While ReviewMe isn’t exactly ‘product placement’, the theory behind the service is similar: get a relevant product into the content without annoying the readers (or viewers). I’m not surprised at all to hear that product placement growth is outpacing that of ‘traditional’ advertising; as users become more savvy (and ad-blind), smart marketers are evolving their strategies. From the report:

PQ Media forecasts that global paid product placement spending will grow at a compound annual rate of 27.9% in the 2005-2010 period to $7.55 billion, as product placement growth continues to significantly outpace that of traditional advertising and marketing. The overall value of the worldwide product placement market, says the report, including the barter/exposure value of non-paid placements, will increase 18.4% compounded annually to $13.96 billion in 2010.

Those are some pretty big numbers they’re throwing around!