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First appeared in A Captured Mind monthly newsletter
A little over a month ago, my wife and I sat down for a small break at the end of our day to watch America’s favorite quiz show—Jeopardy. It’s one of the few shows we enjoy simply because it challenges our brains. If you haven’t guessed by now, we are not big fans of passive entertainment. It is also a chance to exercise my inner geek.
But
on this particular evening, something happened that fell smack dab right into
my area of expertise: the generational divide. Three college seniors faced off
in a battle of wits during the College showdown, yet one particular category
stumped them all.
Let me explain. The category in questions was simple—match the actors with the television show. Here’s an example: Tom Wellington and Kristin Kreuk. The answer should have been “What is Smallville?” The TV series based on the teen years of Superman. You know, before he decides to fly around in stretchy pants and a cape.
One question after another went unanswered — Gossip Girl, 90210, Supernatural, One Tree Hill, etc… What was going on? These shows were designed for a Generation Y audience, so why could no one answer a single question in an otherwise easy category?
And my entire theory about Generation Y was right there in living color—they do not watch television in the traditional sense. And I know what you are thinking: “but Brad, these are college students who probably didn’t have time to watch TV.” And under normal circumstances I would agree with you, but, the actors and the shows in question were at their peak when these students were in high school. It should have been an easy category. It’s the equivalent of a Baby Boomer answering questions about Gilligan’s Island, I Dream of Jeannie or The Andy Griffith Show. Piece of cake.
So I ask you a simple question: Is your marketing on target with Generation Y? Are you assuming you are hitting the platforms they are using? Or are you completely off target by assuming?
Let me explain. The category in questions was simple—match the actors with the television show. Here’s an example: Tom Wellington and Kristin Kreuk. The answer should have been “What is Smallville?” The TV series based on the teen years of Superman. You know, before he decides to fly around in stretchy pants and a cape.
One question after another went unanswered — Gossip Girl, 90210, Supernatural, One Tree Hill, etc… What was going on? These shows were designed for a Generation Y audience, so why could no one answer a single question in an otherwise easy category?
And my entire theory about Generation Y was right there in living color—they do not watch television in the traditional sense. And I know what you are thinking: “but Brad, these are college students who probably didn’t have time to watch TV.” And under normal circumstances I would agree with you, but, the actors and the shows in question were at their peak when these students were in high school. It should have been an easy category. It’s the equivalent of a Baby Boomer answering questions about Gilligan’s Island, I Dream of Jeannie or The Andy Griffith Show. Piece of cake.
So I ask you a simple question: Is your marketing on target with Generation Y? Are you assuming you are hitting the platforms they are using? Or are you completely off target by assuming?
Look,
anyone born after 1977 has been indoctrinated into a world of digital
possibilities that most Boomers are unaware of. To market to a generation that
is immune to marketing, you have to understand how they think, work and buy.
Here
is a few from my playbook:
So now that they are adults, marketing is just ambient noise. And guess what? They ignore it. All of it. Case in point: banner ads now get less than a 4% click through rate.
To gain trust with young adults, you must build trust through a long-term friendship not a short-term sale. In the Social Media marketplace we call this Romance. Gain trust as a trusted brand that just so happens to sell great products, while creating relevance. If you can’t tell why I need you, your service or your products, don’t bother.
1) Try a Little Romance
Generation Y is anyone under 35. Day in and day out since childhood every single movie, TV show or commercial they watched was trying to sell them something. Think Transformers or G.I. Joe cartoons. Were they just cartoons or cartoons designed to sell action figures?So now that they are adults, marketing is just ambient noise. And guess what? They ignore it. All of it. Case in point: banner ads now get less than a 4% click through rate.
To gain trust with young adults, you must build trust through a long-term friendship not a short-term sale. In the Social Media marketplace we call this Romance. Gain trust as a trusted brand that just so happens to sell great products, while creating relevance. If you can’t tell why I need you, your service or your products, don’t bother.
2) Make It Interactive
Baby Boomers were trained to sit and watch TV while passive sit-back and relax
while the Boob Tube was telling them what to buy and when to buy. If you are a
Boomer like me, I guarantee you that you have over 15 television commercial
jingles stuck in your head.
I’ll prove it to you. Finish this classic: “Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz,...” And as you finish the jingle in your head “Oh what a relief it is,” —I rest my case. Boomers are brand loyal.
But anyone born after 1977 expects media to be interactive. These are the generations raised on video games, portable devices and CD ROM hybrids that took you to an interactive Website experience. They have been bombarded by one software update after another. To them “what have you done for me lately” is how they view most brands.
If you are lame and old in your message or the latest cool app, you are getting lost in all the new stuff that is competing for market space inside those digital native brains. Generation Y is not brand loyal but they are brand driven. In other words they will only stay loyal to a top-tiered brand if that brand keeps creating great products. Stop making great stuff, and they leave.
So if you want to get Gen Y onboard, give them something to do. Keep updating your content and keep giving something innovative. Look how many TV shows are reality based and require the audience at home to vote on the outcome.
Gen Y expects to be involved. They expect constant updates. So give ‘em something to do. I know, this is exhausting to Baby Boomers, but hey, that is life in the 21st Century.
I’ll prove it to you. Finish this classic: “Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz,...” And as you finish the jingle in your head “Oh what a relief it is,” —I rest my case. Boomers are brand loyal.
