Mo Millennials Mo Problems

[#1]

By Allison McGuire

This is a continuation of a post on the Marketing Macarena.

These days all marketers seem to be talking about Millennials, the purchasing trends around my generation, and how we’re influencing brands’ identities and strategies. While there is much to be said about Gen Y, keep in mind that while the tech-savvy generation’s buying patterns may reward responsible companies and penalize irresponsible ones, we’re not alone. Other generations evaluate companies along similar criteria.

Want to drive consumer engagement? Use these tips gleaned from Edelman’s 8095® Millennial study to connect with consumers of all ages.

Dance! Check out my previous post to learn the Marketing Macarena.

Stand for something! Whether it’s treating your employees fairly (think Starbucks), ensuring your company’s products are sustainable (see H&M), or incorporating a CSR portfolio across all facets of your business (à la Clif Bar), when your company uses cause as a business centerpiece, you give consumers a reason to stick around.

Spread the word! Use social media to bolster your marketing efforts. There has never been a more perfect way to engage with your customers on a consistent basis. Twitter is an excellent way to reach out directly to your customers. UPS does a great job of utilizing this platform for both customer outreach and employee engagement. Millennials want to share experiences had with your brand—make it easy for us to do so.

Fantastic image via a fantastic blog post: 8 Social Media Predictions for 2013