LIVEMERCIAL “BRAINS TO BANK†ONLINE DIRECT RESPONSE
Livemercial network attracted a peak of 95 million unique monthly visitors, and surpasses $1 billion in total sales since 2003.
VALPARAISO, Ind., March 30, 2009 – Livemercial, the world’s leader in online Direct Response marketing, announced that online sales grew 22 percent from 2007 to 2008. That represents the sixth consecutive year of double-digit growth in online sales for Livemercial. In addition, the end of 2008 brought two important milestones for Livemercial. First, Livemercial surpassed $1 billion in online sales for more than 3,000 distinct brands – ranging from exercise equipment to children’s arts and crafts. Second, more than 100 of those individual product offers have exceeded $1 million in online sales with Livemercial, including the Topsy Turvy tomato planter, the CriCut personal electronic cutter, and the Kodak EasyShare All-in-One printer.
“Since 2003, Livemercial has focused on providing the fastest route to bring an innovator’s concept to the market – or from their Brains to the Bank,†says Livemercial CEO Johnny Mathis, Jr. “We have developed an online Direct Response approach that delivers conversion three times higher than the industry average, supported by the largest direct-response network on the Web. In addition, we continue to operate on a pay-for-performance model, which means clients don’t pay until we make a sale.â€Â
Single-page Microsites
Livemercial began testing online Direct Response sites in 2003, with the introduction of an instant-on video player as an alternative to the then-standard downloadable video files. The streaming video player increased video views from as little as 10 percent to almost 100 percent. But, the conversion from traffic to sales remained relatively flat.
At the time, typical e-commerce sites presented several pages promoting the product features and benefits before a sales offer. As the Livemercial team began developing and testing e-commerce strategies they noticed a consistent traffic pattern: Each page between the customer and the purchase decision resulted in an incremental drop in sales conversions.
As such, Livemercial developed a single-page microsite containing the product benefits, video demonstration, and purchase opportunity. These Livemercial sites convert as high as 30 percent of traffic into sales, compared with roughly three times the rate of shopping-cart sites such as Amazon.com. (as reported by ClickZ.com – http://www.clickz.com/3628276)
Following the purchase decision, Livemercial’s adaptive technology provide a series of added-value opportunities for the customer, including accessories, complimentary items, or additional items at reduced cost. Through this process, Livemercial is able to deliver clients transaction totals on average three times the single-item price, for example delivering an average checkout price of $60.00 for a product priced at $19.95.
Livemercial Network
Livemercial led the Direct Response industry in using use online advertising and search-engine marketing to drive traffic to online storefronts. Today, Livemercial continues to attract new traffic through sophisticated affiliate and social-media marketing. Livemercial’s network traffic peaked at 96 million unique visitors in January of 2009 – more than eBay or Amazon.com.
“The foundation of any e-commerce program is traffic,†says Mathis. “The best site in the world won’t produce results if no one can find it. As such, Livemercial continues to develop and use the most effective tools placing our clients’ products in front of buyers.â€Â
Livemercial search-engine specialists optimize keywords, meta tags, and body copy of every product to improve organic-search results. That work is also applied to Livemercial’s pay-per-click sponsored search results and contextual ad programs. The paid online advertising is managed using the latest technologies, including a proprietary ad server, enabling Livemercial to optimize the quality and quantity of ad placements in real-time.Â
In addition, Livemercial markets client products across the largest affiliate program in the Direct Response industry. Leveraging AsSeenonTVNetwork.com as a network hub, Livemercial drives sales to client products through an estimated 10,000 affiliate websites.
That reach will continue to grow in 2009, following the introduction of Livemercial’s social-media marketing platform. The Social Response Pack (SRP) helps clients connect with online communities, engage online visitors, and increase conversion through branded channels on popular social media sites including YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Blogger. With social media traffic doubling in the past 12 months, these channels have become essential tools for raising awareness, driving traffic, and promoting sales across all marketing channels.
