The infomercial industry is booming at around USD 95 million. Products covered are household utensils and cleaning products, beauty aids, health products, and fitness products.



1.Infomercials are like direct selling programs. Their intent is to interest viewers in a product and convince them to buy it. Infomercials are a form of direct response marketing.

2.Infomercials have a set audience as they are aired on television during off peak hours and have a captive audience.

3.Infomercial sell products that can be bought on the phone from the comfort of your home.

4.Most products sold through infomercials are promoted by experts like doctors, health specialists, beauty queens and son on. They endorse the products in such a way that television watchers eagerly buy the products.

5.Most infomercials are hosted by popular talk show hosts who have a great fan following.

6.Infomercials are convincing as they have people giving testimonials on how x,y, or zee product had worked wonders.

With infomercials every one makes money, the product promoters, the infomercial makers, and the channel that airs the infomercial. The figures are astounding over USD 11 million are made by channels that run just say four infomercials.

Most paid programs that you find listed on TV programs are infomercials. Very often a talk show that captures your attention and holds you spell bound for thirty whole minutes is an infomercial; these programs are run on cable television during low-cost time. And customers can call on toll free numbers and buy products using their credit cards.

Infomercials have self regulation bodies such as the National Infomercial Marketing Association or NIMA who vouch for the accuracy and reliability of an infomercial that carries their logo. This is a step to protect consumers from products that cannot be vouched for. Infomercials under NIMA guidelines market valuable products that make responsible claims and follow fair business practices.

As a consumer you need to use common sense and basic precautions when buying products sold on television or radio. Never give into sales pitch. Make sure you need the product, that it is being sold at a fair price, has a NIMA logo, and offers guarantees, displays clearly costs and refund policies.