Copy Cat Culture
The business world is so interesting. Most people are smart enough to realize that a TV commercial is trying to somehow “trick” us. We at least know that the whole point of a TV ad is to make people somehow want to buy whatever product they are trying to sell. We know the company is paying for the advertisement and this makes us very skeptical. We don’t even want to watch TV commercials because we can see the trick from a mile away. Maybe the product will help our lives, but we see so many bad advertisements about stuff we don’t want or care about that it makes us sick.
Commercials are usually seen as just an annoying interruption of what we are trying to watch. We use this commercial time to get something to eat, go to the bathroom, or at least see what else is on TV. If we are watching TV with a friend, we use this time for talking and not paying attention. Companies pay so much money for these commercials and many of them don’t work as well as they hope. They might work a little bit, but often not enough to justify the cost of the ad. Companies have been doing this kind of advertising for so long that they have become addicted to it. Smart companies are doing something else that you might not even be aware of. This is the best kind of advertising. Pay attention to it next time you are watching a TV show.
The idea is called “product placement“. Apple is great at doing this kind of advertising. If you watch a lot of movies and TV, you will notice that a lot of the characters use Apple products. We don’t think about this as an advertisement. It seems very natural. This is perfect for trying to sell something. If a character on a show is using some Apple product, it seems like the character really likes Apple stuff. That might be true, but often it is not. Companies pay a lot of money to get their products used by cool characters during the show or movie. They understand that people are such followers and “copy cats”. They want to be cool too.
I was watching a popular American TV drama today. The show is about a bunch of good looking rich high school kids in California. They all live a kind of “dream life”. People watching the show kind of fall in love with the characters and somehow want to be like them. They are the “cool kids”. People always want to do what the other “cool kids” are doing. Usually the characters use Apple products. Have you ever noticed that? Pay attention next time and let me know.
Today I noticed that one of the kids was using some new Android phone. They showed the phone ringing for about 4 seconds and you could easily see the Android logo. I don’t know for sure, but I really think that Google (They own Android) must have paid a lot of money for that. I think it is much better than any kind of regular TV commercial. When product placement is done well, people don’t even notice that it is an advertisement. It just gives us the feeling that real people are actually choosing this product and loving it.
Imagine that there was some really cool guy using an Android phone on the TV show. Imagine that on the show, all of the prettiest girls liked this guy. This creates an image that the phone is a good choice. A part of our mind thinks that if we have that phone, our lives will be better and cooler. That’s what regular commercials are trying to do too, but product placement is often a lot better. This is because we don’t know that a company is paying for this. It “tricks” us into thinking that the phone is really cool.
If we see the same type of cool guy using the phone during a regular commercial, we are smart enough to realize that it is fake. If we see it during a show or a movie, we are much more likely to believe it. Watch for this kind of thing next time you are watching TV or movies and let me know what you think about all this.
May 6th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Hi guys,
I couldn’t agree more about the commercials. I think they are becoming useless especially nowadays that we have so many channels to choose from.
On the other hand I think that using humour it’s a great way to catch people’s attention even though one may think that it’s just funny the first, second time tops.
Anyway, using product placement is really clever.
May 6th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
I agree with you,I have seen this kind of ads in different kind of shows since 2008,with various products like drinks,cars or other things.My view is this kind of ads are better than the traditons because it can be more effective,cheaper for the companies which want introduce their products as well as will not cut the pleasure of the viewers while watching the tv.
May 6th, 2011 at 9:09 pm
I never thought about ad in this way. I saw a lot of brands in the movies but didn’t realize it replaced the usual ad. Now I try to remember if I ever saw any ad for Apple for example and I could not remember any (at least it is not shown in Russia).
Looking forward to reading something new,
Kate
May 6th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
Hi Guys,
Just Yesterday told my husband while we were watching the TV show “Dr. House” that they were using a computer by apple and he told me o that’s thrue, in other season they used PC by Dell, may be apple pays better than dell.
I agree with you, I think is better this kind of publicity than the regular commercials
see you
May 7th, 2011 at 9:02 am
In February, Apple won the Product Placement Award
. Their gadgets are mostly shown in American movies. As for Russia, if to pay more attention, automobiles, cosmetics, and other things are quite often advertized in Russian movies and serials.
May 7th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Never given a hoot about ads till reading your blog, haha.
Agree with you somewhat. But anyway, TV commercials are by far considered the best way to bring new products out.
Bonne fete des meres!
May 7th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
First of all i have to say that it’s great to see a new post after a long time, almost a month.
I think this issue is a result of “supply and demand” and wrong consumerism policies that has grown all over the world particularly over the past few decades. In my opinion these policies doesn’t work anymore and we have to change them sooner or later Otherwise, we will face a huge recession every few years or decades because whenever people’s purchasing power drops, production rate will be reduced and stagnation will appear again.