Performance-based ServicesÂ
Livemercial offers most of their online marketing and sales services on a pay-for-performance model, meaning clients will only be charged for completed transactions rather than upfront charges or subscription fees.
“We launched with a pay-for-performance model to entice clients to work with an unproven company and an unproven concept at no risk,†says Mathis. “Six years, and $1 billion in online sales later, we have proven our approach to online direct-response marketing. However, we continue to use the pay-for-performance structure because of the unique partnership it creates between Livemercial and our clients. Simply put, our success is directly linked to the success of our clients.â€
Today, the cost per acquisition (CPA) model is a core component of Livemercial’s business model. As part of the CPA model, reporting and metrics are delivered on a weekly basis, providing clients with real-time feedback of performance. In addition, the reporting features built into the CPA format allow clients to track and measure changes to their marketing mix, including viral campaigns, sales offers, and pay-per-click.
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About Livemercial
Founded in 2003, Livemercial pioneered and is the largest provider of “instant on†streaming video for email, pop-ups, banners and direct response websites. The company leads the direct response industry in single product sales, utilizing cutting-edge technologies, social media and e-commerce solutions to design, deploy and manage strategic online marketing campaigns including email procurement, banner and pop-up placement, search engine optimization and contextual marketing.
The Impressor Makes an Impression at Home + Housewares Show
Livemercial, the leading provider of online direct response marketing, presented the second “Best Housewares Invention†award to Ed Ferencik for his Impressor meat tenderizer. The Impressor was selected by a panel of retail experts representing corporations, retail stores and mail-order catalogs as their favorite invention at the Home + Housewares Show.
The Impressor is a multifunction kitchen tool, with three interchangeable attachments: a smooth pounding plate, a pointed meat mallet, and a meat tenderizer with 60 stainless-steel piercing blades. Ferencik, 51, created the concept four years ago after more than 25 years preparing and selling meat.
“Ed’s Impressor represents an innovative alternative to a traditional mallet,†says Patty Cox, Chief Marketing Officer for Livemercial. “It’s also beautifully designed, successfully combining the functionality of a commercial tool into a retail package.â€
Livemercial is offering Ferencik a $5,000 package of three online sales and marketing tools to help bring the Impressor to market:
Livemercial’s Social Response Pack (SRP) is a new social media platform that provides custom-branded channels for products on YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and Blogger. Through SRP, inventors will be able to create and foster social communities that will fuel additional word-of-mouth awareness of their products.
Livemercial’s new Sell it Yourself (SiY) service, to be launched this summer, is a launchpad for innovators looking to take their product directly to market including a storefront website template, performance analytics and reporting; and social media tagging to fuel viral word-of-mouth awareness.
Finally, Livemercial will place the Impressor as a featured product on the AsSeenonTVNetwork.com when it reaches full production.
For more information regarding the Inventors Corner or the Best Housewares Invention competition, please visit www.housewares.org. For more information on the Impressor, please visit www.butcherskitchen.com. For information on Livemercial products, including the Sell It Yourself package or Social Response Pack, please go to blog.livemercial.com.
Industries are moving toward online sales…
Day two of the Home + Housewares Show illustrates how all industries are moving toward online sales.
Tim Harrington, President of TVGoods.com LLC says that 50 – 70 percent of their total sales are now completed online, up from only five percent five years ago.
Bill McCoy, Product Director from SkyMall Shopping Magazine, has seen a similar transition to online sales, with as much as 70 percent of their orders processed online.
Pointers to Pitchers
Gary Sullivan of Allstar Products Group, LLC gives some pointers to pitching your product.
PlateTopper wins Livemercial “Best Housewares Invention†Award!
Billy Mays and Livemercial CMO Patty Cox presented the first “Best Housewares Invention†Award to Michael Tseng, for his PlateTopper. The PlateTopper was judged by a panel Direct Response Marketing experts, including Anthony Sullivan, as the best new invention at the Home + Housewares Show.
