Ever wonder why after watching your favorite TV show you have a craving for a certain food? Often this is a result of 'product placement' (click to see some shameless product placement in movies you know). This is a form of advertisement, where brand names of products are placed in various forms of media that do not already contain advertisements, such as movies, the story line of television shows, or news programs.
Actual product placement falls into two categories: products or locations. Producers/manufacturers use ads to reduce the cost of production by getting paid by companies to have their products placed in for subliminal advertisement.
Consumers may not realize they have been targeted, but when they reach for a certain brand name over another, often there is reason behind this. Sometimes it's because it's what you grew up with, other times friends have recommended it, but this isn't always the case.
According to psychologists, seeing a product often makes it seem more functional for us to buy, and it is in the back of our minds when we are looking for a similar product.
The media is blurring the lines between manipulation, persuasion, and entertainment. We need to take a stand and recognize product placement for what it is to overcome mindless purchasing.
Josie and the Pussy Cats - A movie chock-full of advertisements.
Resources:
http://worstproductplacement.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_placement
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/16365132/Psychology-of-Product-Placement
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