Meet the Millennials: Reaching Generation Y

There’s always buzz surrounding the millennial generation, whether it’s talk of selfishness, apathy or technological prowess. Regardless of public opinion on Generation Y, there are over 80 million people in the U.S. classified as Millennials, and they have consistent behavior and buying patterns. Companies spend millions trying to reach this coveted market, yet many still miss the mark. There are four assumptions about the millennial generation you need to make before beginning a marketing strategy:

1. They never stop
2. They are always digitally connected
3. They are skilled multitaskers
4. They don’t spend money needlessly

As millennials grew up, digital networking grew with them. They had opportunities to get comfortable with technology at their own pace, making them the most tech-savvy generation today. One of the most important things to remember when marketing to millennials is that they live and play in an interactive environment. As a marketer, talking at them will get you nowhere. Treat them as partners, not as an audience. An example of this is the Lays Do Us A Flavor campaign, in which the potato chip company set out to reach this age group by asking them to create their own chip flavor. The company generated $40 million in additional revenue and over 2.7 million people installed the app (57% of those between the ages of 18 to 34.)

With this generation, it’s all about simplicity. They are navigating a tricky job market, paying off debts and starting families. Don’t rule them out because of their supposed lack of a steady income. Nearly one in four Millennials are parents. That’s a market you don’t want to ignore. If you’re targeting Millennials, you need to tell them how your product or service will make their lives easier. They can be big buyers when they want to be; you just have to give them the biggest bang for their buck.

Having trouble reaching the tricky millennial market? We’ve got you covered. Appleton Creative is an award-winning, full-service advertising agency located in Orlando, Florida. Appleton works with local, national and international clients to provide marketing strategies through print, web, social media and video production – all in-house. At Appleton, we want to learn about your business, empower your marketing team and be your creative resource. Your marketing goals are worth a conversation: contact us at 407-246-0092 or info@appletoncreative.com.

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