The PlateTopper is a food-storage container that features a clear cover and silicone ring that creates an airtight seal on any plate. It is dishwasher and microwave safe, stackable, and offers a affordable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
Michael Tseng, 25, created the concept as a Mechanical Engineering project at Princeton University in 2005.
“Michael’s PlateTopper is perfect for Direct Response Marketing,†says Patty Cox, Chief Marketing Officer for Livemercial. “It’s a brilliantly simple solution to an everyday problem. The minute you see it, you wonder why no one thought of the PlateTopper before. The second questions is, ‘How soon can buy one?’â€
Livemercial is offering Michael a package of three online sales and marketing tools to help bring the PlateTopper to market: a Sell it Yourself online marketing platform, a Social Response Pack with branded social media channels, and placement on AsSeenonTVNetwork.com.
Inventors pitch their products – Day 1
Household gadget inventors get the chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of direct response marketing experts at the International Home & Houseware Show in Chicago sponsored by Livemercial. Michael Tseng of Prestagon LLC and his food storage invention “The Platetopper” just might be the fresh idea the panel was looking for.
Anthony “Sully” Sullivan talks about Sell it Yourself…
Anthony ‘Sully” Sullivan explains Livemercial’s SIY “Sell-It-Yourself” product at the International Home and Housewares Show 2009.
HOME + HOUSEWARES SHOW “PITCH THE PROS†PANEL
CHICAGO, March 22, 2009 – Livemercial, the leading provider of online direct response marketing, presented the second “Best Housewares Invention†award to Ed Ferencik for his Impressor meat tenderizer. The Impressor was selected by a panel of retail experts representing corporations, retail stores and mail-order catalogs as their favorite invention at the Home + Housewares Show.
The Impressor was one of approximately 30 inventions showcased in the “Inventors Corner†of the Housewares Show. It is a multifunction kitchen tool, with three interchangeable attachments: a smooth pounding plate, a pointed meat mallet, and a meat tenderizer with 60 stainless-steel piercing blades. Ferencik, 51, created the concept four years ago after more than 25 years preparing and selling meat.Â
“Ed’s Impressor represents an innovative alternative to a traditional mallet,†says Patty Cox, Chief Marketing Officer for Livemercial. “It’s also beautifully designed, successfully combining the functionality of a commercial tool into a retail package.â€Â
Livemercial is offering Ferencik a $5,000 package of three online sales and marketing tools to help bring the Impressor to market: a Sell it Yourself online marketing platform, a Social Response Pack with branded social media channels, and placement on AsSeenonTVNetwork.com.
Livemercial’s new Sell it Yourself (SiY) service, to be launched this summer, is a launchpad for innovators looking to take their product directly to market. SiY will feature an online community and resource center, enabling inventors to connect with like-minded people for support and guidance through the product launch process. In addition, the service provides a turnkey e-commerce solution for inventors, including:
- A storefront website template, featuring Livemercial instant-on video technology and transaction features
- Performance analytics and reporting features
- Reciprocal placement with like products, facilitating cross shopping among products
- Social media tagging tools to facilitate viral word-of-mouth awareness
- Feedback mechanism to provide entrepreneurs real-time comments about their products
Livemercial’s Social Response Pack (SRP) is a new social media platform that provides custom-branded channels for products on YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and Blogger. Through SRP, inventors will be able to create and foster social communities that will fuel additional word-of-mouth awareness of their products.
For more information regarding the Inventors Corner or the Best Housewares Invention competition, please visit www.housewares.org. For more information on the Impressor, please visit www.butcherskitchen.com. For information on Livemercial products, including the Sell It Yourself package or Social Response Pack, please go to blog.livemercial.com.
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About Livemercial
Founded in 2002, Livemercial pioneered and is the largest provider of “instant on†streaming video for email, pop-ups, banners and direct response websites. The company leads the direct response industry in single product sales, utilizing cutting-edge technologies, social media and e-commerce solutions to design, deploy and manage strategic online marketing campaigns including email procurement, banner and pop-up placement, search engine optimization and contextual marketing.
