May 17, 2017

Are You Cool Enough to Impress Millennials?

Marketing to Millennials

Hi everyone, Ping here. These days, it seems like everyone is talking about Millennials. Firmly situated between Generation X and Generation Z, Millennials are the 20-to-35-year-olds who last year surpassed Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation.

With that kind of manpower comes a lot of purchasing power too. Research estimates that Millennials account for about $1.3 trillion in buying power in the US alone. By 2020, it’s estimated that Millennials will make up about 50% of the workforce. As Millennials find more of a voice in the work world, they’ll be responsible for making more purchasing decisions. So if you’re ignoring this powerhouse demographic, it’s time to rethink your marketing strategy.

If speaking to young folks is like speaking Greek to you, don’t fear. Today I’ve got a few great tips for marketing to Millennials with swag like a pro.

Be Authentic and Direct
Millennials like to live life fast. They’re used to having information and products available at their fingertips through e-commerce and on-demand delivery platforms. This has put buying power directly in their hands and made it much harder for businesses to sway their opinions through fancy marketing campaigns or lofty messaging. Millennials don’t like wasting their time listening to sales spiels or gimmicks, so the best way to win them over is to make doing business with you simple and painless. Rather than focusing your efforts on aggressive marketing tactics, instead try more passive approaches, getting your brand in front of them quietly as often as possible, so when the time to buy comes along, they’ll think of you…and think it was their idea.

Keep It Functional
Millennials have grown up in a constantly plugged-in world, and all that mental stimulation can feel draining. To cope with all the noise, Millennials have learned to drown out anything that doesn’t seem useful. So when it comes to swag, offer Millennials something they can use on a daily basis and that serves a purpose. This is a surefire way to make sure your message sticks.

Piggyback Off Brands They Know
Millennials are focused on quality over quantity when it comes to brands. Provide a Millennial with apparel from brands they already know and love. They’ll appreciate the quality and the thoughtfulness. Decorate it in a cool way, and they’ll keep that shirt or polo and wear it all the time—effectively promoting your brand to their peers.

Be Timely
Like I said before, Millennials are accustomed to living a fast life. One piece of dated swag can make you look like a dinosaur to this contemporary crew. To avoid this, stay up-to-date with changing trends and technology, so you can be the first to jump on the next wave. I know, I know—who has time for that? Don’t worry, at The Icebox our team of Creative Experts and Merchandise Professionals will keep you in-the-know about the latest cool swag on the market.

Millennials may seem like a hard generational egg to crack, but at their core, their desires and behaviors are really quite simple: they like straightforward, fast-moving, and high quality in everything they do. Chances are, your brand has a lot more in common with Millennials than you might think, and if you can cater your next giveaway to this cool crew, you might just have customers for life!