Glimpses at the Future of Direct Marketing

Never mind that these are challenging economic times or to put it more bluntly that the economy stinks right now. A new direct marketing is emerging, but the trouble is that no one can be sure what the future will hold in five or 10 years and beyond.

Commercial and nonprofit marketers spent roughly $177 billion on direct marketing in 2008, accounting for more than 52% of U.S. advertising expenditures, according to the Direct Marketing Association. Direct marketing employs about 1.6 million people.