PLATETOPPER NAMED BEST HOUSEWARES INVENTION
CHICAGO, March 22, 2009 – Livemercial, the leading provider of online direct response marketing, presented to the “Best Housewares Invention†award to Michael Tseng for his PlateTopper. The PlateTopper was judged by a panel Direct Response Marketing experts as the best new product at the Home + Housewares Show.
The PlateTopper was one of approximately 30 inventions showcased in the “Inventors Corner†of the Housewares Show. The PlateTopper is a food-storage container that features a clear cover and silicone ring that creates an airtight seal on any plate. It is dishwasher and microwave safe, stackable, and offers a affordable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
Michael Tseng, 25, created the concept as a Mechanical Engineering project at Princeton University in 2005.
“Michael’s PlateTopper is perfect for Direct Response Marketing,†says Patty Cox, Chief Marketing Officer for Livemercial. “It’s a brilliantly simple solution to an everyday problem. The minute you see it, you wonder why no one has thought of the PlateTopper before. The next questions is, ‘How soon can I buy one?’â€
Livemercial is offering Michael a $5,000 package of three online sales and marketing tools to help bring the PlateTopper to market: a Sell it Yourself online marketing platform, a Social Response Pack with branded social media channels, and placement on AsSeenonTVNetwork.com.
Livemercial’s new Sell it Yourself (SiY) service, to be launched this summer, is a launchpad for innovators looking to take their product directly to market. SiY will feature an online community and resource center, enabling inventors to connect with like-minded people for support and guidance through the product launch process. In addition, the service provides a turn key e-commerce solution for inventors, including:
- A storefront website template, featuring Livemercial instant-on video technology and transaction features
- Performance analytics and reporting featuresÂ
- Reciprocal placement with like products, facilitating cross shopping among products
- Social media tagging tools to facilitate viral word-of-mouth awareness
- Feedback mechanism to provide entrepreneurs real-time comments about their products
Livemercial’s Social Response Pack (SRP) is a new social media platform that provides custom-branded channels for products on YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and Blogger. Through SRP, inventors will be able to create and foster social communities that will fuel additional word-of-mouth awareness of their products.Â
For more information regarding the Inventors Corner or the Best Housewares Invention competition, please visit www.housewares.org. For more information on the PlateTopper, please visit www.PlateTopper.com. For information on Livemercial products, including the Sell It Yourself package or Social Response Pack, please go to blog.livemercial.com.
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About Livemercial
Founded in 2002, Livemercial pioneered and is the largest provider of “instant on†streaming video for email, pop-ups, banners and direct response websites. The company leads the direct response industry in single product sales, utilizing cutting-edge technologies, social media and e-commerce solutions to design, deploy and manage strategic online marketing campaigns including email procurement, banner and pop-up placement, search engine optimization and contextual marketing.
The Art of the Two Minute Pitch
Wendi Cooper, from C Spot Run Productions, delivered the first seminar of the Home + Housewares Show Inventors Corner.
As an inventor herself, Wendi has a passion for supporting others looking to bring their product to market. During Wendi’s presentation, she outlined how important it is for inventors to deliver a compelling, passionate pitch that instantly demonstrates the product benefits. This pitch is critical when talking about your product, whether the inventor is pitching a buyer one-on-one on the trade-show floor, or pitching millions of people live on a home-shopping broadcast.
Wendi outlined some of the common traits of the best Two Minute Direct Response Pitches:
- Focus on how your product solves an everyday problem everyone relates to
- Demonstrate your product in action, allowing the audience to understand how your product will change their lives
- Provide an affordable product for the customer, and provide a low cost to goods.
Wendi closed by said the most important aspect is providing a “Wow Factor.†The best products and pitches instantly inspire people to want to ask “How soon can I get it?†as they reach for the phone!
