This old lady struggles with expanding my customer base or should I say bridging the generation gap. I know Thirty One (and other companies) provide simple solutions for millennials (the 18 – 35 year olds) but sometimes I just miss the mark. Thank you Nika Stewart for some great tips on how to reach the largest living generation!
I remember reading the newspaper (delivered to the house by a paper person) every morning. It was how I got the news. I got gift ideas from television commercials or catalogs in the mail. I learned about fashion by flipping through magazines. Yup, I’m old. Now those things have been replaced with smart phones and social media. A simple touch of a button and everything is at your fingertips.
Millennials can usually be found buried in their phone ignoring traditional media ads. They are always engaging on Snap Chat, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and occasionally Facebook. I’m sure there are some new things out there too but I don’t know them yet.
So as a direct seller who is looking to expand your business, how do you reach these tech savvy consumers when you are an old timer? Here are some tips from Ghost Tweeting and Nika Stewart:
#1 Social Media
You will find the millennial on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter on a daily basis. Social networks are the primary way they get their information. They’re scrolling through feeds searching for a laugh, for inspiration, for food, and for news. To them it is not a dark hole to get lost in, it is where they get news, inspiration and connect with friends. We used to pick up the phone and TALK to people. I actually miss the days of talking on the phone. Social media is a black hole for me which soaks up time or at least it is my perception. Maybe it is time to change the mindset! So, how do you create content to appeal to them?
Lighten up: Want to have your posts shared creating a wider customer base? Make it funny even if it is serious. Find trending topics, add your product information and post silliness. “70% of millenials say they share content because it makes them laugh”. Think of how many more people you will reach this way.
Provoke an emotional response: Millennials want real, they want gritty, and they want to be moved. Get deep and create content to tug on their heartstrings.
#2 Engagement
How many times have you posted on your personal page, your VIP group or even on your business page and heard crickets? You are consistently posting maybe a few times a day (on your own or with the help Cinchshare) but no one is engaging in the posts. First, did you have a call to action in your post? The truth is, you are not working the social media circuit if you’re not engaging with your followers.
Millennials are hungry to be part of something bigger, and they need to be accepted. Nothing provides acceptance like addressing users personally. This means commenting back, responding, and keeping conversations open. Users who are engaged with accounts (not just broadcast to) are much more likely to share, recommend, and tell friends about the brand they feel a bond with.
Do you respond to comments or just “like” them? Do you engage those who comment in conversation or do you just talk to everyone? Go back through your posts and see what posts get the most interaction. In my VIP group, it is usually contest or questions; so why would I change this up on my personal or business page?
#3 Video
Facebook LIVE was a game changer when I started doing regular posts but I got out of the habit. I find it easier to type my content or put it in pictures than I do talking in a video. Video marketing is the gold standard these days, everyone is doing it. According to Animoto (I rediscovered this again), “80 percent of millennials consider video content when researching a purchase decision.” 80 percent! Yes, you need to do video. It doesn’t have to be you personally, it doesn’t have to be long or perfect – it just has to be a video with a message.
Millennials want to be informed as well as entertained, so create video content to demonstrate expertise in your field while keeping your brand relevant and lighthearted. I know for us “old timers” this could be tough but it is definitely going to be a game changer.
Video options include: customer testimonials, behind-the-scenes livestreams, demonstrating products in action… get creative! Video provides an unprecedented opportunity to make a meaningful connection with the masses. I have been working on some and sharing the ones ThirtyOne does to keep things fresh.
The marketing landscape is changing and the baby boomers (like me) will either be left in the dust or decide to move forward stepping out of our comfort zone. The days of formal presentations, and slick ad campaigns is gone. The traditional marketing no longer works. The sooner we embrace new methods for reaching customers especially this generation, the sooner we’ll see our business grow.
How are you changing your business to grow? Share your ideas with us.
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 