Benefit #1 – Advocacy

DMA is the voice of the direct marketing community in the legislative and regulatory process.  On issues ranging from consumer protection to postal rates, the DMA and the local affiliates represent our members’ interests at the local, State and Federal levels.  As the business of direct marketing continues to become more and more complex, we ensure a continued direct marketing-friendly environment that is both safe for consumers and profitable for marketers.

• ADVOCACY EFFORTS – In Washington and across the country, there are policy makers considering issues that impact direct marketers.  We represent your interests so that your voice is not only heard but amplified by thousands of others, so that the concerns of marketers are always considered when policies are made.
• DMA’s ADVOCACY RESOURCE CENTER – DMA offers valuable information about issues relevant to direct marketers through the online resource center and on-call government affairs team.  Local affiliate members increase the power of the association by keeping local concerns in focus.  And the national team keeps local members updated about federal laws and regulations affecting local business.
• SELF-REGULATION – Through our requirement that local members maintain the Ethical Guidelines and Standards of Practice for our industry, we are a guiding force for responsible marketing.  Through the effective self-governance of our members and our industry, we avoid the need for over restrictive legislation.
• GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY – DMA provides the vehicle for members to communicate with other members.  This grassroots advocacy allows members to bring together the awareness of a few with the power of many.  Then the DMA effectively communicates that concern in one unified, coherent and powerful voice.

Benefit #2 — Brand Awareness

DMA is engaged in regular, intensive efforts to promote the benefits of direct marketing and encourage consumers to utilize direct marketing as a shopping medium. DMA's branding efforts work to instill consumer trust and confidence in the direct marketing process and more specifically DMA member providers. Member companies get the recognition that comes from displaying the DMA logo and the positive image that comes from affiliation with the DMA brand.

First, by establishing in the consumers minds that DMA members are ethical in the way they conduct business.

Second, by ensuring direct marketing customers are treated fairly and ethically by DMA members.

• DMA Member Logo – Use the appropriate DMA affiliate logo on your website and marketing materials to show the world that you are an affiliate member of direct marketing’s most influential trade association and that you adhere to their ethical business practices and guidelines.
• Ethical and Compliance Resources - Explore guidance materials on the proper use of direct marketing channels such as direct mail, e-mail, telemarketing, and faxing. The resource center contains a copy of the DMA’s Ethical Guidelines, explanations of federal laws and fact sheets.
• Business Tools – Take advantage of the many useful business tools such as the Resource Center, Library and the Job Bank to improve your marketing so you can be the best the industry has to offer.

Benefit #3 — Education

DMA is the number one source for professional marketing training designed to produce real-world results. The Association and its Affiliates deliver the ideas and insights members need to stay on top in these competitive times. The educational development of your staff will help your organization succeed and attract the best employees in direct marketing.

Get the best from the employees on your team by continuing your staff's educational and professional development. Make your company representative of the gold standard in direct marketing.

• Monthly Meetings – DMA Affiliates offer monthly meetings on topics ranging from basic methods to the most advanced new techniques.  Each is led by an expert practicing direct marketing in the business world.  Members of local Affiliates receive a discount on attendance for themselves and their guests.
• Virtual Seminars – DMA's virtual seminars present an opportunity to quickly learn important practices and techniques right at your computer.  DMA Affiliate members receive a discount when registering.
• Groups – Group membership provides members with access to information and best practices in a particular segment of the industry.  Membership in Special Interest Groups is FREE.  Join as many as you desire.
• Conferences – The DMA and its local Affiliates organize over 25 conferences a year, including the DMwest Expo.  Affiliate members receive a discount on attendance at local and national conferences.
• Schools – DMA continuously improves its widely recognized Direct Marketing School and has launched a new Internet Marketing Program designed to update and enhance your team's knowledge of online marketing.
• In-House Training – DMA tailors its programs to provide staff with training customized to the specific needs of your organization.  Please contact us about a customized program that fits your exact situation.

Benefit #4 — Networking

DMA works to bring you together with peers and suppliers from around the region to network, learn from each other, and forge business relations.  It is the largest trade association of direct marketers and it leads by example.

www.YourDMA.org connects you with a fast-growing group of direct marketers regionally, nationally, and globally. Share your experiences and successes through the new Online Community.  It offers unlimited virtual networking opportunities to connect you with other marketers that are also interested in growing their business. 

Share your knowledge and experience with others, while you gain valuable insight and meaningful information about the competitive marketplace.  Use the business relationships you build online to find new customers, recruit new employees and search for better suppliers.  Use the online community to promote your business and through the use of inbound links, improve the search rankings of your company’s primary website.

