Questions and Answers - FAQ

What exactly are "Cheap TV Spots®?"

A refreshingly simple way to produce an exciting TV commercial without the hassles and expense. Although our commercials are cheap, they definitely don't look cheap. We offer our great-looking, national quality television commercials at a fantastically low rate, and we can arrange for your air time buy. "Cheap TV Spots®" is a service of Academy Leader, Inc. a multifaceted media company. Read all About Us.

How can these ads be produced so inexpensively?

That's our trade secret!  It's our Super-Secret, Streamlined System™. The main ingredient in Cheap TV Spots® is IMAGINATION!   We started with a price most small businesses can easily afford -- and we took on the challenge of coming up with production methods that let us deliver the best spot for the buck.  It's not magic -- it's just how we work.

How is my commercial going to look?

Like it costs lots more!  Armed with nothing more than our trade secret methods for boosting production quality learned from many years in film and TV, plus the latest technologies in video and audio production, we can put together award-winning TV spots that not only look great, but are, by design, more effective than ads costing many times more.

Are there additional charges for things like voiceover or special effects?

Voiceover and visual effects are included!  Our price for our popular Rapid Ad™ TV spot includes: writing, directing, filming, editing, special effects, music, and voiceover narration.  We even throw in a free round of changes, if we've made a mistake in your spot. (Some limitations apply.) Typically, the only additional cost is for air time, and we’ll help you by developing an air time plan to fit your budget. If you're booking your own air time, we offer inexpensive licensing options.

I found a production service that charges even less than Cheap TV Spots®. Why not go with those guys?

Experience, originality, and VALUE.

Sounds crazy, but many sellers of extremely low cost TV advertising services are not experienced in TV. Some merely offer TV as an add-on to their internet ads or other business. Others are small-event videographers looking to pad their bottom line with something, anything, they can do with their existing equipment.  These companies lack real television or film production experience from any market, much less from Hollywood where competition is at its greatest.

Besides, the low price offered by these companies may not cover everything. It can really add up. They start you off low, then by the time the ad is done, your price may have doubled, even tripled. Our all-inclusive low, flat rate for production ensures that you get a complete, high-quality TV spot -- no extra fees, and no surprises.

The cable TV companies and broadcast affiliates who offer a production "deal" send one of their junior producers to your door to do your commercial -- but it will look very LOCAL (and too often, you'll just look silly).  You pay for the low cost or "free" ad thourgh a premium, quietly tacked onto the cost of the air time you buy from them.  The more complex your ad, the higher the cost.  On the other hand, some advertisers prefer this method, simply because they get the thrill of "directing" the commercial or appearing on camera.  If you want that sort of hands-on process, we suggest you contact your local cable company or local TV station.

I already do online ads, print ads, radio ads, billboards, etc. Should I give them up?

Of course not!  One medium complements the others and helps increase awareness of your brand in the customer’s mind. Adding TV to your advertising mix will help your company stand out from your competitors.  You can even get a web-ready video version of the ad we make for you, to use on your website, on YouTube, or in a video-based email campaign. PLUS:  We're now offering Radio air time, and Outdoor Advertising -- everything from billboards to transit bus ads, so we can boost the effectiveness of your TV campaign!

My store (my strip mall, my shop) isn't "photogenic." (Or: I'm having a bad hair day and I don't want to get in front of a camera!)  Is TV advertising right for me?

Stick with radio.  (We're kidding.)  Some advertisers have facilities that naturally lend themselves to being filmed, such as tourist attractions, real estate, or special events. A few business owners make excellent spokespersons -- take for example the president of the "hair place for men" who's also a proud client.  In truth, most local businesses are run by real people in strip malls, store fronts, and buildings that look alike... and many small businesses are run right out of the owner's den, garage, or kitchen table.

Your customers care more about your high quality, selection, price, service, and reputation than mere cosmetics. We do our cinematic best to focus on what's unique about your business, and we'll only use images that put you ahead of the pack. 

How can I see my ad before it goes on the air?

When your ad is ready, we send you the VIDEO PROOF -- a Windows-friendly Quicktime video clip preview of the completed TV commercial, which is playable on pretty much any computer. This is a small size file of the ad, with a watermark to indicate that this is your preview. This is your opportunity to let us know about any bloopers or typos, such as an incorrect phone number, URL, or other issue.  We make corrections (see How We Work for a description of the extent of changes), make the Broadcast master for cable TV and broadcast use, and then we get your TV spot on the air with a targeted plan that fits your budget.

How do we get started?

Just talk with us, purchase one of our Production Options, send us whatever you have that you'd like us to work with - your product photos, sales brochures, samples, logo, etc. - and we’re on our way. We can begin the same day we receive your materials & payment.

Can I pay half now and half later?

How about paying half now and NONE later?!

We also save you money by taking control of the creative process. We confer with you prior to starting production, so that we know your advertising goals and special requirements.  We don't just keep trying stuff and racking up an hourly rate. You get to see the finished ad in your Video Proof, and we'll make corrections if needed. Please see "How We Work" for details. We call our simplified billing method "Gumball Billing." Simpler billing means lower overhead, and a better deal for you.

We don't pad the production bill, and we put every dollar into real, visible results. As we say in Hollywood, THE MONEY IS ON THE SCREEN!

Yes, we're DIFFERENT -- that is exactly how we give you such a great value.

My big sale lasts only one weekend.   Can I advertise a special event?

Absolutely!  Cheap TV Spots are perfect for special events. Our ads can be produced quickly, so creating an ad specifically for an upcoming event is easy. Suggestions: weekend sales, holiday promotions, community events sponsored by your company, or political and community announcements.

I paid for my ad, so that means I "own" it?

Just like a Lexus, it's CHEAPER NOT TO!  Heck, you don't have to "own" it to have our permission to use it. The commercial, as a unique work, is copyrighted to Academy Leader, Inc. Technically speaking, you are licensing the commercial from us, and we provide an ample and generous license agreement. The spot becomes yours to use, within the generous guidelines of the license. This system is one of the ways we keep things simple -- and CHEAP. We are happy to create additional Broadcast Tapes and send them to any networks or systems where you ask us to book your air time.  Not booking air time through us?  You can obtain permission to use the commercial when you pay our modest DIY Air Time license fee.

OK, we have our TV ad -- how do we get it on TV? (Isn’t air time expensive?)

These days, even companies with the tightest budgets can afford to be on TV. We make it simple. While many agencies won't return your call unless you have at least a $60,000 monthly air time budget, we will put you on the air nationwide for as little as $10,000/month (or $1,500/month locally). We can create a custom package of air dates to run your TV commercial on the broadcast, cable, or satellite channels best suited to your target customer and budget.

Already got a commercial you want to run?  We can even place your existing TV commercial on the air "as-is" or with minor modifications. We also offer special services for FRANCHISORS, FRANCHISEES, and large clients looking to buy nationwide air time. See our Production Options for details.

We tap into our relationships and good reputation at broadcast, cable and satellite systems, to help you get the best exposure for the money. For example, an ad can run locally during CNN Headline News for as little as $7 per airing! An effective package of local air times can be purchased in some regions for as little as $500-1000 per month to start. This is especially true in small communities or neighborhoods. As your business grows, you can step up to a more intensive TV campaign or broaden your reach.

We welcome your questions and suggestions!