The Birth of Product Placement; Avoiding the Million Dollar Minute

It's actually kind of funny. A few articles ago, I wrote about companies that pay lot's of money to introduce their products into a movie or a television soap.
Now I've read an article that companies actually pay less for this type of advertising than they do for commercials.
As advertising on television became more and more expensive, companies looked for a cost efficient strategy and that was the beginning of product placement.
A few years ago, brands were always covered or we we saw cans of soda labeled just with the name "Cola".
Nowadays, we aren't surprised anymore when we see clearly what car James Bond is driving or what sunglasses Tom Cruise is wearing.
It's less obvious than commercials but very efficient.
In my opinion, I would rather buy things I've seen in a soap than product of commercials. It's very strange but it's true. Commercials can be too direct. And in soaps, you don't even notice they trey to promote their products. And you're influenced without even knowing!

Product Placement; Avoiding the Million Dollar Minute essays

(Marie Lambrecht)