• Groups – Membership in Special Interest Groups is exclusive to DMA Affiliate members. These are communities of thought leaders, who share the same passions, visions, goals, and concerns relevant to your marketing segment or industry. Group members have access to other group members, can advertise on Group home pages, sponsor Group publications, and promote relationships at Group meetings and events.
• Member Directory – The DMA Member Directory allows members to search the membership database online for companies and individuals. 
• Resource Directory – The Online Resource directory is available to Affiliate members to promote their capabilities to the entire Online Community.  Both members and non-members can search the directory.
• Members-Only Workshops – DMA organizes members-only workshops at some DMA Affiliate Lunch meetings to let you meet the speaker in a more casual and intimate setting.  Colleagues from other organizations who also strive to make their marketing more effective can meet for more intimate discussions and one on one mentoring following the monthly meetings.  This exclusive members’ only benefit extends the value of monthly meetings and your affiliate membership.
• Speaking – The Association encourages its members to speak at DMA conferences and monthly meetings to develop their leadership and increased exposure to the direct marketing community.

Benefit #5 — Publications and Information

DMA Affiliate membership delivers access to information and knowledge to help you make better strategic marketing decisions. www.YourDMA.org conducts its own proprietary research, it has past issues of re:DIRECT, it posts member supplied White Papers, it is a repository for past speaker presentations and information from hundreds of outside sources.  Members have access to everything there is to know about direct marketing.  And members receive a discount on all online bookstore items and many items from the national DMA bookstore.

Become an expert in the aspects of direct marketing most relevant to you. Apply timely, reliable information from a wealth of resources only Your DMA Affiliate can deliver.

• Newsletter – Covering both regional and national news, YourDMA is the weekly e-newsletter detailing the headlines and their impact on the DM community.  It will also keep you informed of meetings in your area.
• Re:DIRECT – the bimonthly printed magazine of the DMA Affiliates’ is FREE to all members.  Mailed to your address of choice, it is the official publication of the DMA Affiliates in the western states.
• LOOKb4 – this online resource offers members the opportunity to search member supplied reviews and warnings about products, vendors, software and websites that allows you to LOOK before you use any DM resource.
• Online News – log-in daily to www.YourDMA.org to receive a scrolling list of current news that affects the DM Community.  By selecting stories of interest you can stay abreast of all the latest breaking news.
• Online Library – With an extensive collection of materials and online searchable information, the Online Library is packed with information and White Papers supplied by members of the Community.
• Ask Online – Exclusive to members, this online resource allows you to post questions for other members to help you get answers.  Fun and interesting, this service increases everyone’s expertise and connects you with experts of the industry that are willing to share their knowledge and years of experience.
• Research Reports – Best-in-class, national DMA research publications cover economic, segment, industry, and consumer market intelligence. Bestsellers include Statistical Fact Book, Response Rate Trends, The Power of Direct Marketing, Catalog/Multichannel Report, Actionable Insights to E-mail Marketing, Reaching the US Hispanic Market, and many more. You can purchase them for your team or give them as gifts to your clients.
• Bookstore – The bookstore is a collection of books and publications that can be ordered by members online.  If you have a publication you want to offer to members you can submit it for consideration for inclusion in the bookstore.  Online Bookstore items are always discounted to Affiliate members.
• Online Store – The online store has tickets for events and other products that might be of interest to members.  And as always, members will receive a discount on the lowest available price for every item.

Benefit #6 — Discounts

Affiliate members can join the national DMA and save 50% on their first year dues.

Take advantage of the deep discounts DMA Affiliates offers its members. Save on exhibit passes to bring more team members to conferences.  Save on monthly meetings.  Save on publications.  Save enough to pay your Affiliate dues.

• Monthly Meetings – Up to 30% off monthly luncheons and dinners
• Conferences – Up to 20% off conferences
• Job Bank – Up to 30% off job postings
• Bookstore – Up to 20% off bookstore purchases
• DM School – Up to 20% off school registrations
• Exhibit Space – Up to 10% off exhibit space at the DMwest Expo
• Sponsorships – Up to 20% off sponsorships
• Directory Space – Up to 20% off classified ads
• Advertising – Up to 20% off ads in re:DIRECT

Benefit #7 — Marketing Opportunities

Membership in a DMA Affiliate provides dozens of opportunities for B-to-B marketers to promote and market their products and services to the marketing community.  And if you are a provider of DM products and services membership is a must.

Target your audience through unparalleled market availability. Increase your brand awareness through exposure to hundreds of DMA member companies and thousands of DM community members.

• Print Advertising – Target top industry decision-makers through regular advertising campaigns in the DMA sponsored publication re:DIRECT and the Resource Directory.
• Event Sponsorship – Take advantage of opportunities to promote your organization by sponsoring conferences directly related to your business and monthly meetings on topics that bring out your potential clients.
• DMwest Expo- Take a booth in the Exhibit hall of the largest DMA Affiliate sponsored DM conference in the west and promote your services to thousands of direct marketers.
• Banner Advertising – Employ banner advertising on the www.yourdma.org website and conference web pages to reach key decision-makers in the direct marketing community.
• Resource Directory – List your company's services for FREE in the online Resource Directory. 
• Search Optimization – Include inbound and outbound links from the www.yourdma.org website to increase your websites organic search ranking.
• E-Newsletter – Sponsor one of DMA's biweekly e-newsletters.
• Research Sponsorship – Sponsor one of DMA's research surveys or opinion polls.
• Email – Send in-system emails to a veritable who's who of the community for your next direct marketing campaign available only to DMA Affiliate members.