Media Investment: the second of the two major mistakes that most companies and entrepreneurs make

(By Juan Maqueda and Marcelo Maurizio) Placing and creating product placement is the strategy that gives the most results and is the most relevant to the current era of content inserted into everyday life. Most companies and public figures do not know the secrets and benefits of doing product placement due to a combination of prejudice, ignorance, and above all cognitive bias. Many people believe that only large brands can afford to do product placement, and it is not possible for smaller brands or local ventures. This is a common mistake and a misconception that has been fueled by the lack of education and understanding about this marketing strategy.

First of all, product placement is not an exclusive strategy for large brands. Any company, brand, celebrity, or venture can benefit from this marketing strategy in any play, television program, video, or radio, whether locally, nationally, or internationally. Product placement can be an excellent way to build brand awareness and promote products or services in a non-intrusive and subtle way. Additionally, this strategy can also help improve brand image by associating it with a popular movie or program.

One of the key benefits of product placement is its ability to reach a specific audience in a more authentic and natural way. Unlike traditional ads, product placement does not interrupt the viewer's experience but rather integrates into the plot and story. This allows the viewer to feel more connected to the product or service and increase their interest in it. Additionally, product placement can also be used as a tool for storytelling and character development.

Another important factor to consider is cognitive bias, which can limit the understanding and adoption of new marketing strategies. People often tend to cling to their beliefs and prejudices and reject anything that contradicts their viewpoint. In the case of product placement, some people may believe it is ineffective or too expensive for their brand. However, it is important to remember that product placement is not a one-size-fits-all solution for all brands, and each campaign should be personalized and adapted to the specific needs and goals of the company.

Here are some of the thousands of successful product placement cases for both large and small brands:

Successful product placement cases for large brands:

Coca-Cola in the movie "The Hunger Games": The beverage brand achieved great success in the film because the story is set in a dystopian future, but the brand appears as one of the few positive things that still exist.

Audi in the movie "Iron Man": Audi achieved great brand exposure by being the official vehicle of the main character Tony Stark.

Nike in the movie "Forrest Gump": The sportswear brand greatly benefited from the appearance of its products in the movie, especially the sneakers Forrest wore.

Ray-Ban in the movie "Top Gun": The sunglasses brand benefited from its appearance in the movie due to the popularity of the main characters, Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer, and their lifestyle.

Mercedes-Benz in the movie "Jurassic World": The luxury car brand appeared in the movie as the official vehicle of the theme park and benefited from the advertising it generated.

Apple in the movie "La La Land": The technology brand appeared in the movie as a key element in the narrative and characterization of the main character, played by Ryan Gosling.

Hershey's in the movie "E.T.": The candy brand greatly benefited from its appearance in the movie, especially in the iconic scene where the main character shares a pack of M&M's with the alien.

 

BMW in the movie "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol": The car brand appeared in the movie as the official vehicle of the main character, played by Tom Cruise, and benefited from the advertising and brand exposure it generated.

In addition to these examples of big brand placements, there are also numerous successful cases of product placement for smaller brands and startups. Here are some examples:

The Shelter Pet Project in the movie "Keanu": The pet adoption campaign benefited from its appearance in the film, which focused on a cat named Keanu.

Einstök beer brand in the TV series "Game of Thrones": The Icelandic craft beer brand gained great brand exposure by appearing in several episodes of the series.

Shake Shack restaurant in the TV series "Billions": The burger restaurant chain appeared in the series as one of the main character's favorite spots and benefited from the advertising and brand exposure it generated.

Skagen watch brand in the TV series "House of Cards": The Danish watch brand appeared in the series as the main character's official watch, played by Kevin Spacey.

Tito's vodka brand in the movie "Kingsman: The Golden Circle": The craft vodka brand appeared in the movie as the main character's preferred vodka, played by Taron Egerton.

Nudie Jeans clothing brand in the TV series "Californication": The Swedish clothing brand appeared in the series as the main character's favorite brand, played by David Duchovny.

Tesla car brand in the TV series "The Big Bang Theory": The electric car brand appeared in the series as the main character's car, played by Jim Parsons.

Method cleaning products brand in the movie "The Internship": The eco-friendly cleaning products brand appeared in the movie as the main character's favorite brand, played by Vince Vaughn.

One of the reasons why many companies and public figures are not aware of the secrets and benefits of product placement is because it is not a topic that is frequently taught in business schools and faculties. Most academic programs focus on traditional advertising and sales promotion, and product placement is not included as a valid marketing tool.

In addition, the advertising industry in general has tended to focus on volume and repetition selling, making product placement a challenging task for media agencies. Unlike traditional advertising, where ads are placed in a variety of media and widely disseminated, product placement requires a more specific and personalized approach. This means that media agencies have to work with content producers and creators to find the best way to integrate products into the story plot in a natural and effective way.

Another reason why product placement is not widely taught is that it requires a deep understanding of human behavior and neuromarketing. The success of product placement depends on how products are integrated into the story and how they connect with viewers emotionally. This involves a detailed understanding of how cognitive processes work in the human brain and how they can be leveraged to influence purchase decisions.

In addition, product placement also involves higher risk for brands. Unlike traditional ads, where brands have greater control over the content and placement of the ads, product placement involves ceding some control to the content producer or creator. This means that brands risk being misrepresented or even subjected to negative criticism in the content they are integrated into.

An exciting topic indeed, tomorrow we will tell you why product placement is often not reported in media audits.

