrate with this limited-time doughnut before it's gone."

And on April 3rd, "Artemis II Doughnut Update: A successful launch calls for a longer celebration! The Artemis II doughnut is NOW here thru April 10th. Tune in to the live stream with doughnut in hand as we follow the mission all the way to splashdown!"

GOOGLE

This search engine brand shared an Earth and Moon themed Google Doodle on Twitter/X on April 1st, "Today's Google Doodle celebrates the launch of Artemis II, the NASA mission that will send astronauts around the moon and back for the first time in over 50 years. During the approximately 10-day voyage, the crew will test the spacecraft's systems while traveling farther into deep space than any human has gone since the Apollo program. This critical test flight brings us one step closer to long-term return to the moon and future missions to Mars."

MERRIAM-WEBSTER

This dictionary brand posted on Twitter/X on April 6th, "'Moon' is capitalized when referring to Earth's Moon. It's lowercase when you're referring to other moons, or the web."

KLONDIKE

This frozen dessert brand posted on Twitter/X on April 6th, "New moon imagery confirms Neil and Buzz left perfectly preserved possession on the moon. Talk about astronaut ice cream!" The image that accompanied the post was the moon's surface with a pawprint and a Klondike ice cream wrapper.

NUTELLA

This food brand posted on Twitter/X on April 6th because a jar of Nutella was taken into space, "Honored to have traveled further than any spread in history. Taking spreading smiles to new heights." Then on April 7th, the brand's post read, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the Nutella jars."

CRUNCH

This candy brand posted on Twitter/X on April 6th, "This just in: the backside of the moon is 100 percent milk chocolate." A photo accompanied the post with chocolate and a Crunch flag stuck in it.

ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA

This encyclopedia brand posted on Twitter/X on April 6th, "The Moon is around 250,000 miles from Earth. It's so far that you could fit the other seven planets into the space between Earth and the Moon."

WHITNEY MUSEUM

This museum brand posted on Twitter/X on April 6th, "NASA has Artemis II, Georgia O'Keeffe has a ladder to the moon." The work of art was included with the post: "Ladder to the Moon" by Georgia O'Keeffe from 1958.

COLLINS DICTIONARY

This dictionary brand posted on Twitter/X on April 7th, "With the Artemis II crew heading home, it felt only right to make our #TrendingTuesday word moon themed. #WordOfTheDay is LUNAR. Adjective - lunar means relating to the moon."

NASA

And lastly, (in addition to a wonderful logo) from NASA on April 7th on Twitter/X, "Hello, Moon. It's great to be back. Here's a taste of what the Artemis II astronauts photographed during their flight around the Moon. Check out more photos from the mission here:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-ii-multimedia/

Would you like to travel to the Moon? Get in line!

SHARE THIS: For more than 65 years, NASA has made the seemingly impossible, possible. #NASA #ArtemisII #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: NASA/Artemis II.

Check out Georgia O'Keeffe's "Ladder to the Moon" at the Whitney Museum:

https://whitney.org/collection/works/37900

Learn more about NASA's Mission Control Center:

https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/jsc-mission-control-center/

Personal Branding and #WinstonChurchillDay

Did you know that Winston Churchill was an honorary American citizen?

On this date in 1963, President John F. Kennedy presided over a ceremony that granted honorary citizenship for Winston Churchill, who was well-known for his leadership as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. However, he could trace his roots back to America by way of Brooklyn, New York, because his mother, Jennie Jerome, was American.

While Churchill was not present at the ceremony (he and his wife watched on television from England), his son and grandson attended. Churchill had been granted citizenship in eight individual states as a prelude, including Hawaii, Maryland, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

The ceremony in 1963 was the first time in U.S. history that an honorary citizenship was granted. Since then, only seven other honorary citizenships have been granted.

Here was the conclusion to Churchill's statement as he reflected upon his honorary American citizenship: "Our past is the key to our future, which I firmly trust and believe will be no less fertile and glorious. Let no man underrate our energies, our potentialities and our abiding power for good."

Did you know that an honorary American citizenship is only symbolic? The title does not grant the right to vote, work, or live in the United States - and honorary U.S. citizenship does not come with a U.S. passport.

Since honorary American citizenship can only be granted by a proclamation issued by the U.S. President or by an Act of Congress, the person must demonstrate the highest admiration of the American people. During the ceremony in 1963, President Kennedy recalled how, during World War II, Churchill, "mobilized the English language and sent it into battle," and described him as "the most honored and honorable man to walk the stage of human history in the time in which we live."

So, from a personal branding perspective, Winston Churchill was truly one-of-a-kind. According to Forbes, "A personal brand is the acknowledged public perception of an individual. Personal branding is what you say about yourself based on your experience, expertise, core values, and key differentiators. Developing personal branding helps you be seen as an industry authority, grow and build trust with your audience, and ultimately make an impact as a mission-driven thought leader."

SHARE THIS: Winston Churchill is only one of 8 honorary U.S. citizens. Know the others? #WinstonChurchillDay #PersonalBranding #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Heralds of the Gospel.

