Determine the suitability of your product for the infomercial format. Questions to ask yourself when considering whether your product has the necessary ingredients to sell successfully on an infomercial include: Is the product unique?; Does it make life easier or solve a common problem?;, Will it appeal to a broad audience?; Is it easy to demonstrate?, says Invention Partners.
Capture the audience's attention. The most successful infomercials, the Creative Direct Marketing Group says, demonstrate "vividly" the value of the product and include information that overcomes any buyer objections.
Include all the necessary information in the infomercial for the buyer to make an informed decision. Research shows that the most successful infomercials are at least 30 minutes long and provide lots of information on the product being sold, according to the Creative Direct Marketing Group.
Motivate the viewer to take action immediately by offering discounts for purchasing merchandise on the spot. Make your price attractive and offer installment payments.
Use a professional expert host or celebrity spokesperson to position your product. Interview experts to soft-sell your product without appearing overtly commercial, the Creative Direct Marketing Group suggests.
Incorporate visual elements, music and sound effects to make your infomercial more appealing.
Present order information through three to five hard-hitting product announcement and purchasing information segments placed strategically throughout the infomercial. Display your 800 phone number on the screen throughout the infomercial and make it clear you accept credit card purchases. The Creative Direct Marketing Group says 90 percent of all infomercial sales are transacted via credit cards. Be sure to include mail-in information for those who prefer to order that way.
Gauge the interest of infomercial production companies. There are three types of infomercial production companies to consider. You can go with those that buy the licensing rights to your products and pay you royalties for units sold, infomercial producers that you pay outright for their services and shopping television companies such as Home Shopping Network and QVC that buy your product outright to sell on TV.
Consider the costs. Using an infomercial production company to produce a long-format infomercial costs $75,000 at the minimum, according to Invention Partners. You will also have to factor in the cost of placing the infomercial on the air. Local cable channel costs can be minimal, but network placement costs can be significant. Satellite and cable companies may offer package programs for airing your infomercial.
Investigate the time you want your infomercial to air. Late night infomercials historically perform better because of the lack of competing programming, according to Excellent Marketing Results.