Marketing to Millennials According to Millennials

Any smart marketer knows how to identify the ways to their target market and how to appeal to them. However, many "smart" marketers claim that Millennials are too hard to market to, or, they claim that Millennials are something they are not. Sure, Millennials love to take photos with their smartphones, use the internet, and other electronics. However, that is not hard to market to.

As a marketer and a millennial, I always find it interesting when companies fail to identify the needs of the generation. There are 86 million people in the Millennial generation and they all have money to spend, especially as some are now in the working force and have salaries (of course, some are paycheck to paycheck too).

One of the best ways to reach into the minds of a Millennial is to do social media marketing as well as other forms of internet marketing. Of course, we still respond to plenty of traditional marketing, like ads on TV or along the streets. Companies who ignore this generation are missing out on a huge segment of the consumer world. There are some tips for fellow marketers who may not be graced with the awesomeness of being a Millennial as well.

1. Remember, we're a smart bunch. Yes, we do tend to engage more with the world from behind a screen but that doesn't mean we are misinformed. Due to our love for the internet, we are a well researched group and love absorbing news about everything. We see something we like, we research it and post about it, gaining more knowledge from peers. The point? Make sure information is accessible. Have a marketing tool, like an ad, with something quick and easy to understand and then put more information on the web and/or social media. Marketing to Millennials has to show why the product is necessary and will make life better, even when a life is full of everything it might need. 
2. Keep buying online easy. We do a lot of our shopping online, especially tech, clothes, and media. As long as the purchase process for online is easy, then you will get the sale. Customer service and shipping will be a great touch. 
3. Be conversational, social, and human. We don't care if your company has something go mass viral on the internet, we would rather interact with a company that is human and engages with its consumers. The generation enjoys conversing that is one of the biggest things Millennials do with brands, talk/engage. The more that it's done, the more brand loyalty is established, which turns into steady sales. A viral video is not a bad thing with Millennials but if it does not generate conversation, then it will fall flat when it hits this generation. 

Tailoring marketing and branding efforts to Millennials is something that many companies are doing and it is paying off. As a Los Angeles marketing agency, these are things we believe in.