People are no longer just names on a mailing list. Today they're self-appointed influencers who freely share their opinions and expertise with others online. The opportunity for direct marketers is to reach out to these people and create awareness for your company and products, but that requires you to re-think and revise your tactics. There's still plenty of opportunity to market directly to customers, but the tools and tactics have changed. Get smart, because the old methods are in long-term decline.