Direct Marketing is a form of advertising[1] strategy where businesses communicate directly with consumers to sell products or services. It’s characterized by its targeted approach, prioritizing consumers who meet specific vendor-defined criteria. This advertising method involves direct communication channels like direct mail, telephone, correio eletrónico[5], and online tools, making it more focused compared to general marketing. It traces its roots back to the 15th-century Europe, with modern techniques pioneered by Josiah Wedgwood and further developed by the likes of Pryce Pryce-Jones and Aaron Montgomery Ward. Key objectives of direct marketing include selling products, generating leads, fostering customer[2] relationships, and enhancing customer loyalty[3]. Despite facing challenges such as spamming[4] and unwanted emails, solutions like opt-out lists, variable printing, and legislation like the CAN-SPAM Act have been employed to ensure its effectiveness.
Marketing direto is a form of communicating an offer, where organizations communicate directly to a pre-selected customer and supply a method for a direct response. Among practitioners, it is also known as direct response marketing. In contrast to direct marketing, advertising is more of a mass-message nature.
Response channels include toll-free telephone numbers, reply cards, reply forms to be sent in an envelope, websites and email addresses.
The prevalence of direct marketing and the unwelcome nature of some communications has led to regulations and laws such as the CAN-SPAM Act, requiring that consumers in the United States be allowed to opt-out.