A competition created to give youngsters experience of the work which goes on in the direct marketing industry has received a record number of entries.

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) started the Young Direct Marketing Awards (YMDAs), which calls on pupils to create advertising material for one of three charities.

Marketers are finding social media is proving to be an important new route of communication in difficult economic times but also fear it’s “out of control.”

Social networks are becoming increasingly important for marketers as they’re now an important part of people’s lives.

A new study has highlighted the potential of targeting consumers through web-based direct marketing channels.

Figures from Microsoft have revealed that the internet is set to overtake traditional TV as the most consumed form of media by 2010 if current growth trends continue.

The Long Term Advertising Expenditure Forecast has highlighted how direct marketing and other advertising are set to grow in popularity over the next ten years.

The research, compiled by the World Advertising Research Centre for the Advertising Association, has forecasted that budgets will grow by up to 52 per cent by 2020.