There is not an insurance agent in America that has not seen Joe Namath and/or JJ Walker pitch a Medicare Advantage Plan. For all the attention this has created for Medicare Advantage, this approach, which is run by a giant call center, has been misleading. Choosing the right Medicare Plan, we believe, is much better when a local agent helps you understand the options.

Chris Birt has worked with the Minnesota Health Agency to deliver a counter punch in the form of an “influencer dog” named Boston — who already was a celebrity online in his own right — with a large Facebook following managed by the agency owners. We simply gave Boston a “new gig,” and a substantially expanded wardrobe — furs included.

While spots like these (see another below) do not directly pitch Medicare, they are designed to get people talking about Medicare and the agency behind the spots. It is an example of what CEO Chris Birt talks about marketing to the “metaverse” of social media, videos and general noise that is impacting your ability to cut through the clutter and gain brand awareness.

“Explosions, dirt, swimming pools and fur coats, typical drama in the life of a Medicare Dog. In case you were wondering, yes, a few dolls were harmed in the making of these spots…”