Be a Good Data Steward

* Privacy Checklist—provides a comprehensive approach to data collection, usage and transfer.

* DMA Guidance: Screening Offers Before List Rental—also available to non-members, this advisory was developed with input from the Federal Trade Commission.

Considering that more than a few data security bills are up for congressional review, what can direct marketers do to anticipate the future? Isaacson, who two months ago was named co-chair of the DMA’s new Data Stewardship Council, sums up the issue: “If you follow your own data privacy people’s view of best practices for data stewardship and DMA guidelines, then you should be adhering to a standard that should govern all your business operations—whether or not there’s a pending law. Most laws don’t look at best practices, they look at common practices. If you’re looking at best practices, then you should be in a good position.”