A NEW MARKETING DIRECTION
Like the picture filled catalogues that first invaded our homes during the
early days of mail order, infomercials now serve as standard fare on our
televiewing menus.
In fact, references to "those latenight things on TV" are no longer accurate,
because infomercials now air and make money during daytime and mid-day hours
as well as latenight, selling every conceivable product, from Ginsu knives to
Body by Jake.
Direct response television is faster and more effective than conventional
mail order in marketing products direct to the end users for several reasons:
- It's audio visual. Direct response television
presents your sales message with both sound and pictures.
- It's instantaneous. You can monitor your sales results
seconds after your message is delivered.
- It's cost-effective. Airing you infomercial may cost less
than a conventional mail order campaign. Example: You can
buy a half hour of airtime at WNEU and reach over 200,000
homes in Pittsburgh for around $200. With conventional mail
order marketing, $200 will only buy 689 first class stamps.
Add to that the cost of mailing lists, production, and printing
of your mailing piece.
The future of marketing isin the consumer's own living room, in the TV set,
where a new, more convenient way of shopping is taking shape.
For the advertiser, the reasons for using infomercials and DRTV are obvious.
Producing a half-hour infomercial is a lot cheaper than opening a new store
in the mall. And for a month's rent, an infomercial can be aired on cable
stations that reach 60 million homes nationwide.
It is inexcusable for an entrepreneur to ignore infomercials and DRTV spots
as integral parts of his marketing mix. At the same time, if you're looking
for a new frontier with exceptional growth potential, DRTV is an exciting new
territory with no boundaries - a territory that has all the ingredients for
success you'll ever need.
