{"id":268,"date":"2012-04-06T17:08:10","date_gmt":"2012-04-06T17:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/viamarketing.wordpress.com\/?p=268"},"modified":"2012-04-06T17:08:10","modified_gmt":"2012-04-06T17:08:10","slug":"via-idea-22-how-to-market-to-gen-y-aka-millennials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/viamarketing.net\/blog\/via-idea-22-how-to-market-to-gen-y-aka-millennials\/","title":{"rendered":"VIA Idea #22: How to Market to Gen Y (aka Millennials)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GenWhether you\u2019re selling energy drinks, lumber or healthcare services, businesses can no longer just \u201cpush\u201d their goods and services and expect results. This is especially true when targeting Gen Y.<\/p>\n

Also referred to as Millennials, Eco Boomers and the Net Generation, this group defies pigeonholing in many other ways. Even their birth years aren\u2019t agreed upon. Various sources list them as early as 1976 and as late as 2005. Most don\u2019t remember phones with cords, typewriters or TVs without remotes. For them, a phone call is reserved for emergencies but they\u2019ll send up to 3000 text messages a month.<\/p>\n

They number nearly 100 million, are the largest generation in U.S. history and influence up to half of the buying decisions made. They\u2019ve grown up with the Internet and its virtual world. Gaming and conversing with people they\u2019ve never met who may live next door or halfway around the world is common. They\u2019re comfortable shopping online but first do their homework regarding the quality of the product and the company.<\/p>\n

Some factors to consider when marketing to this group: \u2022 They\u2019re skeptical of what they see, read or hear (suspicious of mass media). \u2022 Hard sell doesn\u2019t fly. For example, when communicating via Facebook, aim for 80 percent education\/entertainment and 20 percent promotional. \u2022 They have a greater sense of immediacy\u2014life moves faster and their expectations for services and relationships are higher. \u2022 They\u2019re environmentally aware and committed to the planet. \u2022 They live in a multi-sensory world. For example, if they get lost while driving (unlikely since they\u2019ve got GPS at their fingertips) they\u2019ll pull over and look at a map with stereo still blasting. A boomer will turn down the radio first. \u2022 Peer influence is strong. Social media is where they learn about products and trends as well as catch up with friends and plan weekends. Speaking of social media, how much information your business shares and how often you share is critical. They\u2019ll \u201clike\u201d your company on Facebook but if you post too often or push your products\/services, they\u2019ll \u201cunlike\u201d you or hide your feed. And timing is crucial: you\u2019re viewed as overeager if you respond too quickly or frequently to a comment or post.<\/p>\n

Even in personal relationships, Gen Y is aware of the time element. According to the recent Ad Age \u201cMillennials, Decoded\u201d study, half of the group who carry smartphones are \u201cvery concerned\u201d that if they answer a text right away, they look like they have nothing better to do.<\/p>\n

How can you connect with this group? \"iPhone\" \u2022 Gain their trust through more than one medium. \u2022 Invite them to experience your brand\u2014offer information and include a link to your website.
\u2022 Give them the opportunity to interact\u2014add a QR code to a direct mail piece. \u2022 Add an IM option on your website. \u2022 Create a buzz: share a video that can be uploaded to social media or forwarded via text.
Keep in mind that this group loves to communicate and will respond to the right message. Just don\u2019t tell them what to think!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like more ideas or help with the plan, contact us<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re selling energy drinks, lumber or healthcare services, businesses can no longer just \u201cpush\u201d their goods and services and expect results. This is especially true when targeting Gen Y. Also referred to as Millennials, Eco Boomers and the Net Generation, this group defies pigeonholing in many other ways. Even their birth years aren\u2019t agreed … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “VIA Idea #22: How to Market to Gen Y (aka Millennials)”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nVIA Idea #22: How to Market to Gen Y (aka Millennials) | VIA Marketing Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/viamarketing.net\/blog\/via-idea-22-how-to-market-to-gen-y-aka-millennials\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"VIA Idea #22: How to Market to Gen Y (aka Millennials) | VIA Marketing Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Whether you\u2019re selling energy drinks, lumber or healthcare services, businesses can no longer just \u201cpush\u201d their goods and services and expect results. 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