hawthorne direct announces Tim Hawthorne as Key Contributor to The Internet Infomercial Toolkit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

hawthorne direct announces Tim Hawthorne as Key Contributor to The Internet Infomercial Toolkit.

Fairfield, Iowa hawthorne direct proudly announces Tim Hawthorne, chairman and executive creative director for hawthorne direct, as a key contributor to the new and revolutionary Internet Infomercial Toolkit, produced by Kazzoe, LLC and KickStartMedia.com.

This toolkit, focused on creating innovative online video infomercials, was designed to aid business owners in optimizing online sales and inspire entrepreneurs interested in building a Web-based business by learning directly from infomercial masterminds and legendary producers.

Mak Koenigs and Rocket Helstrom, authors of the Internet Infomercial Toolkit, say, “Our guide is award-winning TV infomercial producer, writer and creative director, Tim Hawthorne. He runs one of the top direct response TV agencies in the industry and he’s called ‘the king of the TV infomercial’ by Business 2.0 magazine.”

The toolkit includes an exclusive interview with Hawthorne and his “21 Most Critical Elements of $$ Million-Selling Infomercials,” which according to Koenigs and Helstom, “deconstructs an actual infomercial, tearing it down to the nuts and bolts so you can see how each part fits with the others to create the optimal selling machine.” The Internet Infomercial Toolkit provides a detailed overview offering the crucial infomercial formulas and step-by-step instructions on how to compose an infomercial in an era of emerging technologies. Via interviews, top experts in the industry address the revolution of the infomercial through the Internet, the psychology that drives a successful infomercial, tips to a great script, and advice on product and offer elements.

The toolkit provides infomercial instruction and insiders’ secrets on five DVDs including: “Everything You Should Know About Infomercials,” “How to Write Breakthrough Infomercials the Quick & Easy Way,” “The Two Must-Have Elements of Money-Making Internet Infomercials,” “How To Make Your Own Internet Infomercial In One Day For Less Than $600,” and “How To Make Your Own Internet Infomercial With Effects & Graphics For Less Than $1,000.”

Bonus items consist of volumes 6 through 13 on digital audio CDs and seven books written by key players in the infomercial business, including Tim Hawthorne. The kit also comes with unlimited DVD, audio CD, and online updates for six months. For more information visit www.InfomercialToolkit.com.

hawthorne direct is a full-service direct response advertising agency, specializing in creative and production, long and short form media buying, telemarketing/fulfillment management and integrated marketing.

For more information about hawthorne direct please see www.hawthornedirect.com.

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Internet Video News Digest v.2

Slivercasts, Online Auteurs

& Amazon Goes Hollywood

Here are three recent news articles about Internet video that might be of interest to you.
This time, all three stories come from the New York Times.

The New York Times may require you register for access to the full articles. It's free and in no way do we benefit from you signing up with them.

What's Narrower Than Narrowcasting?

The first one is entitled "As Internet TV Aims at Niche Audiences, the Slivercast Is Born," by Saul Hansell.

You can find the full article at http://www.infomercialtoolkit.com/slivercast.

discusses the two major trends in online video right now: Major media companies moving their programming online and a new phenomenon they call "slivercasting," where individuals and small businesses create video content for niche audiences.

As we've mentioned in several of our reports the increasing ease and affordability of digital video production and the ubiquity of broadband Internet connections are fueling this activity.

New Web specialty video "channels" are popping up focusing on "slivers" of interest--even narrower than the narrowcast channels cable TV delivered--stuff like sailing, vegetarian cooking, horror movies and fine wine.

These developments support our contention that you can produce Internet infomercials for for even small niche markets--something you could never do on broadcast or cable TV.

Film School for the Masses

Next is a story entitled "Online Auteurs Hardly Need to Be Famous," by Richard Siklos.

You can read the full article at http://www.infomercialtoolkit.com/famous.

This is about how user-created online videos and short films are becoming more widespread and consumable. Of course, the Web and media companies are adapting quickly to the trend and trying to figure out how to make money from it.

