What is a direct response marketing and data analyst in terms of jobs at a tech company?

I’m seeing some job listings for the following: “direct response marketing” and “data analyst”. These jobs are at tech/website companies like (but not necessarily) Twitter, Facebook, Groupon, etc. – I went to school for film and television but am looking to switch careers and work at one of these companies (or a company like them) WHILE I train in computer science. I’d like to apply to these positions but I don’t know really what they even are!

My questions: What do these jobs (direct marketing and data analyst) usually consist of? Can someone with no prior experience with these positions pick it up relatively quickly or do they usually require heavier training? I know the titles are fairly generally but in some cases the jobs I see do not have a job description, OR they do but they don’t give enough info for me to know if I’d be able to handle it.

Quick note on my perspective: I’m asking because I have a hunch that maybe these jobs consist of mostly “busy work” that I’ll be find jumping into and then getting my foot in the door at a company. On the other hand, I feel there could be a possibility that there are more to these jobs that that.