What are two buzz words that you can’t hear enough of? If you answered Millennial and social media, you’re right. I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about these two things, but honestly – they are the today and the future of marketing.
A Millennial (known to some as Generation Y) is someone who was born between the mid-1980’s to the late 1990’s. Some sources say the generation starts as early as 1976 and end as late as the early 2000’s.
Being such a massive generation could lead to some struggles on how to directly market to it. There is, however, a common denominator to the generation – social media.
Here are four things will help you “get lit” in the social media world. You have to be unique, engage with your “fans,” show your personality, and give back to be successful at targeting Millennials.
Let’s break it down:
Be unique
In my experiences this is the most important quality Millennials look for in an account. They want the brand to stick out from the crowd and have a personality. They want to be entertained. In some cases, the weirder the better. Two Twitter accounts that do this flawlessly are Denny’s and the City of Columbus.
Engage with your “fans”
Millennials want to be noticed, they yearn for attention. But in today’s world, you have a limited window to engage until they move on. You always want to keep your brand at the top of their mind, which isn’t a small task. You should engage with your fans daily and respond to any inquiries or comments almost instantaneously. Again, the City of Columbus does this well. So does Wendy’s, Chipotle, Jimmy John’s, and many other restaurants.
Show your personality
Okay, now you’re thinking: “Didn’t you already say be unique?” When you think about the root personality of a brand, what do you think of? If you answered the people, you’re correct. Millennials want to know the people behind the brand. They want to know the brand cares about its employees and people love working there. Let your people do the talking with their jokes, smiles, and social engagement. Show company outings, costume contests, awards and promotions, etc. We think we do a pretty good job of that, give us a follow on Twitter!
Give back
Millennials want to know their money is going to a good cause. This generation, more than any other, cares about helping others and the world. They want to know your brand has a soul and is willing to share its profits with different charities and communities. Millennials are willing to pay a little more just knowing the money is going to a great cause. Don’t be afraid to show you’re helping others and really making your mark in the world.
Have questions, comments, or just want to tell me your favorite brands? Contact Futurety today!