But anyone born after 1977 expects media to be interactive. These are the generations raised on video games, portable devices and CD ROM hybrids that took you to an interactive Website experience. They have been bombarded by one software update after another. To them “what have you done for me lately” is how they view most brands.
If you are lame and old in your message or the latest cool app, you are getting lost in all the new stuff that is competing for market space inside those digital native brains. Generation Y is not brand loyal but they are brand driven. In other words they will only stay loyal to a top-tiered brand if that brand keeps creating great products. Stop making great stuff, and they leave.
So if you want to get Gen Y onboard, give them something to do. Keep updating your content and keep giving something innovative. Look how many TV shows are reality based and require the audience at home to vote on the outcome.
Gen Y expects to be involved. They expect constant updates. So give ‘em something to do. I know, this is exhausting to Baby Boomers, but hey, that is life in the 21st Century.
3) Create Events that Drive Your Brand
I was recently called in to consult on a new Social Media site that is part Facebook and part Spike TV. It is called ManWall and exploding with new users everyday. It is an interactive site for guys. It does not exclude women, but it prides itself on being a digital man cave. So the main content is user driven—funny videos, hot girls, UFC fight videos, etc… A fun resource for guy stuff and the 18-24 year old Holy Grail of marketing.
The
first thing I told them to do was get involved in some sort of event. Sponsor a
contest where the payoff is worth it. Here’s the example I proposed: the top 5
winners of Best Man Cave, get a free Las Vegas trip, tickets to the next UFC
fight and backstage passes to meet UFC founder Dana White and the ladies of the
Octagon.
So what if you don’t have a budget like ManWall? Try small regional events.
Why not sponsor a chili cook-off during the summer? Best recipe gets a prize and 20% of the proceeds go to a local charity. Film it and photograph it all. Invite everyone in your network, and post the footage on your website or Facebook event wall. This creates influence and event envy and gives us all an inside look into your brand.
Gen Y is an event driven group. They like concerts, fight nights, poker championships and Rock Band video game battle of the band parties. And, they like bragging about the events they go to.
So give ‘em an event and let us know about it. It will also make your brand more human.
So what if you don’t have a budget like ManWall? Try small regional events.
Why not sponsor a chili cook-off during the summer? Best recipe gets a prize and 20% of the proceeds go to a local charity. Film it and photograph it all. Invite everyone in your network, and post the footage on your website or Facebook event wall. This creates influence and event envy and gives us all an inside look into your brand.
Gen Y is an event driven group. They like concerts, fight nights, poker championships and Rock Band video game battle of the band parties. And, they like bragging about the events they go to.
So give ‘em an event and let us know about it. It will also make your brand more human.
4) Stay Focused on What You Are Offering
I love to talk about Starbucks in my presentations because they are as focused as a brand can get. First of all what is Starbucks known for? Coffee. Nothing more, nothing less.Doesn’t matter what Starbucks you walk into, the coffee aroma bombards you. There at eye level are donuts, cookies and muffins. All of which are aligned with coffee, in reach at eye level for a quick sale, supportive of their coffee image. That is a focused brand.
Anything that steps away from coffee—sandwiches, salads, bottled water or juice—is on the bottom shelf below eye level. The cost on these items is higher but the margins lower, therefore not a primary focus. It steps away from their brand. So why have these items on the menu? They are necessary items to attract a customer to Starbucks during lunch and dinnertime. Brilliant.
Now at one time Starbucks lost their brand focus and attempted to build a series of restaurants. No one wants to go to a Starbucks for a delicious cheeseburger so naturally the restaurants failed. When a brand is focused and owns their category like Starbucks owns the coffee category, they have to stay focused in that arena, and not disappoint their customer base.
Once your brand is known for something, stick to it and try not to change lanes.
Would you buy tires from McDonald’s? Probably not. Stay in your lane of expertise when it comes to marketing.
5) Your Network is Your Customer
In Social Media land like-minded individuals gather together for fun, intense conversation and commonality. To sell to a group, pick a group that seriously needs what you are selling.By using Romance as I pointed out before, someone will step forward to ask for more of you. They will challenge you. Pick your brain, and try to stump you. Let them know, you are here to stay, with integrity. A trusted partner offering your services.
This also means you must choose your network wisely. No duds, or high school sweethearts.
A CEO of a major IT company told me he refused to let his daughter join his network on LinkedIn. Everyone was astounded. He made it simple… “she has no business experience, nor is there anyone in her network that can help me business wise.” Oh snap!
Cold or smart? After all he sees his daughter everyday. But if you start having every family member in your network, guess what? People wonder what your network is made up of…real business people or friends and family members.
Choose that network wisely.
I
hope that helps. The generational divide is actually a cultural divide. How
would you communicate, sell or market to someone in another country? Learn how
they do things. And stay open for a few happy accidents that might just
surprise you. Like a video that goes viral.
Thanks for reading,
Thanks for reading,
Brad Szollose
Brad is the award winning, international bestselling author of Liquid Leadership: From Woodstock to Wikipedia: Multigenerational Management Ideas That Are Changing The Way We Run Things ISBN-13: 978-1608320554
Mr. Szollose writes a monthly column on business and marketing techniques that reach Generation Y for A Captured Mind Newsletter and is part of The Mind Capture Group faculty.
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