My suspicion radar went off recently when Trendhunter featured a recent YouTube viral video, Guys backflip into jeans , when I saw it had been uploaded by a new username hosting only this video.
Now I am happy to find I was not the only skeptical one. Gawker brands it as a stealth ad for Levi's jeans.
The dead giveaway? In addition to the YouTube username being "unbuttonedfilms", you can hear a dialog line at 0:36 of the video saying: "At least there's no zipper."
Couple this with the fact that Levi's is the only jeans brand that uses "zipperless" advertising for their buttoned jeans, and you have yourself (a not so) stealth advertisement without brand mention.
What seems to seal the deal is that the jeans video follows the exact formula of another stealth ad that went viral exactly one year ago (6 May 2007 vs 5 May 2008). Uploaded by a new username "neverhidefilms", The Guy catches glasses with face went viral with three million views before it was officially revealed as a stealth Ray-Ban ad by Josh Warner, president of The Feed Company, the creative team behind it.
Trend Hunter was one of the many blogs and sites that fell for the trick!
Stealth Viral Ads
Did Levi's Dupe Us with "Guys Backflip into Jeans"?
Trend Themes
1. Stealth Advertising - Opportunity for brands to create viral videos that subtly promote their products without overtly mentioning the brand.
2. User-generated Content - The rise of user-generated content platforms, like YouTube, allows brands to leverage consumer creativity for stealth advertising campaigns.
3. Viral Marketing - Viral videos have become a powerful tool for brands to create buzz, reach wide audiences, and generate brand awareness.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - The advertising industry can capitalize on the trend of stealth advertising by developing creative campaigns that engage viewers and promote brands in a subtle way.
2. Fashion - The fashion industry can explore the concept of stealth advertising to promote their products and create buzz among fashion enthusiasts.
3. Marketing - Marketing agencies can utilize the trend of viral marketing through stealth advertising to create effective and engaging campaigns for their clients.