Welcome/About

Premier Direct/Interactive Marketing Award Competition
Heritage and History
Global Reach

Premier Direct/Interactive Marketing Award Competition
The DMA International ECHO Awards Competition honors the world's best direct marketing campaigns — campaigns that have raised the bar in terms of strategy, creativity and results. No other awards competition looks at the direct marketing discipline in such totality. Which is why no other awards competition is so important. 

ECHO winning campaigns have the power to change a business.

ECHO stands for great work that worked great. Campaigns recognized by ECHO not only do everything right in terms of marketing and creative execution, they demonstrate insight into audience behavior and earn the involvement of their target markets.

As the world of marketing evolves, so does ECHO.

Clients today demand measurable results. To meet these high standards, agencies provide strategy and services in traditional and emerging areas such as mobile, Web and Email.  Search marketing is now a cornerstone of direct advertising, and in 2007 ECHO established a new, special Search Marketing Award to honor the most innovative campaign employing online search strategies and techniques.

What Makes ECHO Unique?

Criteria
Outstanding creative is necessary to win a coveted ECHO and is one of three required qualities. But it's just one requirement. Award recipients must also have superb marketing strategy and excellent results.  ECHO is unique among international competitions because no other awards competition looks at the direct marketing discipline in such totality.

Categories
There are 12 separate categories representing business segments. Unlike other awards, which are judged by media category, the ECHOs are judged by business category.

Judging
ECHOs are judged by client-side marketers, agency account directors, and senior creatives. ECHO judges select the biggest and best ideas, the most creative use of media and channels, and the finest executions — in short, the very best work of the world's very best direct marketing professionals. Judges rigorously assess campaigns based on strategy, creativity, and results. This focus on balanced judging assessment — combined with top-notch judges and outstanding entries year in and out — has made ECHO one of the most coveted awards for both agencies and clients.

ECHO's heritage and history

The competition began in 1929 as the "Best in Direct Mail" contest.  As interest grew, and business expanded,
it was changed in 1979 to encompass all types of media in the entire direct marketing spectrum.  Today, ECHO
is the longest established international award that honors excellence in direct marketing. Entries are evaluated on creativity, marketing strategy, and response results.  Each year, over 1,000 marketers and agencies enter
the competition.

• In the past few years, judging flash orientation and instructions were created to solidify consistency of evaluations and continued assurance that only the most deserving campaign entries advance.
• An International Ambassadors program which draws on direct marketing talent from around the world was launched to promote interest and participation in the awards program.
• A new special award — Search Marketing — was introduced to recognize the most creative and strategic use of Internet search technology to achieve a direct marketing objective. 
• An online entry system was developed — offering ease to entrants.

ECHO winning campaigns stands as models for what direct marketers will strive for in the years ahead — responsive to clients, engaged with customers, focused and accountable for measurable, meaningful outcomes that delight and exceed expectations.

Global Reach

Every year, over 1,000 entries are submitted for the International ECHO Awards from all over the world.  Participating judges came from cities across the United States, as well as from UK, Brazil, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Scotland, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia. 

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