A New Way of Advertising (1)
Tom:I've noticed that some of the major companies have tried using infomercials to market their products.
Jerry:That's a new term to me.What do you mean by infomercial?
Tom: The biggest difference is the length of time they take.Infomeercials began in 1984 after
the government deregulated television commercials and no longer restricted them to short ads
between shows.Mardeters increased their sales pitch from just 1 or 2 minutes to 30 minutes.
This added time made it possible to not only show their products.but discuss them as well.
Jerry:I imagine those expanded commercials would be expensive to produce and the cost of buying the extra time on television would be high.I guess they must be successful and profitable.
Tom:Yes.those companies that have tried them have found them to be profitable way to market their products.
Jerry:I beleive I saw an infomercial the other day put on by Apple Computer.It was done like a
story.You followed a family as they shopped for a computer.As the story progressed, you learned why they chose an apple computer.
Tom:Companies that use this method of marketing give a toll-free number people can call for additional information. They have had thousands of calls in response to their infomercials.
Jerry:It looks like infmercials might be one of the best forms of advertising.ever created. When people watch these ads,it is from choice,not just something they have to sit though so they can see the rest of the program they are watching.
Tom:I think you're right.
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