The Secrets To Marketing To The Millennial Generation
Never before in the history of marketing have there been so many methods for reaching different demographics. With the increase of media comes a new generation many refer to as the Millennials. These new group of tech savvy consumers are the children of the baby boomers and have been in a digital environment for the majority if not all of their life.
Millennials are often a hard demographic to appeal to because of their multitasking ways. If they are watching TV and a commercial comes on, they very well may turn their attention to the computer screen. While chatting on the internet they have no problem closing out popup screens or blocking them all together. Their ability to immediately turn their attention to one of the other various facets of media they have come accustomed to makes it a challenge to target them.
However it’s not impossible. Learning about their mannerism and what draws their attention can help when trying to figure out how to improve marketing techniques.
Millennials are a product of everything after approximately 1980, although sometimes the exact year is debatable. Many researchers will even comment that they are the product of the baby boomer generation and in some cases will try to build up what might have fallen during their parent’s era. With that in mind, you will see millennials thinking rationally and practically about how to fix things like the government and the environment. They have the tools to connect the world and want to use their skills to make the world a better place.
Millennials are connected. While generation X and the baby Boomers have dabbled with emails and many own and use cell phones; millennial surpass their idea of communication. Millennials can connect to individuals all over the world with little or no effort. They have mastered the art of text messaging, blogging, emailing, social networking (Think MySpace and Face book), instant messaging, and various other ways of communicating. Not only can they interact with the individuals all over the world at any given time, they can basically do it from any location. To them, communication is not a luxury but a necessary part of daily life.
Millennials are masters of multitasking. They listen to their iPod’s, chat online, check out MySpace, and work on homework all at the same time. Millennials have Mp3 players, video gaming stations, cell phones, and computers and they use them every day and often simultaneously. The technological environment they were raised in has allowed them to hone in on several skills at the same time. It you want to market to them, you have to play their game. This can often present a problem to marketers because it’s hard to rein them in and get their undivided attention.
Because information is and always has been at their fingertips, many millennials are well informed. They often make cautious and educated decisions when it comes to everything from sex and drugs, to buying a computer or a new CD. Because they are presented with so many options and possibilities, they have always had to make informed decisions. This need for information will carry on into their consumer choices.
