Direct response marketing is when companies try to get you to do something right away, usually to buy something or sign up for something. They use techniques like ads that say "buy now" or "limited time offer" to make you feel like you need to act fast. They might also offer free things or discounts to encourage you to buy or sign up. The goal of direct response marketing is to get a direct response from you right away, instead of just making you aware of a product or service.