How to Market to Millennials

Many millennials shop on their phones, but there’s more to it than that.

When you are researching ways to advertise online, it is important to understand that your audience is largely comprised of millennials. Read on to learn how to effectively reach millennials and close the deal.

Understand the population.

Millennials, also Gen Y, were born in the years between 1980 and 1996 and grew up around a lot of emerging technology, especially computers and the birth of the internet. So, this group of young adults is fairly adept at utilizing technology to benefit and enrich their lives. With all of this technology at their fingertips, they have been able to become quite confident in their abilities - from work to play to setting expectations.

They are also very team-oriented which is great for the work environment, however, when that bleeds over into marketing to them, you want to make sure that they feel like they are a part of your team as well. Making them feel included in your business and causes will help foster that relationship and create long-standing and engaged customers.

Also, don’t forget that they are used to having endless streams of content at their fingertips and are always hopping on new social media platforms, so if millennials are a big portion of your audience, you’ll always want to keep up with the newest social media trends.

Create useful and engaging content.

Millennials are the most impatient generation. One thing they don’t want to see when they search for a product or brand is content that doesn’t serve a purpose and wastes their time. There are millions of ways to advertise online and reach millennials, but make sure your content is useful, engaging, and gets to the point quickly. They especially enjoy videos, but you’ll want to keep those short as well. Generally under a minute for informative content, and around 15 seconds to showcase a product or service.

Millennials love Instagram, too. So, what, right? Well, not so fast. You’ll want to have Instagrammable pictures of your products that can be shared across their accounts. It goes back to them wanting to feel like they are a part of your business and want to connect with their favorite brands. Chalk it up to free advertising once you start getting that traction online.

Go mobile.

The vast majority of millennials use their phones to comparison shop when they’re in a physical store, or before they make a purchase online. Smartphones are the norm among millennials, so mobile engagement such as Facebook advertisement and Instagram marketing is a must. And it’s not just social media that’s mobile, but making sure that your design your website and it’s full experience online mobile-first.

And with mobile, make sure that you keep your content brief. Millennials aren’t really known for their patience and prefer not to wait around to read a lot of content on social media. Brevity, here, is the name of the game.

Support a cause.

Millennials are less interested in corporate success and more interested in social welfare. Supporting a community or social cause through donations or volunteer work is a great way to attract the attention of millennials who also support community movements. Be careful not to get involved in political causes, as this can reflect poorly on your brand.

Again, it’s that feeling of belonging that they want. Whether it’s supporting local community centers or national organizations, showcasing that can definitely boost your points with millennials.

Be consistent.

Millennials are busy, so they can be forgetful. Consistency is the key to capturing their attention. Plan your marketing calendar in advance and stick to it. Consistent reminders help you remain relevant in the eyes of this generation. When your business doesn’t post, millennials won’t think about you. Contact our team of Atlanta marketing experts by visiting our website at www.socialnetworkmd.com. Our consultations are free and our results are real.