Gen Y or Millennials: Marketing Tips

by Claudia “Havi” Goffan

Most of us, marketers, are trying to engage the Millennials or Gen Y. Also, most marketers are still leery of Gen Y marketing techniques. Therefore, we need to keep understanding who they are, what they do, what they like and what they dislike.

Gen Y or Millennials: Marketing Tips: brief overview of the Millennials or Gen Y

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  Listen to them online 24/7 using Multicultural Market Intelligence Tools

  Gen Y believes in the power of WE and is all-inclusive.

• Gen Y is multicultural and 34% of Millennials are Hispanics.
• Gen Y believes that customized options help define personal style.
• Gen Y is hyper-connected.
• Gen Y is married to mass media and goes online more than any other generation.
• Gen Y uses cellphones as an extension of their own body.
• The average Gen Y’er spends an average of 33 hours on social networks, 31 hours on email, and sends over 700 texts, every month.
• Their status updates or messages to friends reach hundreds, and because of its instant repetition, they reach greater audiences almost instantly.
• Gen Y loves communication tools – especially instant messages.
• Gen Y is interested in social popularity or social status and most of them have not met many of their friends in person – ever.
• Gen Y is the first generation that can actually measure its popularity.
  

Gen Y or Millennials: Marketing Tips – What can brands do?

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  Gen Y is hyper-connected

  Use their willingness to collaborate and include them in your efforts to build your brand. Once they are a part of it, they will help you share your message.

• Talk to the Millennials that work for your company and include them on your advertising and PR efforts – they will help you deliver your message for free using their extensive networks.
• Be mindful of their likes and dislikes when it comes to your brand because they can also share negative messages about it.
• Remember that online video offers them immediacy, emotion, and interaction.
• Listen to them online and engage them online 24/7 using Multicultural Market Intelligence Tools.
• Use these insights to create great products.
• Market to communities, but emphasize individuality.
• Generate Word of Mouth: Let them discover your brand.
• Be real and authentic to your audience in everything you do.

Now, the question becomes, are you truly listening to the Gen Y?