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Is producing a infomercial right for you Pt1

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with The Reel Estate Network

Long Form Infomercials are 28 minutes and 30 seconds in length. A successful infomercial production starts with a great product or service. Mass appeal products that are highly demonstrable tend to work best in infomercials as do services that can be of great help and make peoples lives better. A DRTV infomercial typically consists of 3-5 segments with a call to action (CTA) separating each segment. The Infomercial production time frame can vary depending upon the complexity of the infomercial production. A typical Infomercial production costs start at around $75,000 and go up to $700,000+. The average infomercial production cost falls into the $150,000 to $250,000 range. Take a look at the typical costs in the graph for the 2006 to 2007 time frame.

costs for long form infomercials

This obviously makes it near to impossible for the average small business owner, promoter, or entrepreneur to produce an infomercial, let alone broadcast it.. With the introduction of VOD (video on demand) through local cable companies The Reel Estate Network is now making it possible for some of these smaller companies or individuals to get their product or service featured.  VOD lets you broadcast your infomercial, through a cable company, and lets you select the markets that you want to show it, thus bringing down the costs of purchasing time slots.  The VOD infomercial is promoted by putting quick little bylines throughout the different cable programs to get viewers interested and wanting to go to your show, to learn more.  "Several brands are starting to slip into long-form," says Mark Hodor, vice president of direct response for the Chicago-based agency. "They're using traditional half-hours while looking at opportunities with video-on-demand (VOD) and TiVo applications -all of the emerging media for long-form is also very viable."  The price for airing your infomercial is on average $75.00 per week. You can of course pick more areas for, each one going for the same price.

To help get you started, we are offering a 30 minute infomercial starting at $1200.  This includes, what we would call a basic package, one camera, light system, microphones, scripting, music and even a on camera host.  We have produced many infomercials costing in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and know what the major expenses are.  One of these is studio time.  To help keep the cost down, we need to select a location, other then a studio, such as your place of business.  We have put together a team that can make this happen.  There can be additional expenses, such as 2D and 3D animation, travel time, additional cameras, sound gear, and lights.  All of our animation is done in our Manila office, which keeps the labor expenses down.  You need to give as a call so that we might set up a meeting, and discuss your project.  We will let you know immediately if this is right for you.  Not all products or services will benefit from an infomercial. In all honesty we do not want to have failures.  This is a highly competitive market with more and more major companies competing for these time slots, so unless your product or service is unique and viable, it might not be advantageous for you. Give us a call at 909-240-6950 and find out.

Show All Comments Sort:
Tim Rogers
Coaches Corner Radio...The Real Estate Guy - State College, PA

A friend of mine spent about $50,000 on a similar product several years ago and he is still trying to recoup his costs.  Finding the venue that best works for your product or service is the critical decision.  He is in the financial services industry.

We offer a studio experience in the radio studio that has been received very well.

Tim

Jul 29, 2009 02:30 PM
Wayne Clark
The Reel Estate Network - Lake Elsinore, CA

Tim,

Your correct, you can loose your shirt, if its not researched properly.  We do not accept all clients, and make sure they full understand the risks involve.  A good infomercial must have either a good product, or sevice the that public will want.  We have done several in the $1200 range, and many have had success in their local markets.  At a starting cost of $75.00 per week in a local market, it can be very affordable.  The bigger companies and firms do spend the extra thousands, and even they make mistakes.

Aug 11, 2009 03:26 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

This sounds like an awesome opportunity but I can only imagine the travel expenses from Manila to the midwest.

Aug 12, 2009 02:05 AM
Wayne Clark
The Reel Estate Network - Lake Elsinore, CA

Evelyn,

We actually have three locations, Seattle, Southern California, and Manila.  We have done a lot of production work with the United Nations in both South America, and Asia, and in 2000 we decided to open up an office in the Philippines, due to the amount of talanted and educated people over there.  Because of the internet today, we can assign jobs from here, and receive files and transcripts back in a very short time. I only have to go over there about twice a year.  By the way, the Real Estate market if actually pretty good over there right now.

Aug 12, 2009 02:34 AM