All activities that make it possible to offer goods or services or to transmit other messages to a segment of the population by post, telephone, email or other direct means.

Direct marketing is defined by its lack of arbitrary, commercial communication media. This type of marketing is also closely hinged on traceable, determinable, positive responses from purchasers – this is known as Response in marketing.

See also:
Direct Mail
Media planning
Respondent
Direct response advertising (DRA)