If you have not listed your phone number with the do not call registry, I can almost guarantee that you get at least one call per week, usually during the dinner hour, telling you about some once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you simply cannot afford to miss. There will probably be a recorded message asking you to press one on your telephone keypad to speak to a sales associate and arrange shipment of some new product or service. It will normally end with the leading direct response advertising tag line, “Don’t miss this opportunity!”
This is direct response advertising at its best. There are many more ways to advertise for direct response including mailing back a post card or calling a toll free number or even clicking on an Internet link or image to place your order.
By definition, direct response advertising refers to a method of advertising or promoting a product or service in which you, the targeted customer, are asked to respond directly to the marketer. The best explanation is probably an example.
Because you are a member of several handyman and home improvement clubs, you frequently receive information about new products, books, etc. You receive a brochure promoting a big annual sale on a specific brand of power tools. The brochure encourages you to visit your local home improvement or hardware store to take advantage of the sale. This is not direct response advertising.
Later the same day, you log on to your e-mail account and find an email from the manufacturer of the power tools. The same sale is announced in stores nationwide. But you are given the opportunity to click on a link or call a toll free number and learn about a special offer only available to premier customers. This is direct response advertising.
The second example includes all four of the basic elements of direct response advertising:
1. There is an offer (advance copy of the film).
2. Sufficient product and sale information to allow you to make a decision about responding.
3. You are asked to do something specific to take advantage of the offer.
4. Multiple ways to take the requested action.
Direct response advertising is popular with sales and marketing people because it has a built in measurement mechanism. The number of responses and purchases tell the marketer how effective the advertising campaign was.
If you own a small business or professional and want more information about lead generation, view the short video, “How Article Promotion Can Drive 25,000 – 50,000 New Prospects to Your Web Site Each Month – For Free.”


