AG09 - 706: Rejuvenique Facial Masks and Myroton Beams – What we can learn from infomercials

Presented by: Allison Rossett, Department of Educational Technology, San Diego State University.

If this does not creep you out, I don't know what will! It's only a full 9-volts of electric currents injected into your facial muscles!

“Women are going to love you for this... They've been looking for that Fountain of Youth in a jar and it's actually going to come in a mask.” - Linda Evans, Rejuvenique Infomercial Host

So, what can we actually learn from infomercials? Well let's see, maybe not to believe everything we see or hear! In this session we were able to take a look at:

1. Our own susceptibility to infomercials
2. How infomercials move us - how powerful are their overarching objectives
3. Ways we can use infomercial strategies to strengthen our own eLearning efforts

As we got deeper into the discussion, I noticed the already packed room quickly began to become cluttered with more folks just like me taking an interest in what Allison had to say. Her traveling voice, wittiness and humorous public speaking tactics were working.

With finally admitting that infomercials DO capture our attention and make us desire their products enough to call the 800 number to purchase, we were slammed with the reasoning behind this sudden urge--strategy!

There are Seven Principles/Strategies that drive the success of infomercials:

1. Infomercials target our problems.
2. Infomercials promise a simple, accessible solution, something that is very much within our grasp.
3. Infomercials tell a story about a problem and solution to the problem.
4. Infomercials present a magical transformation from problem to desired state.
5. Infomercials make the case that they solve problems at a bargain rate.
6. Infomercials rely on rock solid data, research and authorities, or someone's view of rock solid.
7. Infomercials improve through measurement.

The "wow-est" thing we can do is address supression needs to build substance.

This session might actually be my most favorite session I'd attended at the AG this year.

Contributing Source: Ridiculous Infomercial Review