"The combined effect of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with its focus on digitisation and the ongoing pandemic that prioritises remote working, is that many marketing professionals are increasingly working from home as sole proprietors and consultants," says David Dickens, CEO of DMASA.

According to the association, its new membership category perfectly caters for the new breed of marketing professionals. The cost of DMASA membership comes in at R1 178.00 (ex. VAT) for individual members.

DMASA highlights that direct marketers now have the opportunity to join a professional industry association in their individual capacities, while still enjoying the same benefits afforded to corporate, SME and non-profit members of Southern Africa's oldest and most-established direct and integrated marketing industry association.

Trusted non-profit industry associations like the DMASA, which have a long and storied history in the local business sector, can play a role in helping consumers feel secure, says the association. 

DMASA adds that it has spent over two decades pursuing a consumer protection mandate through such initiatives as the DMASA's Code of Principled Marketing and the National Opt Out Database.

Reasons for individual direct and integrated marketers to consider joining the country's most trusted industry grouping for the sector are as follows:

  • The association can help resolve consumer complaints effectively and efficiently, to the satisfaction of all parties. Its Complaints Service assists consumers who are aggrieved by communications they have received from DMASA members.
  • Its codes of ethics are benchmarked for best practice. The DMASA Codes of Ethics and Best Practice are fully compliant with all laws pertaining to the industry and its practitioners.
  • The DMASA has developed programmes that are designed to take individuals in the interactive and direct marketing industry on a lifelong learning and skills development career pathway.
  • The DMASA Assegai Awards recognise strategic excellence, return on investment and breakthrough creativity and are open to all members of the DMASA, and
  • Individual members receive free POPIA Online Training, access to POPIA legal documents generation and legal consultation services at reduced rates. Members also receive access to Data Protection Compliance Programme discounts and discounts to clean data and to use the Do Not Contact database.

The benefits are available for view here. 

For more information, visit www.dmasa.org. You can also follow the DMASA on Facebook or on Twitter.