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 response marketing campaigns — campaigns that have raised the bar in terms of strategy, creativity and results. No other awards competition looks at the direct response 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 digital media such as social, mobile, Web and Email.

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 response 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 response based DM strategies, and the finest executions — in short, the very best work of the world's very response 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 response marketing. Entries are evaluated on creativity, marketing strategy, and response results. Each year, over 1,000 marketers and agencies enter the competition.

• In 2011, ECHO changed the scoring system to give it more clarity.
• Developed an online judging database allowing judges to update their contact information.
• ECHO has new partners in the ECHO Alliance Program.
• In 2012, ECHO introduced a new award, “Agency for the Future,” which will be given annually to recognize the agency that demonstrates the most visionary use of new and traditional media to generate measureable results for clients.

ECHO winning campaigns stand as models for what response 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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