I hate to share this, but I love watching infomercials. And I've ordered more than once from them! Everything from weight loss products to cell phone accessory's.

When pressed, my friends admit the same. If you sniff around most people's homes, you'll find something ordered from an infomercial, whether it's the Ronco Rotisserie or Victoria Principal's skincare.

You may think of these often annoying programs as "trash TV", but think again. Did you realize that they use many of the exact same strategies that we should?

Now, I don't mean you need to scream at your customers or flash "$19.95" in blinking digits on your website! Those are gimmicks.

But what most people don't realize is that many of the strategies that sell the kitchen doohickey gadget are the same ones that can also sell your products and programs.

Here are 7 of my favorites:

1. They grab your attention.

Infomercials air on the most challenging medium there is out there: television. You're just a second away from your prospect clicking their remote to the next channel. So they do their best to get your attention right away and KEEP it for as long as possible.

That's why infomercials give bold statements and emphasize how this doohickey will change your life. You should do this too -- stop beating around the bush and make it clear to your prospects how your products and services will change *their* lives!

2. They give tons of real-life testimonials.

You'll see that TV infomercials have evolved greatly since years ago. It used to be one or two people talking to a camera for the entire time. These days most typical 30 minute spots are over 80% customer testimonials! And that's for good reason... they are the hands-down BEST way to gain instant credibility.

A great example is for one of those home exercise machines. I noticed years ago they just showed the super-ripped guy using it on the infomercial. Now they show that guy, PLUS dozens of before and after testimonials from real-life guys with beer bellies and real jobs who used the product with success. That was a great move on their part, because c'mon, we never really believed that super-ripped guy looked like that from using it just 30 minutes, 3 times a week!

3. They use personalities.

The most successful infomercials now use celebrity guest hosts. They know this gets people's attention more than practically anything out there. Pro Activ uses Jessica Simpson. Youthful Essence (a skincare product women love) uses Susan Lucci. Even NutriSystem is now using Dan Marino in their commercials to target men.

You can do the same in your marketing. You can either hire a star, or even better, make YOURSELF the celebrity... by sharing stories, being personal, and having fun with your market.

4. They give an irresistible offer.

It's rare these days to see an infomercial asking for you to pay for something in full. You'll mostly see things like "3 payments of $19.95" or "4 payments of $39.95". Why? Cash-crunched Americans are always more concerned about cash flow than the total price. They'll even happily pay much MORE in the end in order to gain a lower monthly payment!

You can do the same. Offer a payment plan for your products, courses, workshops, and coaching. You'll be AMAZED at the increased response, and it's easy to do with marketing-savvy shopping cart systems.

5. They give a strong call-to-action NOW.

These folks know that as soon as you change the channel, you're going to forget about their product. So they make it very urgent that you pick up the phone and call them now or visit their website and order. They usually say something like "If you call in the next 10 minutes you also get..." and they list a few great bonuses.

This isn't just specific to TV. Everyone would rather put off ANY decision these days, we're all so busy and overwhelmed! So you need to give people a good REASON to act now, whether it's a discount that expires, a payment plan that expires, a limited number of products or seats, a special bonus... you get the idea.

6. They sell on continuity.

What's "continuity"? It's when you make ONE sale that results in multiple charges over and over. For example, because my Wife Rosie's friends have been raving about I.D. Bare Minerals natural makeup, she recently ordered a kit from their infomercial. Now, every 2 months, she receive a fresh supply in the mail, and my card is charged again. She love's it because she doesn't have to remember to reorder. They love it because they only had to make ONE sale, and how they've got me as a customer forever until I cancel!

Hear me now... continuity will change your life! Consider how you can use this principle in your business. Could you convert some of your current offerings into a monthly membership? Or instead of doing one-shot teleseminars, create an ongoing monthly program? (I did this with my Premium Managed Marketing and SEO Campaign's .)

7. They repeat themselves. And repeat themselves.

And repeat themselves again! Smart marketers know it takes an average of 9 TIMES for someone to see/hear your message BEFORE they will even consider purchasing! That goes for you too. So many of my clients complain that advertising doesn't work when they only ran one ad ONCE. Or published ONE newsletter and it didn't get them results.

