More than one inventor has created a better mousetrap, only to have his product languish in the warehouse or on the store shelf for lack of reaching the right niche of buyers. But for those who have discovered the infomercial, selling just one product can quickly transform them into a multi-millionaire selling.

Infomercials are a form of direct response advertising in which a television commercial is produced to air on one or more television stations at a specific time of day or night. Infomercials are considered paid programming or teleshopping and are usually listed as such in the television viewing guide. Most infomercials run 30 minutes in length, which is just about the right amount of time for the informercial to do its job of not only informing the audience about the specific product being pitched, but also convincing the television viewing audience that their quality of life would definitely be better if they just dialed the toll free number listed on the bottom of their viewing screen or logged onto the informercial’s website and placed their order for the product.

Although the first version of infomercials, television advertisements masquerading as informative programming, first appeared around 1950, it wasn’t until marketer Frank Cannella convinced a Chicago television station in 1982 to sell him 30 minutes worth of programming time to sell a client’s hair growth product, that the sophisticated, modern infomercial was born. Today, Cannella is recognized as the father of the informercial, an advertising vehicle that floods the airwaves of both cable and network broadcast stations at every hour of the day or night.

Informercials really took off during the mid 1990s when many entrepreneurs developed programs in the motivational and self-help category which were sold using the infomercial format. A congenial host would introduce the creator or inventor of the program to lose weight, sell real estate or get rich quick. They would banter back and forth, explaining in an entertaining fashion just how easy it was to use the program to achieve the desired results. Throughout the show, a toll free order number or website would occasionally be shown to the audience. As an added incentive to get audience members to purchase the product or program featured on the infomercial, special features such as buy one-get one free, money-back guarantees and limited time pricing offers were included in the pitch.

Even though a more savvy consumer may be less quick to believe everything that they are told on informercials today, the infomercial continues to be a remarkable sales generator, not only for the broadcast station who can make money selling advertising time rather than purchase syndicated programming, but also for the product inventor who can reach more potential customers in the short span of 30 minutes than they could by any other form of advertising or marketing. The infomercial has perfected the art of pitching a specific product to an audience in such an entertaining way that it quickly lowers sales resistance and encourages immediate sales. It allows the buyer to get to know the product inventor and get questions answered regarding the product’s benefits and features all without leaving the comfort of his or her home. It’s a small wonder that in the U.S. alone, more than $150 billion in sales have been realized using the infomercial format.

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Falling asleep should be as easy as falling off a log. However, many people have difficulty getting a good night’s rest. Their minds are too busy, there is stress in their lives, or they have been moving fast forward all day long and have a hard time shutting down at the end of the day. While there are drugs available over the counter and stronger prescriptions available to induce sleep, there are many natural remedies that are better for the body and mind that can help as well. Human beings should get seven to nine hours of sleep every night, yet many do not achieve that goal. Having some helpful and easy remedies could make all of the difference, creating a better mental state and promoting better health.

One place to start is with vitamin supplements. Studies have shown that magnesium and calcium combined are helpful in achieving a restful state. The suggested amount is 200 milligrams of magnesium and 600 milligrams of calcium before bed. Those bones will stay healthy too! Wild lettuce can be taken as a supplement before bed as well, or it can be eaten for several servings throughout the day. It has been found to have a calming effect and is soothing for aches and pains as an added benefit. Hops are also beneficial in having a calming effect and can be taken like a sedative or a person could indulge in a light beer later in the evening to achieve a mellow state of mind. L-theanine is present in green tea and is an amino acid that also has a calming effect at night. When taken as a supplement, you can avoid the issue of having to go to the bathroom in the night from drinking tea. It’s all about unraveling the knots that tie up your body and your mind and finding a way to relax.

Aromatherapy is another popular approach for inducing sleep. Lavendar has been found to be most effective. Spray the pillow, have a lavendar air freshener in the bedroom, or consider wearing a lavendar body spray at bedtime. People tend to slip off to pleasant dreams with an equally pleasant fragrance as an aid. Yoga and meditation have been used through the ages as effective methods to help achieve rest. Different techniques can be used in bed such as gentle stretches or focusing on each muscle area in the body, beginning at the shoulders and working one’s way down to the feet, tightening and relaxing each area. Concentrating on breathing in and out with no other distractions can also ease your  mind and invite sleep. Other natural methods include playing soft music or running a fan on low to provide low background noise as well as a refreshing breeze that is relaxing. Keeping the room dark and cool is always helpful in creating the best environment for sleep. Some people also fall asleep when the television is left on.

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You’re lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, because your mind is racing at a hundred miles a second. The big presentation is just around the corner, and your eyes are wide open like the lids have been glued to your forehead. Sleep is out of your reach. and you’re afraid that you’ll crash as soon as the sun comes up. What do you do?

1. Read a book. When you are wide awake, take advantage of your alertness and find something to do. Many people find reading to be helpful when they can’t sleep. Reading can increase sleepiness, since it is an activity that requires constant attention and concentration. When you are focusing hard on the text, your mind is being put to work. Not only do you have to perform the act of reading, your brain is also performing many other functions to piece together the information so that everything makes sense to you. All of this mental strain, not to mention physical strain on the eyes, can knock you out in a matter of minutes. It really helps when the book is boring, too.
2. Listen to music. They say that music has great healing properties, so you should take that advice to heart. Listening to music can have a soothing effect on the mind and body. The lull of a melody relaxes the brain and puts it into a calm state. Depending on your musical choices, listening to music can really put you to sleep. Recommended styles include classical, slow jazz, and other melancholy instrumental types.
3. Meditate. Meditation can slow the heart rate and put you into a drowsy state. Find a quiet spot in the house, and sit there with your back straight up and your legs crossed. Then close your eyes, and free your mind of all your worries. Focus on your breathing. Continue to breathe slowly and steadily, in and out, and take long, deep breaths. When performed correctly, this technique will put your mind at ease.
4. Watch a movie. Watching a movie can have a very similar effect on the brain as reading a book. Pick one of your favorites, turn off the lights, and lay back on the coziest couch in the room.
5. End your day earlier. It can be hard to slip into unconsciousness when you feel that there is so much that needs to be done. A good tip to solve this problem is to end your day earlier. When you finish early, write in your schedule exactly what you wish to get done the next day, so you feel that you are still on top of things. Afterwards, spend about an hour relaxing before bed.
6. Don’t work out before bed. Exercising before bed will keep you up all night, because your metabolism has sped up. You will feel energized and ready to tackle some problem at hand instead of wanting to lay back and knock out.
7. Have a midnight snack. It is very hard to sleep on an empty stomach. Filling up the empty tank will cause blood to rush out of your head and to your stomach for digestion. This is what induces the “food coma” and causes sleepiness.
8. Count sheep. A traditional sleeping aid is the counting of sheep. Actually, it doesn’t matter what you count. Just keep at it until you realize that you can’t count anymore, because you’re sleeping.
9. Wear sleep aids. Sport an eye covering and ear plugs to block out the distractions. Sleep will soon follow.
10. Take sleeping pills. When all else fails, try sleep medications. These drugs have varying effects on different people, so your results may not match those of the next person. For more powerful sleeping pills, see your doctor for a prescription.

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