When I was 9 I got up early on Saturday mornings.
Really early – before TV was broadcasting yet early.
I did so to watch the video tape. (Remember those things?)
WWF was on the Friday nights but it was past my bedtime so I recorded it to watch on Saturday morning. Sometimes the recording hadn’t worked or cut half way through and it flipped to Coronation Street or whatever else was already on the video.
If I couldn’t watch the wrestling I would wait until the test pattern stopped and the first program came on.
It was always and infomercial.
Most people turn their nose up at infomercials and only see the hype and not the selling mastery that goes on.
As seen on TV inc recently listed the top 10 most used sayings :
10. “Two easy payments of $19.99!” – No matter the product, there is one thing that will deter the purchase of any viewer: a high price tag. By splitting a purchase into easy payments, it is seen as more affordable.
9. “Money back guaranteed!” – There’s no reason not to buy a product when you are guaranteed to get your money back if you are dissatisfied.
8. “Not available in stores.” – Addresses a common excuse: “I’ll pick it up next time I go to the store.”
7. “Call right now/Act now!/Limited time only!” – This common As Seen On TV phrase creates a sense of urgency in the purchase-making decision process.
6. “We’ll double the offer.” – To sweeten the deal, the pitchman may add more value to the purchase with a free product or two of the same item.
5. “You can do it!” – This saying was made popular by fitness guru and pitchman Tony Little. If Tony can do it, so can you.
4. “Operators standing by!” – Some infomercials even include a ticking clock, suggesting that once the ad or paid program is over, no one will be able to take an order.
3. “Set it and forget it.” – This phrase was made popular by Ron “Ronco” Popeil, one of America’s most celebrated inventors who first gained acclaim for his role as pitchman in his own product infomercials. Over the past 40 years, his products have pulled in more than $2 billion in sales.
2. “Life’s a pitch and then you buy.” – One of the most quotable sayings from one of the most acclaimed As Seen On TV pitchmen of all time Billy Mays, most notable for his promotion of OxiClean, Orange Glo, Kaboom, and other cleaning, home and maintenance products.
1. Arguably the most popular infomercial tagline – “But wait, there’s more!” – This phrase was made popular by, once again, Mr. Ron Popeil, the “set it and forget it” man. Although he was not the creator of the phrase, he certainly popularised it.
Infomercials have stood the test of time and refined ways to educate, provide social proof, remove risk and get people buying.
