Success Advice
The Do’s and Don’ts of Branding to Millennials
Branding is a fragment of business wherein companies endorse their products or services to their target market through different marketing efforts. Branding poses many challenges among companies but perhaps the toughest of these today is branding to millennials.
Millennials are people born between the years 1982 and 2002. Today, this generation embodies 24% of the American population. Millennials are born and raised in an era plagued by economic disorder and consumerism. It’s a tough time to earn a living and sustain one’s preferred lifestyle, as many career men and women of this generation are starting to realize.
Being thrown into these challenging times has made millennials into a special group of people. According to a Nielsen report, these men and women are savvy shoppers of necessity. This means that although they enjoy shopping, the millennial generation only take their business to brands they trust.
This is evidenced by their research skill prior to shopping. The same report by Nielsen indicated that 42% of millennials comb through at least four different sources before making a purchase. A third of this group of people only go shopping on sales or when they’re in a possession of coupons or promotional codes. The study further states that 40% of the group save money by buying second-hand items.
All these findings suggest that millennials are a tough crowd to market to and yet, this group has challenged and captivated marketers and business owners alike.
Because they comprise a significant portion of the population, earning the patronage and trust of these men and women is worth it. In fact, this is what business owners who want to leave a lasting impression in their industry should aim to do.
It may be challenging to please a fussy and calculating crowd, but it can be done. You can simplify this by learning the do’s and don’ts of branding to millennials.
The DO’s:
- Invest on mobile. Whether it is through improving the mobile experience of consumers or bringing more aspects of your business into the mobile platform, your company’s mobile site and functionality should be at its finest.
- Optimize your social media presence. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are more than just social channels for millennials. These networks are also search engines for them and whatever information they can dig up is a contributing factor in their purchase decision. Make sure your search results will lean in your favor.
- Bring your brand to them without smothering them with ads and promises. Let them get to know your brand through an experience they enjoy such as concerts you can sponsor or video blogging.
- Maintain the voice and stance of your brand. Just because you are connecting to them does not mean you should forget what your brand stands for. Millennials appreciate authenticity but distrust inconsistency.
- Engage in open communication. These young men and women, like any other consumer, appreciate being heard and taken care of. Responding to messages, listening to suggestions, and acknowledging commendations build a good business-consumer relationship.
“My clients post images of themselves, tagging my business, and it is the best digital format of word-of-mouth marketing possible.” – Ryan Horne
The DON’TS:
- Some people seem to find it funny to stereotype millennials as a self-absorbed, lazy bunch. This is rather unfortunate because this generation is a large part of the workforce. In fact, a study shows that more than 80% of millennials from 27 years old and up are employed. Half of them are married or have a family of their own. The ones who have not moved out of their homes chose this living condition to save up for other priorities such as travel and other life-enriching activities. The takeaway: don’t be condescending towards millennials.
- There are marketers and company owners who try hard to throw in phrases and expressions into their content that they think will connect them to millennials. You shouldn’t. Or at least, not without knowing the proper use of such phrases. Otherwise, you will just end up sounding phony.
- Don’t neglect taking care of existing customers. For millennials, a recommendation from a friend or someone they know is more preferable than giant billboards or a paid TV ad. Remember that you are advertising to a group of people who almost unthinkingly reach out for their phones during commercials or click the exit button on online ads. More than just your efforts to reel in new customers, make sure to keep the current ones happy because your best shot at advertising is through word of mouth.
“Young people need to be asked what matters, not be told what matters.” – Jeff Martin
Once you get to know what makes millennials tick and what they value and aim for, branding evolves from being a business necessity to a sincere desire to reach out and help people with what you can offer. Learning these do’s and don’ts is the first step towards progress.
How is your brand appealing to the millennials? Leave your thoughts below!
Image courtesy of Twenty20.com
Success Advice
8 Inspiring Ways Steve Jobs Changed the World
Apple’s success can be ascribed to two things: visionary leadership and innovative leadership
With Steve Jobs’s resignation as the CEO of Apple, the world went into a tizzy. Scrip fell and recovered gradually. He is one of the most iconic CEOs in the world and is a leadership icon who always sets high standards for innovation. He changed the way people use technology through constant innovation. (more…)
Success Advice
Why Tesla, Apple and Amazon Prioritize Performance Over Everything Else
What influences winning, making money, or achieving goals? It’s your performance.
Everyone wants to win at the things they’re pursuing. In fact, I don’t know a single person who likes to lose. But what influences winning, making money, or achieving goals? It’s your performance. It’s what you do, not what you want, that determines whether you succeed or fail. (more…)
Success Advice
15 Essential Habits to a Stronger, Healthier, and Happier You
The journey towards transformation is not about perfection but about progress
What habits can truly transform your life? That’s what you’re here to uncover. In our no-nonsense guide, we’ll introduce you to 15 habits to change your life, each with the power to improve your day-to-day existence. (more…)
Success Advice
19 Common Characteristics All Visionary Leaders Have
When you look at business leaders like Bill Gates, Sam Walton, Sir Richard Branson, and philosophers like Bertrand Russell, Martin Heidegger, Ludwig Wittgenstein, David Bohm, C. S. Peirce and inventors like Nikola Tesla, Paolo Soleri, Harvey W. Bailey, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Wright brothers and political leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Aung San Suu Kyi, it becomes very clear that they are all connected through one leadership—visionary leadership. (more…)
-
Success Advice4 weeks ago
How to Choose the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Blog
-
Success Advice2 weeks ago
Wealth Lessons Everyone Should Hear for Every Stage of Your Life
-
Entrepreneurs3 weeks ago
Build a Strong IT Team with These Smart Hiring Tips
-
Entrepreneurs4 weeks ago
5 Important Legal Tips Every Entrepreneur Should Know
-
Entrepreneurs3 weeks ago
How Entrepreneurs Are Harnessing LLCs to Launch Successful Startups
-
Startups3 weeks ago
How to Manage Your Startup’s Finances More Efficiently
-
Change Your Mindset3 weeks ago
Navigating The Depths Of Self-Love And Relationships With Stefanos Sifandos
-
Success Advice2 weeks ago
15 Essential Habits to a Stronger, Healthier, and Happier You