While binge-watching a Netflix series, you may have heard the term “product placement” and perhaps frequently seen your favorite brand, but you might not be sure what it means.
Product placement is a marketing strategy utilized in movies, television programs, music videos, and other media where references to a particular brand or product are “written into” the plot and used to advertise that specific brand or product.
Product placement has become a staple for companies to not only get noticed by millions of people but also to profit from the relationship with prominent cultural touchpoints, and it is becoming an increasingly prominent approach for marketers to subtly reach their target audience.
Without employing “traditional commercials,” brands are utilizing product placement in movies to boost sales, raise brand recognition, and attract customers.
Now that you have gotten a basic understanding of what product placement is, let us take a look at some unforgettable examples of product placement in movies.
1. Nike - Forrest Gump
The most memorable moment in the Forrest Gump movie, which has many brand references, is when Forrest Gump’s lover Jenny gives him a pair of Nike’s first track shoes, motivating him to go on a “little run” across the country.
Before going on a “little run” across the nation, Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) wears leather Nike Classic Cortez running shoes in the OG White/Varsity Royal/Varsity Red color scheme.
2. Coca-Cola - Stranger Things
For the third and fourth seasons of “Stranger Things,” Coca-Cola is in the lead in terms of product placement value.
In order to give us a better idea of Steve and Dustin’s beautiful relationship in the upcoming season, Coca-Cola published a version of their Stranger Things season 3 New Coke promo ad.
Coca-relationship Cola’s with Netflix as part of Stranger Things 3 provided them the ability to be part of one of the summer’s most anticipated pop culture events and was able to reach many fans through the product placement.
3. Doritos - Spider-Man
In Spider-Man: Far From Home, the PepsiCo snack company Doritos teamed up with Columbia Pictures to carry out a global advertising campaign.
In all three Spiderman films, Doritos has been seen several times. The “Spider-Man: Far From Home” film also was promoted with special “Incognito Doritos” from the Doritos food brand by PepsiCo.
The food company created The Incognito Doritos, a traditional-looking Doritos bag that changes into a full-size copy of the Spiderman costume, as their ultimate expression of appreciation for the film.
4. Audi - Gray Man
In order to become the official automobile brand for the new action movie The Gray Man, Audi partnered with the streaming service Netflix.
The latest action thriller from Joe and Anthony Russo features four Audi automobiles, each of which performs with intelligence and sophistication.
The Audi RS e-Tron GT, Audi Q4 Sportback e-Tron, Audi RS 7 Sportback, and Audi R8 Coupe are all-electric automobiles. In a similar manner, a behind-the-scenes film demonstrating the vehicles in use was also produced by Audi and Netflix.
5. Oliver Peoples - Fight Club
In the film Fight Club, Brad Pitt portrays Tyler Durden and sports three distinct eye-catching Oliver Peoples sunglasses: the Aero, the OP 523, and the Sunset. With three of its models on display throughout the film, Oliver Peoples, an eyeglasses company, got the most screen time (4 and 34 seconds).
Since these glasses are so rare and are now only available on auction websites like eBay, and the special part was that the brand didn’t even need to have its logo on display to benefit from the product placement.
Conclusion
Product placement in movies has replaced traditional advertising in the media or on television as an alternative marketing communication.
Because it can target a specific audience group with the appropriate marketing message at the ideal moment and location, it is far more successful. 60% of individuals, according to BrandonGaille, have a more positive view of brands they see in movies.
This incredible number makes it quite obvious how powerful product placement is.
With the help of a successful product placement campaign, brands may participate in larger cultural activities and have the chance to become positively associated with aspirational celebrities.
Brands can definitely use product placement to their advantage as the studies have shown product placements work really well as they boost viewers’ awareness of products and their positive attitudes about them.
They can also encourage people to more likely talk more about the products and search them online to know more about them giving brands great recognition and benefits.
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Question
Have you ever caught glimpse of one of your favorite brands while watching a movie? If so, what was the name of the movie, and what was the brand? Post your comments below.
