Direct-Response Digital

Every now and then, we hear at the Hand-Raiser Marketing offices get our dander up about something. Right now, I’m feeling like direct response has gotten a bad rap online. I’m going on a mission to either dispel or prove the theory that brand building isn’t the only type of advertising that is accepted in digital – by the average consumer. I believe this is a bunch of hippie crap but I will dive deep into the archives to see if my postulation is truth or misguided marketry.

Why do we think mobile has taken off so much? Well, because there have been spikes in purchases when direct-response ads are sent to mobile phones. When the proper display ad pops up on the webpage of the browser, clicks, learning and purchases magically appear like marketing rainbows of moments after the storm goodness. Yes, in my humble opinion, direct-response works. I’m not willing to see it mischaracterized by marketing miscreants looking to further the cause of their fluffy rhetoric or offline dinosaur-ness.

Furthermore, I have a beef with the fact that rarely do we (myself included) give the growth of digital (period) to the success of direct-response. Direct-response finds its ultimate mate in digital. The interactivity and engagement that can be coupled with a call to action can be wildly beneficial for brands. In fact, even Media Post released a blog touting that direct-response moves the needle for brands. And in a world where we’re searching for the next innovation to help digital make the huge ad spend leap that should have already happened, why wouldn’t we look to the one thing that businesses love to see…sales increases. Direct-response offers this and in a measurable way in the digital space.

Before I go to do some research, I must mention that the whole point of permission marketing is to get call to action and immediate purchase driving messages to the people that have indicated a willingness to hear that from you. Sure, building communities is great and necessary for long-term value but short term relevancy is derived from the idea that effects are to causes what “oh no she didn’t” statements are to unflattering clothing.

I like to cause things to happen. I’m like a toddler in that way – hit the pot and hear a sound. That is all. I shall return. In the meantime, if you have any research on the subject at hand, feel free to turn it over to the Hand-Raiser team for analysis.