May 8th, 2011 at 10:20 am
I’ve noticed this “product placement” thing in the movies and TV shows a long time ago. I also believe that it’s the better investment for companies than the regular commercials, because we already are so sophisticated and jaded by these things, that it becomes harder and harder for companies to make us buying their products. The problem is that this “product placement” is sometimes not very subtle and intangible. And in this case it appears so ridiculous. I often see these things in our sitcoms. For example, people in the particular scene in TV show are doing something, say, are playing chess, and all of the sudden one of the main characters gets the vitamin pills from under the table and says to another character: “You need to eat your wonderful pill, you will get strong and healthy”
And after that phrase they show the name of the pills of a close-up. So it’s understandable for anyone with the opposable thumb that it’s the TV commercial and not the best one. Will hope, TV producers will try to make this kind of advertisement more professional. In other case it’s another waste of money for the companies.
Andy, thank you for the wonderful post,
~Val
May 9th, 2011 at 10:06 am
I think nowadays, advertising is not so powerful as it was 10 year ago, for example, because we are not so naive
. And manufacturers have to make up something new to attract more buyers and not to look importunate. But hidden advertising works, I think so, only if there isn’t too much of it in movies. Because when you see only the logos of famous companies, while watching a movie, it gets irritating.
Just some words about not tech products, because most girls know more about fashion than technologies
.
. Fashion industry manufacturers, not all of them, but some, are now going out into the street to find out what people, especially youngsters, are wearing. And then they try to follow those trends in manufacturing. Yes, it’s more about clothes, shoes, bags, and so on.
I read an article about the fashion industry, and it turned out that not a lot of people want to be similar to somebody else, everyone is sure that he/she is unique, and they are right
But I think we now affect fashion in clothing, gadgets, furniture, and many other areas more than many years ago.
May 9th, 2011 at 12:32 pm
I m sorry… I saw both of you… I buy the lessons… but I couldnt apreciatte that…
My password don t work…. I wrote do the paypal . They dont solve…. My credit card was debit… and I m very sad… because I don t have access to the VIP area….
sorry…
May 9th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
hi guys…I completely agree with you…first of all i should say your site and company fabulous…
May 9th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Oh fo sho guys! In Brazil we have variety of product placement on TV commercials like that.It´s easy to see on soup opera here. Even on TV programs we can watch some advertisements. For in stance, you´re watching a TV program and suddenly, the Tv program stops and bring up some adds and after this, the program starts again! It´s kind of boring!.
May 9th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Hi guys,
I’ve noticed this kind of ad in some movies and some TV drama programs. This kind of way to show the products is really a smart way for the companies, which will catch people’s attention at least. But it does not mean that the product shown in the TV drama programs surely will be a good seller. Customers will keep their eyes bright and pay more attention on the function and quality of the stuff.
May 9th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
I really agree with you about boring old ad and I believe when we see something like an android phone on real life,we can trust on in easier than common boring ad
May 9th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Hi Rita,
Sorry to hear of that terrible situation. Please go to “contact us” and email us there privately and we will solve this VIP problem for you. We didn’t know you were having difficulty and we will solve this asap. Don’t worry.
Thanks to everyone else for the comments. Really great insights. I’ll get back to you soon.
May 9th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
This is very common here in Argentina since many years ago, specially in soap operas.Even though I’ve already bocome aware of product placement,this does not discourage me from keep on watching my favourite tv series. So in that sense I think product placement is smarter than traditional ads. You WILL get their message.
Great job!
May 9th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
I completely agree with you on this point! And especially about Apple which is almost everywhere nowadays. I`ve caught myself on a thought that I`ve become a victim of this tricky ad. I`m really thinking about buying this product and what is more interesting I don`t care what the ad`ve made with me (in fact, I am mesmerized). I understand now that this`s a good trick to persuade me (and not only me) to buy the apple products, but I still want to acquire it!
By the way, what the film did you watch?
Im waiting for your answer
just wanna watch the film with cool gust from California!
May 9th, 2011 at 8:05 pm
I am trying to get a mental picture of you guys in a world of advertising.
I think that you are doing really good job. All stuff is very cool,but more important is your friendly attitude that gives confidence and sympathy throughout listeners.
What is my point?In my opinion you could sell everything that has a real value because you have a wide audience that consider you more then simple seller.This fact has obvious advantage.I hope and predict you a bright future,of course if limited yourself to not advertise something that is of suspicious quality or in manner that is too much common.
I like you guys because I realized that I am not alone who think that free time is priceless..Good luck and sorry for being little bit out of context
May 9th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Hey Guys!!
Usually I hate commercials, It’s getting worse in new year season. Sometimes commercial’s interruptions longer than the drama
)
It’s interesting what you said about product placement. I’ve never thought about it!! Thanks Andy now I can enjoy it…………..
