DMA's 2007 International ECHO Awards Sets All-Time High for Entries, Final Round of Judging This Week in NYC

July 23, 2007 — The Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) International ECHO Awards competition has long been committed to challenging the status quo. So it’s no surprise that the 1,124 campaign entries submitted for the 2007 ECHOs have shattered all previous records, and more than half of the entries were submitted in new media categories.

This week’s third and final round of judging at DMA’s New York City headquarters will culminate at the 2007 International ECHO Awards Gala, which will be held at Chicago’s historic Union Station on Tuesday evening, October 16. Howie Mandel, the “Deal or No Deal” emcee and comedian, will serve as master of ceremonies.

According to Barbara Parker, DMA’s senior manager for awards, the largest number of ECHO entries – until this year – was 1,122 submitted campaigns in 2001.

“This year’s record-breaking total of entries reflects the heightened prominence of data-driven marketing in the overall marketing environment, as well as the rapid escalation of multichannel marketing campaigns,” Parker said. “Not only have we had more entries submitted this year than ever before, but they represent some of the most innovative, creative, and technologically sophisticated campaigns that we’ve ever seen.”

“Certainly, our ECHO Award judges, who gather tomorrow through Thursday, will have their work cut out for them in this third and final round of judging in New York,” Parker continued. “They’re picking from the best of the best in all direct marketing channels, including this year’s new categories for email and instant messaging, mobile, search engine marketing, Web advertising, and Web development.”

Parker further pointed out that “new” advertising media fills more than half of the judges’ inboxes, with 650 entries broken down into the following categories:

· Web Development: 225 entries

· Web Advertising: 198 entries

· Email and Instant Messaging: 197 entries

· Mobile: 17 entries

· Search: 13 entries

About the 2007 International ECHO Awards

The 2007 International ECHO Awards will be presented on Tuesday, October 16, during the DMA07 Conference & Exhibition at Chicago’s McCormick Place West (October 13-18). The ECHOs honor talented marketers from around the globe whose stellar campaigns incorporate outstanding and innovative strategy, creative, database technique, and astounding results. To learn more about the awards, please visit www.dma-echo.org.

About DMA07 Conference & Exhibition

DMA07, the largest gathering of direct marketing professionals, is DMA’s annual conference and exhibition. DMA07 will feature more than 150 educational sessions, plus roundtables, case studies, white papers and research reports. DMA07’s exhibit hall will feature more than 500 exhibiting companies. For more information, or to register for the six-day multichannel marketing event of the year, please visit www.dma07.org or call 1.800.293.7279 or 330.425.9330.

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