Tag Archives: agent x

Nope! It’s Chuck Testa.

Posted on by Andrew Rushmore

Soon, if you haven’t already, you’ll be watching a video shot for Chuck Testa out in California.

As I’m writing this, I have had to opportunity to watch his video spread from a tiny comment on www.reddit.com to a full out internet meme.

(A meme (play /?mi?m/[1]) is “an idea, behaviour or style that spreads from person to person within a culture. Pronounced like “cream” it was coined by Professor Dawkins)

Here’s the video:

Hilarious yes?

What makes this video great, is that Chuck Testa pops out and says “Nope! It’s Chuck Testa”. But if Chuck had said “nope” to the video producers creative ideas, he would have seen far less exposure for his content.

Published August 14th, the video saw minor success. Chuck was probably happy enough with the video too! But wait. Check out the insights below. Once there internet “found out” about the commercial, his views skyrocketed.

Not every viral video will work. In fact. Most don’t. Our city saw great success thanks to Rob Bliss and his team producing a Lib-Dub video for the classic song  American Pie. Rob and his team poured their time into that video – and views kept climbing. Grand Rapids got another 15 minutes of fame (more like, 4MM+ views of fame!).

So why did Chuck Testa’s video hit off with the internet? Simple. They didn’t try too hard, but they experimented with a creative solution that ended up becoming a booming success.

He’s actually hosting a contest right now on his website for the best “NOPE!” photoshop. (http://www.ojaitaxidermy.com – if you want to enter.)

Here are my key takeaways from the Chuck Testa ‘experience’ (and he still makes me laugh outloud, FYI.):

  • First and foremost: don’t be afraid to be creative.
  • Pushing the boundaries doesn’t have to be “offensive” – you can push boundaries and still be noticed.
  • If the internet “finds out” about something you’ve done and it goes viral – let it. Heck, join it!
  • Don’t. Be afraid. Let your brand explore a creative message that wouldn’t normally “fit”.

If you find any good Chuck Testa stories, share it with us on our Facebook or Twitter!

www.facebook.com/weareagentx

www.twitter.com/weareagentx

Addendum: I should add that the video was shot by professionals for “Commercial Kings“. Just note that while shot by professionals, the beauty of the video is how long it took to be “discovered” by the internet. Very impressive viral piece.

marketing gimmick or cool brand experience?

Posted on by Brian Steketee

Technology has rapidly changed the way we view the world around us, how we engage with family and friends and how brands engage with their target audiences. Agent X has a passion for what’s new and cutting edge, so we wanted to share some thoughts on emerging technologies that are actually here today.

Let’s start with the basics. It’s not that traditional media is dying — it’s evolving. And as technology becomes more available for all humans, we’re seeing the definition of traditional change.

Recent scientific advances in technology have expanded possibilities for digital integration beyond even what our parents’ generations hoped for. Still no flying cars or jetpacks, though — we’re waiting on that.

Remember that concert you saw? With that favorite band of yours? Great show, wasn’t it? Try to remember what it felt like to be by the stage for the show. Now, stop. Enhance.

Imagine if you could use an iPad or similar tablet and be able to experience the concert from a 360 perspective, interactively The Black Eyed Peas offered an app that did just that.

One other cool technology to keep your eyes on is Augmented Reality (AR).

AR, in short, happens when a programmer/developer writes coding that recognizes a picture, marker or pattern on a surface, and then causes the app (on computer or smartphone) to run a series of functions that render these digital images, superimposed over the screen.

Below is a video showing a very cool example of what augmented reality can offer the consumer and brands. Adidas used AR to allow people that purchased their shoes to not only wear them, but to engage with them, play with them and have some honest digital fun!

If you’re not impressed, don’t say we didn’t warn you: scientists are currently working on contact lenses that would provide augmented reality. How cool is that!?

So by now, you’re starting to see how rapidly technology will continue to change the world around us. It’s overwhelming at times, but what it offers goes beyond just applications for marketers. It offers a benefit to the human experience. It’s another way of looking at this wonderful world around us. (But we still encourage you to get out and smell the roses!)

For more info, you can visit Agent X’s website here.

Google Fiber: And the Winner Is…

Posted on by admin

For those of you who haven’t heard yet, Google has made its decision regarding its broadband fiber initiative. Here’s a hint: it’s somewhere in Kansas, and its initials are KC…

Read all the details here:

Ultra high-speed broadband is coming to Kansas City, Kansas

From all of us at Agent X (formerly Steketee Greiner and Company) to all of you out there who put in all the time and effort and devotion at the local level around this initiative, we just want to say, in case no has or ever does, we were sincerely impressed, and you’re ALL winners in our book.