The story refers to iFilm's recent "Show Us Your Junk" contest and other contests sponsored by online video destinations such as YouTube.com, Metacafe and Al Gore's Current.

The story also references Yahoo's recent shift to user created video content (which we mentioned in our last Internet Video News Digest) and cites the same factors behind these developments as those that drove us to create the Internet Infomercial Toolkit, namely:

• The widespread adoption of high-speed connections and


• The proliferation of affordable and easy-to-use cameras and software

Another Web Giant Jumps In

Our final story from the New York Times is entitled "Amazon Considering Downloads."

You can find the full article at http://www.infomercialtoolkit.com/amazon.

It reports Amazon.com is in talks with three major Hollywood studios to start a movie and TV show downloading service.

Customers would be able to download feature films and TV shows and burn them to DVDs.

And so it seems another major Internet player has jumped into the Internet video game.

Not to be outdone, Apple also announced this week its first movie available for download through its iTunes service: the Disney Channel original film, "High School Musical," for $9.99.

While that might not be a high-impact title, it sends a signal to Hollywood that Apple already has a movie distribution system in place and is delivering the goods right now.

Until next time....

Do You Have a Question About Internet Video?

Or how about some thoughts on one of the articles in this news digest? Just submit it below and we'll answer it in our next FAQ or teleseminar. Thanks!  

Internet Video News Digest v.1

Click Play for the Video Digest

We've been seeing a lot of stories about online video recently. We collected and summarized three you might find interesting. If you haven't seen them already, you'll find out:

• How Internet videos got Andy Samberg his gig with Saturday Night Live


• Why Yahoo hit the pause button on development of two new Web TV shows


• What the wireless companies don't want you to know about people's appetites for watching TV on their cell phones

Who Owes His Job to Internet Videos?

The first one is from the most recent issue of Business 2.0 magazine, entitled "Now Serving: The Media Microchunk," by Erick Schonfeld.

You can find the full article at http://www.infomercialtoolkit.com/microchunk.

This article describes how Internet video is exploding and changing the way content is created and distributed online. It illustrates this trend with a story about Saturday Night Live's Andy Samberg who actually got hired because of short Internet videos he produced. Saturday Night Live's producers saw them online and recruited him for the show.

These short videos even have a name now -- they're called "microchunks."

And now big media content providers are starting to learn how to create them and make money from them: Comedy Central, MTV, all the major netowrks, AOL and Warner Bros.

Yahoo Rethinks Video Strategy

The second article appeared in a recent issue of the Los Angeles Times. It's called "Shows on Web Have Been More Miss Than Hit," by Chris Gaither.

You can read the full article at http://www.infomercialtoolkit.com/yahoo.

This article is about how Yahoo is rethinking the way it approaches Internet video.

Yahoo hired a TV executive in 2004 named Lloyd Braun from ABC to run its Media Group. Initially, Braun planned to create original video programming -- like TV shows -- for the Web which would be available only through Yahoo.

They actually had a couple new shows in development on which they've now hit the pause button. It seems they're rethinking their approach to Internet video and instead are going to rely on content created by Yahoo users as well as purchase content created by traditional video producers.

Do You Want to Watch TV on Your Cell Phone?

The third article appeared recently on cnet.com. It's called "Cingular Launches New Mobile TV Service," by Marguerite Reardon.

You can find the full article at http://www.infomercialtoolkit.com/cingular.

It's about Cingular's new on-demand mobile TV service called Cingular Video that runs over its new 3G wireless network.

Customers can watch short 3 to 5 minute videos on their cell phones from content providers like Cartoon Network, NBC and ESPN. Cingular has also done deals with HBO Fox News to start providing video clips.

It may be mainly for early adopters right now, though. The article cites a recent survey that says 75% of respondents didn't wish to watch TV over their phones.

But that could change with better content and newer phones so we'll keep an eye on these developments for you.

Until next time...