Millennials are the generation that everyone loves to hate, but are also the generation with a lot of spending power that is changing the way companies do business- for the better. Learn to target this group and you can increase your audience size by 75.4 million. Millennials know what they want and today’s online world allows them to get it. So how can you make them want to support your brand? Check out these 12 tips for building a millennial audience.

1. Kill the sales pitch

Millennials do not respond well to the traditional sales method. Rather than telling them how great your product is, show them! Millennials prefer two way conversations rather than one way pitches, so involve them in the discourse. Rather than sales methods, focus on a great customer service experience with quick responses to questions and a friendly, helpful staff.

1. It’s not all about you

Millennials look for strong brands, but they also don’t care about the more traditional factors like how large your company is or how long you have been in business. Instead, focus on building a brand with a commitment to certain values and represent those through everything you do. This will build the type of strong brand identity that appeals to millennials.

1. Make it personal

Millennials like doing business with other people and want to feel a connection. Use technology to send customizable communication, this is an important way to make an impact in the oversaturated world of email marketing. Overall, a focus on building transparency and creating relationships can make a big impact.

1. Presentation is critical

Millennials spend a lot of time online and are constantly flooded with content. As a result, they are very sensitive to imagery and copy that is not perfect. Millennials have learned to spot a scam from a mile away and won’t give brands that are presenting themselves unprofessionally a second glance. Take time to proofread everything and make sure the images you share are produced to the specifications of the social media site. Looking to upgrade your brand image? We can help! Contact us today to create a customized plan to ensure your website and branding look their best.

1. Encourage sharing

Millennials look to their social circles to find brands to support and highly value the opinions of those they know personally. Leverage their propensity for recommendations by making it easy for them to share your products. Have a space for reviews on your site that can also be shared to social media. In addition, a referral program can be a great way to get people buzzing about your company. Offer a reward to both the existing and new user and watch your conversion rates grow.

1. Be socially responsible

Millennials want to support brands that are also working to solve the important issues they care about, and in today’s world there are plenty of issues to choose from. Focus on things that relate to your product and brand values while also engaging your audience. If you are looking to get started with a corporate social responsibility campaign, we recently shared a blog post with some tips.

1. Create plentiful, but concise content

Millennials see a lot of content everyday making their attention span is short so that they can take it all in. However, they also still want to see content that is relevant and informative. Use a combination of videos, infographics, and short blog posts to capture their attention and add value.

1. Entrepreneurship is a shared value

Millennials support small businesses and entrepreneurs because the value the idea of going out on your own and starting something new. A recent study found that over 75% of millennials hope to work for themselves one day. Appeal to this value by using marketing materials to show millennials how their support of your business has led to its support and growth.

1. Assess your product

Marketing aside, millennials want quality, well-designed, and cutting edge products and they know how to spot them. Take a deep dive into your product and package and see if there are any places where you can make changes to improve the overall user experience. Need opinions? A focus group is an easy way to get honest feedback on your product.

1. Use ambassadors

Influencers are a major part of online marketing and having someone trusted and respected endorse your brand can go a long way for your marketing efforts. Find ambassadors who already have established online audiences that match your target. Additionally, look for people who truly support your brand which will increase authenticity. One way to do this is by looking for people who are already using your product and then asking them to promote it.  

1. Get experiential

Experiential marketing is a great way to get customers involved and leave a memorable impression. In an offline setting this can include things such as in-store giveaways, parties, networking events, and community volunteer days. Online, encourages participation by letting your followers vote on aspects of your next product or by running an online contest.

1. Be unique

Millennials have an overwhelming number of options when they are making purchasing decisions and the best way to capture their attention is to stand out. Find brand values that are important and unique to you and highlight them in everything you do. This will help you build a strong, successful brand.

Hopefully these ideas will help you capture the millennial market for your brand. Have your own ideas? Share them with us on Twitter, @KuvioCreative, we can’t wait to hear about your successes.

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