May 10th, 2011 at 1:13 am
Product placement, i didnt know this word and didnt think about it much although sometimes i actually notice it. The ads in those movies or shows dont make me feel self concious about myself or either make me want to buy whatever products straightaway. When i notice those ads in different times and different place, it forms an idea in my mind about that products. The next time when i go and buy one of those products, i go and look for the products i saw in those shows first because it makes me feel like this is common. Real people actually use it( i think it may work better for a bunch or normal characters besides the main actor use the same products, you dont have to copy what famous actor or singer wear or do. Simple is the best. Hope to hear your opinion AB, cheers.
May 10th, 2011 at 1:20 am
I like commercials, they’re useful and funny.. Because of them TV shows and movies exist.(Don’t forget that everything works with money)that’s how google is supported, not because people spend their lifetime searching for stupidity…. The problem is they’re take too much time sometimes and we get bored, but if we don’t like’em God invented the remote control.. Imagine, what would it happened if they didn’t exist between movies or TVshows? We (and you guys too) wouldn’t be able to go to the bathroom, talk to your friends or anything like that.. We would be like robots watching TV all day long or for hours without interruption… What a boring thing!!!!
And about product placement, I think that it is fine just the way it’s nowadays… but it should stay that way, because it would be a complete pain in the ass watching a TVshow or a Movie full of advertisements or things like ‘sony’, ‘panasonic’, ‘Coke’, ‘Pepsi’, etc…. they’ve always existed (it’s not something new) and it’d be ridiculous watching’em all the time for almost one hour showing themselves…… Business people have to understand that we (like their costumers) deserve some respect, because when we go to the movies, we pay for wacthing the movie, don’t we? not fot watching how other people use products we’re not interested in..
May 10th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
There are more clever way in advertisments , also there are more boring one in everything around us not only t.v but in the internet , when you try to discover some websites the ad appears front of the page and cannot see the page what about , really in same time i move away to another website because i don’t have a time to struggle with it ( really borning )
sometimes i think about that companys and how they spend all that money without benefit and thanks god i don’t have a company( lol)
May 11th, 2011 at 11:55 am
Hi Guys,how are you?
Actually your subject is very important because all people share the same opinion in advertising on TV ,we think that it is a kind of disturbing,for example while I watch something on TV and giving it my concentration suddenly the program cut to watch an advertisement which make me upset and feel that they make me watch that by force . The idea of advertising with out making people feel that it is advertisement is very good and has a strong effect on people.
May 11th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Hİ everyone,
i really dont like advertisement that you mentioned. Because it is waste of time. Aspecially their music i dont even like music somehow i cant get out of my mind. But i know its making systematiclly for people and they using music more and more. ıts difficult to forget ad. music. But product placement its really exellent way to sell product. if you see a cool actor using something that is useful or seeing cool. of course you want it automaticly. For example apple very good at product placment like you talked about.
another example is dell i think they are good enough too.
May 11th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
As always, quite good text and topic as well. I suppose that companies are quite smart to introduce products in such programs. I’ve been paying attention in advertisement for a long time. I garantee that it’s very common, at least here in Brazil. If we think about business without doubt it’s extremelly interesting for all company. However, if we think about the customers who are watching programs, I guess it’s a of disrespect because companys are “selling” values as well as ways of life. I think not healthful to watch something and also be see a lot of publicity hiding. Fo adults it’s easy to realize and change the channel or don’t pay attention. What about our Children? They have been facing this kind of bad influenc for a long time. People who are responsable do not care about it. Summarizing the whole idea, keep your Childrens away for TV. That’s the best commercial we can do for improve their lives.
That’s my opinion!
From Brazil,
Roberto
May 18th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Hi Guys! As usually a great topic. Reading with pleasure. I think there is nothing realy bad that some reach company gives some money to shoot a film.I think everybody knows that there is commercial.
May 19th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Hi All, I think I’m late to put a comment although i’ve read this topic at work but now i could do.. however, advertisment is a study and businesss and for eveything we should look into the pros & cons. I can see perfectly the ad in movies and I liked some of them, I buy what is need for me after comparison with other products except cloths.. but anyway commercial ad’s becoming a disease, WATCH UP..
I appreciate your usual amazing topics;;; you always come up with great stuff guys.
Thanks,
May 22nd, 2011 at 12:56 am
Yaa,I really agree with you.
May 27th, 2011 at 12:44 am
This kind of advertising was uncommon some couple of years ago but now they are on all kind of tv programms sitcomm etc.. some are done nicely other just are a waste of time. Also I think its depends of the artist that does the advertising and how its done I mena at the perfect time
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April 15th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
Hi guys,
Please, in the text you mentioned the word “emails”, in plural i mean. Is this grammatical correct?
Because i read this word has no plural, cause it is an uncount noun.
Am i right?
Thank you!
Love your job!