Remember it's the ongoing exposure and repetition that breeds familiarity and trust with your prospects! And that leads to more sales than you've ever imagined.

QUESTIONS? Contact me.

Jim Gras
800-897-6458
Skype: jamiboy

Over the past 15 years I've immersed myself in learning. Because my business is marketing, I have attended many and spoken at marketing seminars when I was younger. But I also make plenty of time to read books, attend seminars, and listen to audio programs on personal development as well.

Why?

You should actually work harder on yourself than you do on your business (or job). I first learned that from Jim Rohn, whom some call the father of personal development. Some call him America's foremost business philosopher. I just call him brilliant. (Jim was one of Tony Robbins' first mentors, too.)

There are three success principles I've learned over the years that I wanted to share with you. I call them my "a-has" because they put my attention on areas I'd never thought of. And following these guidelines has helped me skyrocket my business.

1. You are the average of the five PEOPLE you hang around the most.

When I first heard this quote from Jim, it struck a big nerve in me. Robert Allen says something similar, that your bank account balance is typically the average of the five people you hang around the most. (Yikes!)

I realized I needed to surround myself with people whom I wanted to be like. I still love my old friends, but I make a specific effort to be around people who take risks, think big, and talk about great ideas instead of the latest celebrity gossip, the price of gas, or how much they hate their clients.

What first opened up my circle of influence was attending seminars. I continually go to seminars on marketing, business, and personal development. There are so many great seminars going on every month all around the country, at all price points. You have no excuse not to get out there and meet people who are playing big!

2. Your HABITS create your future (and your fortune).

I like to talk a lot about this. Your daily habits create your long-term results. Your habits today will determine your outcomes tomorrow. If you want to be a millionaire, you've got to have millionaire habits. If you want to be a great leader, you must have the habits of a great leader. If you want to get in shape, you've got to have the habits of a fit person.

What new habit can YOU put into place right away?

I wanted to put into place a millionaire habit. Because I detest budgets (and enjoy spending), I needed an easy way to save money. So now I have a set percentage of my inflow automatically go into a savings account that I don't touch.

3. Make sure your ENVIRONMENT supports you in playing big.

A few years ago I had the chance to hear a dynamic woman named Artemis Limpert speak. In her talk, she pointed out that when you have a pet fish that's sick, you treat the water -- NOT the fish.

Your success depends more on your environment than you know, but it's extremely important that you give yourself an environment that supports you at the level you want to BE at. (Note that I did NOT say the level you are at now!)

There are 3 areas of your environment you should pay close attention to:

First, your physical environment. Do you love your office? Do you have enough space to work and plan? Are you surrounded by attractive things? Do you have a nice view or at least a beautiful piece of art to look at? I paid a pretty penny for my condo, but I can't tell you how inspiring it is every day to look out at the all the golfers or take a short walk or drive to my peaceful ocean, sailboats, blue sky, and the sand. It fuels me.

But you don't have to spend a lot of money on your environment. Little touches like candles, flowers, music you love, and photos of friends and family can go a long way. (Even if your office is the kitchen table!)

Second, your emotional environment. Are you getting the support you need from your family and friends? It's up to YOU to ask for what you need.

If they cannot provide it, find a Mentor or coach, a mastermind, or a support group. I find it wonderful to have our Fast Track  mastermind group for support. I can bounce ideas off them, ask for help with problem solving, share my victories, and sometimes just vent!

Third, your intellectual environment. Jim Rohn says, "Are you feeding your brain protein every day, or are you just giving it candy?" Most Americans sustain their brains solely on candy - that is, useless television shows, news, and gossip. Are you stimulating yourself with big ideas and new learning? Again, check out a seminar, take a Veretekk class, or buy some books or audio programs. (I love listening to programs on CD or iPod, so I can learn while taking a walk or driving my car or relaxing on a plane.)

REMEMBER, "THE MORE YOU LEARN THE MORE YOU LEARN"

Remember - 97% of the people marketing today are full of excuses and live their lives thru tragedy and self created disappointment!

Don`t let this be YOU! Make it Count!!!!

Best Regards,

Jim Gras
800-897-6458
Skype: jamiboy
http://WhoIsJimGras.com