Tu opinión enriquece este artículo:

NFL 2026: por qué el fútbol americano (el deporte y sus valores) importa más que nunca (y por qué el show de medio tiempo es lo de menos)

(Por Maqueda, Taylor, Ortega y Maurizio) En 2026, cuando el Super Bowl es también un fenómeno de entretenimiento global, conviene defender una idea simple y casi contracultural: lo más relevante del fútbol americano no es lo que pasa en el escenario del entretiempo, sino lo que pasa en el campo… y lo que ese campo ha enseñado durante más de un siglo sobre la cultura competitiva de Estados Unidos. 

Lectura de alto valor estratégico, 4 minutos de lectura, material idea para compartir)

Adrenalina y estrés: un cóctel peligroso (¿qué tipo de personalidad y qué tipo de organización fomentan este común flagelo?)

(Por la Dra. Sonia Abadi, una cocreación para la prestigiosa comunidad Beyond en colaboración con Infonegocios Miami) Creemos que la adrenalina es energía, excitación, motivación. En realidad, la adrenalina es la hormona de la lucha y, por lo tanto, una respuesta física ante situaciones que producen miedo. 

(Lectura de alto valor estratégico, 4 minutos de lectura, material idea para compartir)

Super Bowl LIX: Bad Bunny cayó en audiencias en TV y no rompió los récords de Usher y Kendrick Lamar, ni MJ (¿por qué medios dijeron lo contrario?)

(Por Maqueda-Maurizio-Taylor) Los datos finales de Nielsen para el Halftime Show del Super Bowl LIX son una cápsula de verdad en un mar de hipérbole digital. 128.2 millones de espectadores. No es un récord. Es, de hecho, una caída de 5.3 millones respecto al pico de 133.5 millones de 2025. 

(Lectura de alto valor estratégico, 4 minutos de lectura, material ideal para compartir)

El "Billionaire Bunker" no es una moda, es una estrategia geopolítica de élite (el manual no escrito al que se suscribe Zuckerberg)

(Por Taylor desde Silicon Beach, edición Maurizio) Cuando Mark Zuckerberg compra una propiedad en Indian Creek Village —esa isla privada de 41 mansiones apodada "Billionaire Bunker"— no está comprando una casa. Está adquiriendo una opción estratégica en el tablero geopolítico del capital global. Y con él, se completa una trinidad sagrada: Bezos (Amazon), Page (Google), Zuckerberg (Meta). Los tres fundadores del ecosistema digital que define el siglo XXI ahora tienen su búnker en el mismo kilómetro cuadrado de Florida.

(Lectura de valor, 4 minutos de lectura, material idea para compartir)

Kylie Jenner y SKIMS: por qué esta campaña no es solo moda (una muestra más de la compleja era de las colaboraciones, phigitalidad y ecosistemas de marca)

(Por Vera- Rotmistrovsky y Maurizio) Esta colaboración, aparentemente sencilla, es en realidad un caso de estudio en estrategia de expansión de categorías, uso inteligente de celebridades y –sobre todo– una lección magistral en cómo conectar lo físico y lo digital en la mente del consumidor.

(Lectura de valor, 4 minutos de lectura, material idea para compartir)

El gran error estratégico que la mayoría de marcas comenten (y que otras como Ferrari, Adidas, Mercedes y LVMH, corrigieron)

(Por Maurizio y Maqueda) Entre 2015 y 2020, una generación de marketineros —sobreestimulados por la fiebre de las métricas digitales— cometió uno de los errores estratégicos más costosos de la historia del mundo de los negocios: declarar muerto el marketing experiencial y físico. 

(Lectura de valor, 4 minutos de lectura, material idea para compartir)

Inter Miami CF se corona como el club más valioso de la MLS (valuación histórica de U$$ 1.450 millones)

(Por ORTEGA) Inter Miami CF no solo hace historia en la cancha. Según Sportico, medio especializado en valuaciones deportivas a nivel global, la franquicia de Florida se consolida como el club más valioso de la Major League Soccer (MLS), con una valoración récord de USD$ 1.450 millones, marcando un crecimiento interanual del 22%, el más alto de la liga.

(Lectura de valor, 3 minutos de lectura, material idea para compartir)

Rhode Snow Club en Big Sky y Ulta Mate Retreat en Upstate New York (ejemplos claros de la supremacía del ecosistema de experiencias de marca)

(Por Maqueda, Otero y Maurizio) Rhode, Rare Beauty y otras firmas de alto perfil están mostrando que el verdadero poder ya no reside en un único canal, sino en un “head of culture” que orquesta un cruce de acciones: activaciones, celebri­ties, retail, contenido nativo, y experiencias inmersivas que viven en redes, buscadores y tiendas.

(Lectura de valor, 4 minutos de lectura, material idea para compartir)

Louis Vuitton en la Fórmula 1 2026: la solidez de un encuentro entre lujo, velocidad y expansión de experiencias (¿qué nos enseña?)

(Por Marcelo Maurizio y Juan Maqueda) La Fórmula 1 (F1) no es solo un deporte; es un fenómeno cultural que ha captado la atención de millones en todo el mundo. Con un número creciente de carreras y una narrativa cautivadora impulsada por la serie de Netflix "Fórmula 1: Drive to Survive", este deporte ha logrado trascender su naturaleza competitiva para convertirse en un espectáculo multidimensional. 

(Lectura de valor, 4 minutos de lectura, material idea para compartir)