Types of direct marketing
- Email marketing: newsletters and personal offers to subscribers.
- Direct mail: printed letters, catalogs and postcards sent by post. It stands out because people receive less physical mail today.
- SMS and messaging: short offers and reminders by text message.
- Telemarketing: sales calls to prospects or existing customers.
- Targeted digital ads: ads aimed at specific people, such as remarketing or uploaded customer lists.
Why businesses use it
- Messages can be personalized for each recipient.
- Results are easy to measure with codes, links and response rates.
- It works well for reaching existing customers and specific segments.
Rules
Direct marketing is regulated. In the EU, the GDPR and ePrivacy rules require consent for most marketing emails and texts, people can object to direct marketing at any time, and telemarketing is restricted in many countries. Keep records of consent, and honor opt-outs quickly.