Our Playbook: Engaging the Millennial

Millennials - Teammates or Opponents?

You have heard the term ‘millennial’ thrown around quite often, and sometimes in a negative light.  Who is this generation that has many businesses worried about their next play? How can we knock it out of the park with this group that plays the game so differently from other generations?

‘Millennial’ refers to anyone born between 1981-1996.  In 2019, they are 23-38 years old and are out of college and into their professions, or are just starting their first career.  Millennials care about financial stability. They are paying off student debt and living on their own in an increasingly expensive world.  They strive to cut costs where they can, but that does not mean your business won’t make record revenue off of this generation.

Millennials value loyalty.  They respond to constructive criticism.  They are uncomfortable with monotony, and crave innovation and creativity.  Looking at these factors shows that ‘millennial’ is not a negative term. Instead, this generation of consumers can be extremely helpful in advancing the goals of a business.

The Winning Team

Loyalty. Why does creating brand loyalty equal a slam dunk in business?

Psychology tells us that people are more inclined to stick with brands that they are familiar with and that they know they already like.  If you can market your services to millennials successfully, and they love your products and services, they won’t keep quiet about it. Millennials post on social media frequently.  They will help keep the ball in your court by calling out the brands they love and sharing about you in posts with their friends. It has become easier than ever to refine your Branding and Marketing Playbook to include cutting-edge social media and Internet marketing strategies for this rapidly evolving customer base.  Millennials value loyalty over almost everything else. 

What You Might Not Know About Millennials

Millennials read more books per year than consumers of other generations. They are financially savvy, have retirement on their minds, and are extremely dedicated to their work.  Focused on self-improvement, they have a higher education overall than previous generations. Millennials are also politically active, and have no problem standing up for controversial causes.

The ability to tap into the millennial mindset and tailor your marketing and design efforts towards this generation can increase brand loyalty, thereby increasing sales.

5 Tips for Marketing to Millennials

• Instagram is your friend.  Millennials love the platform, and making sure your Instagram feed is edgy and updated is crucial to scoring major points.

• Millennials love Millennials.  Millennials are seen as narcissistic by older generations, but that is not necessarily true.  They take pride in highlighting their accomplishments, as well as the accomplishments of other millennials.  Camaraderie is key, and if millennials see other millennials enjoying your product

  or service, they will be more inclined to do so themselves.

• Respond instantly.  Millennials are busy, and have to budget their time wisely.  Being able to keep their attention is no easy task. The difference between

  making a purchase and deciding not to buy something could be as small as a fast response to an inquiry.

• Sell purpose, not just products.  If you ask any millennial what their favorite philanthropic cause is, they can probably answer you instantly.  They see the

  world as their canvas to create change. Aligning your brand with a cause will only improve your standing with this generation.  By giving millennials the

  content they want, you’re also giving back.

• Understanding them is a key investment.  This generation is seen as the “me” generation: self-centered and spoiled.  However, most millennials are not like

  this at all, and really do not enjoy being viewed in this way.  The brands that millennials love all have one very important thing in common: they understand

  them, and this helps create brand loyalty.  Being able to see your brand from a millennial point of view will in turn attract more millennials, and most importantly,

  keep them on board.

A Tried and True Method

We’ve put all five tips for marketing to millennials into action, and can tell you firsthand that they work.  It pays to be in tune with the world’s largest generation, even if promoting your brand to them feels like a marathon rather than a sprint.

Don’t know where to start?  We do. Let Joba help you make the key plays for your business, and coach you to a winning season!