Data & Marketing Association US

Founded in 1917, the Data & Marketing Association (DMA) is the community that champions deeper consumer engagement and business value through the innovative and responsible use of data-driven marketing. DMA's membership is made up of today's leading tech and data innovators, brand marketers, agencies, service providers and media companies. By representing the entire marketing ecosystem – from demand side to supply side – DMA is uniquely positioned to bring win/win solutions to the market and ensure that innovative and disruptive marketing technology and techniques can be quickly applied for ROI.

DMA advances the data-driven marketing industry and serves its members through four principal pillars of leadership: advocating for marketers' ability to responsibly gather and refine detailed data to identify and fulfil customer needs and interests; innovating to bring solutions forward to the data & marketing ecosystem's most vexing challenges; educating today's members of the data & marketing ecosystem to grow and lead marketing organizations in the ever-increasing omnichannel world; and connecting industry participants to stay current, learn best practices and gain access to emerging solutions through &THEN – the largest global event for data-driven marketing – and DMA's portfolio of other live events.

The DMA International ECHO® Awards 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. Now, the DMA International ECHO® Awards competition is the only award that honors the world's best response marketing campaigns – campaigns that have raised the bar in terms of data-driven strategy, creativity and results. No other awards competition looks at the direct response marketing discipline in such totality. The ECHOs demonstrate how data-driven marketing is serving brands, large and small, and changing strategies on customer acquisition and engagement everywhere. Which is why no other awards competition is so important.

Entries are categorized into 31 business and consumer categories – including new categories in AI, VR, and Diversity – as well as automotive; business and consumer services; communications and utilities; financial products and services; information technologies; insurance; nonprofit; pharmaceutical and healthcare; product manufacturing and distribution; publishing and entertainment; retail and direct sales; and travel and hospitality/transportation.

The ECHO is the only international award where judges rigorously assess entries based on strategy, creative execution and results – recognizing the whole picture of a campaign's success. The formula is simple, 30% strategy, 30% creative, 30% results + 10% Mojo – that extra something that takes a campaign from competent to special. Judging for the awards happens in two rounds, involving senior-level practitioners from both agencies and client-side marketers as well as the ECHO Board of Governors.

Winners in the various segments receive a Gold, Silver, or Bronze ECHO award. In addition, several special awards will also be presented – the Diamond ECHO and the US Postal Service Gold Mailbox Award.

The ECHO Awards Ceremony & Gala will be held this year at &THEN, The DMA Annual Event.

Browse the latest DMA International ECHO Awards on WARC