6 advantages of infomercials that perhaps you did not know
Infomercials are commercials that last around 30 minutes and sell products of various kinds. Shows look like talk shows but highlight the point of view of the sponsor. The first modern infomercial was made and aired in 1984; he sold Ginsu knives.
The infomercial industry is booming at around $95 million. Products covered are household items and cleaning products, beauty aids, health products, and fitness products.
1. Infomercials are like direct sales programs. Your intention is to interest viewers in a product and convince them to buy it. Infomercials are a form of direct response marketing.
2. Infomercials have a fixed audience since they are broadcast on television during off-peak hours and have a captive audience.
3. Selling infomercial products that can be purchased over the phone from the comfort of your home.
4. Most of the products sold through infomercials are promoted by experts like doctors, health specialists, beauty queens, etc. They endorse the products in such a way that viewers enthusiastically buy them.
5. Most infomercials are hosted by popular talk show hosts who have a large following.
6. The infomercials are compelling as they have people giving testimonials about how product x,yo zee has worked wonders.
With infomercials everyone makes money, the promoters of the products, the creators of the infomercials and the channel that broadcasts the infomercial. The numbers are staggering, more than 11 million dollars is obtained through channels that broadcast, say, four infomercials.
Most of the paid shows you find on TV shows are infomercials. Quite often, a talk show that grabs your attention and holds you spellbound for a full thirty minutes is an infomercial; these programs are broadcast on cable television in low-cost hours. And customers can call toll-free numbers and buy products with their credit cards.
Infomercials have self-regulatory bodies, such as the National Infomercial Marketing Association, or NIMA, that guarantee the accuracy and reliability of an infomercial bearing their logo. This is a step to protect consumers from products that cannot be promised. Infomercials under NIMA guidelines market valuable products that make responsible claims and follow fair business practices.
As a consumer, you should use common sense and basic precautions when purchasing products sold on television or radio. Never give in on the sales pitch. Make sure you need the product, that it sells for a fair price, has the NIMA logo and offers warranties, clearly displays costs and refund policies.