Read Winston Churchill's Way with Words from NPR:

https://www.npr.org/2012/07/14/156720829/winston-churchills-way-with-words

Visit the Churchill War Rooms in England:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms

Learn about all 8 honorary U.S. citizens:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_citizen_of_the_United_States

Let's Celebrate Zoo Lovers Day!

Today's the day to be a zoo lover, zoophile, wildlife enthusiast, wildlife lover, or conservationist. Take the day off from work and share your passion for wildlife by visiting a zoo.

Animals are, without a doubt, the heroes today, however, since I always look at the world through "marketing-tinted" glasses, I'd like to share some memorable zoo logos:

LONDON ZOO

This zoo is located in London, England. It's one of the world's oldest zoos and opened its doors in 1847. The words in the logo are green to symbolize nature, and several animals are hidden inside the words' letters: a snake, monkey, and penguin.

KOLNER ZOO

This zoo is located in Cologne, German, and is one of the three oldest zoos in the world. It opened its doors for visitors in 1860. At first glance, its logo is an elephant. However, a closer look reveals a rhinoceros and giraffe - plus to create the elephant's back legs, the spires of the famous Cologne Cathedral provide a reference to the zoo's city.

PITTSBURGH ZOO & PPG AQUARIUM

This zoo and aquarium are located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A quick glance at the logo reveals a tree with two birds flying above it. But a closer second look reveals a gorilla and lioness standing face to face toward each other. Pittsburgh Zoo is the largest zoo in the United States and features more than 20 species of animals that are on the verge of extinction.

WOODLAND PARK ZOO

This zoo is located in Seattle, Washington. In its logo, several animals are featured: a lion, deer, zebra and flamingo. The animals are looking in different directions - toward the past or toward the future.

Do you know the world's oldest zoo? It's Schonbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria. In 1752, Emperor Franz I had a menagerie built around a central pavilion. Originally, his menagerie of rare animals was reserved for the imperial family and noble guests, however, beginning in 1765, it was made available to the public. Today, Schonbrunn Zoo welcomes more than 2 million visitors annually.

SHARE THIS: Do you know the oldest zoos in the United States? They are the Philadelphia Zoo (1874), Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago (1875), and Cincinnati Zoo (1875). #ZooLoversDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

So, which zoo will you visit today to celebrate Zoo Lovers Day? And don't forget that you can also make a donation today to help your favorite zoo.

SHARE THIS: There are 350 zoos in the United States. #FunFact #ZooLoversDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: London Zoo, Kolner Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, and Woodland Park Zoo.

Read my post: Become a Toronto Zoo "Zoofluencer" (December 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/12/why-be-social-media-influencer.html

Learn about England's first giraffes:

https://www.londonzoo.org/zoo-stories/history-of-london-zoo/giraffe-house-history

Learn more about the Association of Zoos and Aquariums:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Zoos_and_Aquariums

Learn more about the Wildlife Conservation Society:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_Conservation_Society

Email Marketing Secrets from World Wildlife Fund!

Awhile ago, I received an email from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) asking me to help choose a cover for the nonprofit's 2027 calendar. As a lifelong supporter of wildlife conservation and also a donor to this particular nonprofit, I looked at the choices and made my selection. Then, I forgot about the email.

What a surprise to receive an email several weeks later with this message:

Hi Debbie,

Over 30,000 WWF supporters - including YOU - recently voted for their favorite wildlife photo for WWF's 2027 calendar. We've counted all the votes...thank you for voting and for everything you do for nature.

Then, an image of a large question mark appeared with a message: CLICK TO SEE THE WINNING PHOTO.

Once I clicked on the link, here was the message:

AND THE WINNER IS...

With over 15,000 votes, the winner is the photo of the sea otter mother and pup! Thanks to all of the supporters who recently voted for their favorite wildlife photo for WWF's 2027 calendar. As a special thank you for going the extra mile, you can choose to receive WWF's 2026 calendar AND our 2027 calendar when it's ready later this year.

(And of course, there was a donation request included.)

Will you help protect vulnerable wildlife and their habitats with your generous donation today?

Since everyone's email box and texts are overwhelmed with "noise" and useless content, it's incredibly challenging to stand out AND BE READ. So, when an organization, especially a nonprofit, stands out by engaging its fans/followers/stakeholders, it's a noteworthy accomplishment. Big applause to WWF for this campaign!

What can your brand learn and apply from this brand's effective email marketing campaign?

SHARE THIS: Email is possibly the greatest owned media channel for brands. ~@JoePulizzi #EmailMarketingTips #BrandExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Telespiegel (email envelope), WWF (logo), and Suzi Eszterhas/Minden Pictures (otters).

Best Social Media Post of the Month of March 2026

How many social media posts do you recall? Do some go viral because they are for charity, like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Or do some go viral because they happened at the right moment in time, like my favorite tweet of all time, the Oreo tweet when the lights went out at the 2013 Super Bowl? Or do some go viral and become memorable simply because they're funny?

