Feature: DMA Digest: Proof positive

Mike Barnes, director of marketing and business development at the Direct Marketing Association, on what consumers think

Feature: Newspaper and magazine promotions: Publish and be damned

With complaints about promotions in newspapers and magazines on the rise, Mark Ludmon looks at the risk from not complying with the rules of the game

Feature: Partnership marketing: Marriages of convenience

Chris Reed, chief executive of Cocktail Marketing, explains why he thinks partnership marketing is becoming more prevalent and how it can help brands reach new, but relevant, audiences

Feature: Brand profile: Alizé comes of age

Promotional activity is set to bring J Wray & Nephew’s “cool” cognac-based brand, Alizé, to a broader audience

Feature: Motivation: netting rewards

Adam Maher, director of loyalty at online marketing company Maximiles UK, explains how motivation programmes can have an impact on staff retention and improve sales and productivity

Feature: Motivation: Loyal standard

If delivered well and as part of a broader motivation programme, long-service awards can boost staff retention, improve productivity and increase sales, reports Mark Ludmon

Feature: Direct marketing: The key to door to door

Chris Roxburgh, managing director of LinkDirect, looks at the prospects for door drop distribution in sales promotion campaigns

Feature: Vouchers and cards: Beating the budget blues

An economic downturn need not be bad news for vouchers and gift cards, argues Andrew Johnson, director-general of The Va, the trade body for vouchers, gift cards and stored-value solutions

Feature: Desktop products: All in a day’s work

Rachael Glazier explores how promoters can get their messages in front of customers in the workplace