“Infomercial” is a word coined by the joining of the words “information” and “commercial.”
The most important question about infomercials is: Are they effective? When they are done well and used for appropriate products, they really are an effective advertising technique.
No other paid advertising medium can provide the level of return on investment as quickly as an infomercial can.
Infomercials tend to run several times throughout the day and run long enough that anyone surfing channels one afternoon should run across the program and perhaps will be intrigued enough to stay.
Consumers who watch an infomercial and make a purchase are highly likely to recommend the product within their circle of influence.
Infomercials make products easy to obtain. At any time during the program a consumer can pick up the phone and make the purchase.
Most infomercials offer special incentives to those who complete the transaction within a specified time period, usually within the run of the program. These incentives typically work to entice people to make that impulse buy.
Infomercials are designed for the purpose of eliciting a direct response from the viewer.