In a monthly series on my blog (hard to believe I've been writing these posts for more than a year!) appearing during the first week of each month, I share the best social media post of the preceding month. My choice may appear on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.

According to Google, "The best social media post of the month is typically one that effectively combines high engagement with relevance to current events, holidays, or trending topics, while also aligning with your brand identity and authentically connecting with your audience; this could include a thought-provoking question, a relatable story, a visually appealing image, a timely meme, or a behind-the-scenes look, depending on your platform and target demographic."

Without further ado, the post that earns my recognition as the best social media post of the month from March 2026 was a post on March 8th by TasteAtlas, an encyclopedia of flavors, a world atlas of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants, that appeared on Twitter/X.

The post stated:
"Happy International Women's Day! Throughout culinary history, women have shaped global gastronomy not only as brilliant cooks but as the ultimate muses for the world's most enduring recipes. Today, we celebrate the queens, artists, and everyday innovators whose names became a permanent part of our global culinary vocabulary."

The image that accompanied the post featured nine famous "Dishes Named after Women." Here were my favorites from the list:

(1) Pizza Margherita was named after Queen Margherita of Savoy to represent Italy's flag.

(2) Madeleines were allegedly named for Madeleine Paulmier by a cook for the Duke of Lorraine.

(3) Peach Melba was created by Auguste Escoffier in honor of opera singer Nellie Melba.

Many brands shared inspirational posts to recognize International Women's Day on March 8th, however, this post was exceptional. As a reminder, International Women's Day is a global holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women. The seeds were planted in 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, and the right to vote. First celebrated in 1909 in New York City as "Women's Day," Clara Zetkin posed the idea for the day to become internationally recognized in 1910. The holiday was celebrated in 1911 by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland; and the United Nations adopted International Women's Day as a global holiday in 1977.

According to the United Nations, "Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes, and violence, a future that's sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights, and opportunities for all. To get there, the world needs women at every table where decisions are being made."

Brands that can align their products or services to an event, holiday, or trending news that everyone is talking about have the potential to be memorable. And TasteAtlas definitely succeeded in my book!

Which brand will stand out during April, and why? Swing by #DebbieLaskeysBlog during the first week of May to read about my choice.

SHARE THIS: Brands that align their products or services with trending news have the potential to be memorable. ~@DebbieLaskeyMBA #SocialMediaMarketingStrategy #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: TasteAtlas via Twitter/X.

These Three Brands Definitely Understood April Fools' Day!

Today is an acceptable day for brands to add some humor to their advertising and storytelling. While some brands don't take advantage and tweak their identity - name, color, or packaging - the brands that do can be memorable.

According to History.com, "April Fools' Day is an annual custom on the 1st of April consisting of practical jokes, hoaxes, and pranks. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting "April Fools" at the recipient. Mass media can be involved with these pranks, which may be revealed as such the following day. Some historians speculate that April Fools' Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. In the Julian Calendar, the new year began with the spring equinox around April 1. People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes and were called April fools."

Here are three memorable brands that understood how to stand out on April Fools' Day:

GOOGLE

In 2010, when people visited the Google homepage to conduct a search, they didn't see the familiar Google logo and search box. Instead, Google was replaced with the word Topeka. So instead of saying "Google it" when wanting to find an answer that day, users were forced to say "Topeka it." The Kansas capital city unofficially changed its name to Google as part of an effort to convince the search engine giant to select it as a test site for its planned super-fast, fiber-optic network.

TIFFANY & CO.

In 2021, global jewelry brand Tiffany & Co. abruptly changed its iconic robin-egg blue color (of its boxes and stores) to yellow. The famous blue, known in the color world as Pantone 1837 was named after the year the company was founded; and the company had the color trademarked in 1998. The company announced the change on Instagram with a new hashtag #TiffanyYellow, but many followers were quick to point out a key detail: the announcement was made on April First, aka, April Fools' Day.

OREO

In 2024, cookie brand Oreo posted the following message on Twitter/X:

"After time and consideration, we have made the decision to separate the cookie and the creme duo that you all know to be as OREO cookies. There are no secrets or anyone to blame, we are just two best friends who met at a very young age and have grown over the past 112 years in our own ways. We appreciate your continuous support as we enter this new chapter, separately."

On Instagram, @just_the_creme described itself as: "Better off alone."

On Instagram, @just_the_wafer described itself as: "This cookie won't crumble."

A follow-up post explained: "Just the Creme and Just the Wafer hit shelves 4/31."

However, April has only 30 days. So, if you had not realized that this content was an April Fools' Day joke, that final post provided the gotcha!

SHARE THIS: Today is an acceptable day for brands to add some humor to their advertising and brand storytelling. #AprilFoolsDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

So, the lesson for brands everywhere is this, don't let April Fool’s Day pass by without creating a clever marketing campaign. Tune into #DebbieLaskeysBlog next year on April 1st to see which brands stood out this year. Happy April Fools' Day!

Image Credits: Google and Tiffany & Co.

Read: The 15 Best April Fools' Day Hoaxes from CBS:

https://www.cbsnews.com/media/15-best-april-fools-day-hoaxes/