Direct Marketing Companies - The 2009 List

Economic hardships have changed the direct marketing industry. Many companies who used to thrive in this sector simply could not survive the economic downturn, being forced to shut down instead. So we thought it was about time to make an updated list of direct marketing companies in the U.S. that are still open for business.

The following list includes companies that provide general direct marketing services. The actual services offered will vary from one company to another. We have provided website addresses for each company so you can do your own research. We've also included a short summary of the primary services they offer. This list is presented in alphabetical order. We are not endorsing any of the direct marketing companies on this list, but are merely presenting them for your consideration.

Alan Rosenpan
Mr. Rosenspan specializes in the writing and strategy side of direct marketing. His company offers consulting services as well as creative work. He has a pretty impressive client list that you can view on his website.
www.alanrosenspan.com

Harte-Hanks
This company has been around since 1923, and they provide a wide range of direct marketing services. Basically, if you're looking for a way to reach your target audience, these folks can find a way to help you. Among other things, they are the creators of the Penny Saver mailers you're probably familiar with. Visit the website below to learn more about this direct marketing company and what they offer.
www.harte-hanks.com

Johnson Direct
This company labels itself as a multi-channel marketing firm. They offer a full range of direct mail services, from copywriting to printing and mailing. They have a pretty extensive portfolio available on their website, so you can see the kind of work they've done for past clients. They are located in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
www.johnsondirect.com

Red Clay Media
This company seems to specialize in the direct mail side of things, with a variety of services to support it (creative, mailings lists, etc.). They are located in Bayonne, New Jersey. Their website is very informative and easy to navigate, so if you want to learn more about this direct marketing company you should visit the address below.
www.redclaymedia.com

Vertis Communications
These folks offer a wide variety of direct mail marketing and printing services. They can also assist you with your print advertising needs. Their website is a bit jargon-heavy, but it offers a basic overview of the services they provide. They are based in Baltimore, MD.
www.vertisinc.com

Help us expand this list...

This list is a work in progress. We plan to add new direct marketing companies to it over time. If you would like to add your company to this list (and you provide a variety of direct marketing services), feel free to send us an email.

Direct Marketing Techniques Explained

An explanation of the two most common direct marketing techniques being used today (and how you might use them to further your own marketing objectives):

Technique #1 - Direct Response Email

This marketing technique is exactly what it sounds like. Here, the marketer sends an email (or series of emails) to a targeted list of prospects, with the hope of generating a direct response from some of the recipients. In most cases, the desired response is for the recipient to purchase something, or to contact the sender regarding some product or services.

Technique #2 - Direct Mail Postcards & Letters

Direct marketing gurus have been using letters and postcards to get their message across for several decades now -- practically as long as the Postal Service has been around. The goals here are similar to the goals of direct response emails, mentioned above. But the medium is obviously different. Direct mail is a proven marketing technique and has been for a long time.

What All Direct Marketing Techniques Have in Common

Regardless of the medium being used -- mail, email, Internet, etc. -- all direct marketing techniques have certain things in common.

For one thing, these techniques focus on a specific audience or niche. In direct marketing lingo, this is often referred to as the target audience or key prospects. These are the people the marketer wants to reach, based on a set of demographic criteria. Maybe the audience is made up of past customers, or people over 55 years old, or homeowners in a certain neighborhood. This target audience should be well defined, because you cannot speak to them effectively until you know a lot about them. This knowledge will help you improve response rates, no matter which direct marketing technique you choose.

The desired response is another key component that all direct marketing techniques have in common. For best results, you must identify a certain action that you want people to take -- a phone call, an information request, a direct purchase, etc. The entire direct marketing campaign will then be designed to encourage people to take this desired action.

A third component of any direct marketing techniques is the offer or incentive. This is what you offer your recipients as an incentive. The goal here is to motivate them to take the action you want them to take (the desired response), so you must offer something to make it worth their while to take that action. You see this all the time in direct marketing materials, as well as direct-response TV commercials ... "Act now and you will also get this free [whatever]" ... that sort of thing. The value of the offer to the target audience will directly influence the number of people who respond. This is why you must know your intended audience, and what things are most important to them.

Regardless of the direct marketing technique you choose to employ, you need to (A) identify your audience and know what will motivate them, (B) identify the action or desired response you want them to take, and (C) provide a strong enough offer to motivate them toward taking that action.

Good luck and good marketing!

-Brandon