Every marketing department or digital marketing agency dreams of hitting it big with a viral video that is not only popular, but also benefits their brand in some way. There’s nothing wrong with a branded viral video. Pepsi MAX & Kyrie Irving Present: “Uncle Drew” is one example of a branded video done right; it takes a genuinely entertaining concept – NBA player Kyrie Irving dresses up like an old man and plays in a pickup game in New Jersey – and dabbles in a minimal amount of product placement (there are a couple shots of onlookers, probably placed there by Pepsi, drinking Pepsi MAX). Unfortunately, many brands are attempting to hide their involvement in viral videos by making it seem like the video was created by ordinary individuals.
