Because they are the youngest generation of customers and because they dominate social media platforms in terms of generation, brands are competing for the attention of marketers who are interested in reaching Gen Z on social media. According to Bloomberg, the combined disposable income of Generation Z is $360 billion and growing.
Getting them to buy is the difficulty now, and it’s not a rerun of marketing to Millennials. When marketing to a demographic that has grown up with constant access to information via mobile devices, brands need to do some serious rethinking.
Promotion Among Younger Consumers
By understanding the age distinctions in their target demographic, marketers may create more effective ads.
When you advertise to the millennial generation, you’re not simply meeting the needs of a new demographic; you’re also meeting the needs of a new generation of consumers.
Here are eight tried-and-true methods for connecting with members of Generation Z on social media:
Luxury fashion house Valentino (@maisonvalentino) sent a brief statement of solidarity with Asian Americans after a spike in hate crimes during the COVID-19 outbreak. The hashtag #StopAsianHate was also used by other firms to show their support for the movement.
Many companies have decided to give back to the areas that have been hit hardest by the disaster.
Customers nowadays anticipate businesses to act as advocates for social problems. Maintaining business as usual and being mute on matters of importance to your audience may be harmful to your standing with them.
Sharing your passions with your audience can help you connect with them on a deeper level and set you out from the pack.
Your Gen Z audience will see straight through you if you merely take a position to capitalise on the event and earn more clients.
Follow the Lead of the Times
Instead of taking a position, you might employ the marketing strategy of “trend jacking” to reach out to the millennial generation. To “trend jack” is to capitalise on current events or popular themes while putting one’s own unique twist.
Dunkin’ (@dunkindonuts) tweeted a photo of their glazed donuts styled after the viral garment to respond to the discussion. This clever comeback, which sneakily advertised Dunkin’ doughnuts, is a classic case of “trend jacking” done right. The company has become part of the dialogue while remaining true to its original mission.
When trying to “get in on the trend,” timing is important. Using current events and discussions as a springboard can help you break out into the public eye.
One of the greatest aspects of trend jacking is the ease with which social media marketing can generate daily news stories. However, you should proceed with caution while following fashion.
Being sensitive and making sure you’re not capitalising on something disrespectful or controversial is equally as vital as being able to lend your voice to the discourse while being true to your brand voice.
TikTok’s meteoric rise in popularity among Generation Z consumers demonstrates the demographic’s evident preference for media with a strong visual component.
Videos posted on TikTok are considered as more genuine and unscripted than those on Instagram, where photographs and videos are seen as filtered and heavily manipulated. TikTok success calls for a new strategy altogether.
Concentrate on making new friends.
The preference of members of Generation Z for social media with a stronger emphasis on community is an intriguing trend. This may be observed in the growing use of communication applications like Discord by influencers and content creators.
Furthermore, consumers now have quite different expectations of brands. The advent of social media has enabled customers to have two-way conversations with businesses. Brands that recognise this shift in power dynamics have seen their customers evolve into enthusiastic co-creators.
Market a way of life, not a product.
As opposed to simply pushing items, marketers understand that the most effective way to sell a brand is to sell a way of life. The first step is to figure out what your target audience truly wants.
Consider the challenge of promoting a beverage intended to increase physical performance. The potential benefits of your energy drink should be highlighted, rather than its flavour or nutritional profile (though these are also important).
Your main images should depict a perfect example of your target audience instead than the product.
Let’s Get Going
The challenges of marketing to today’s consumers may appear greater than in the past. After all, they’re pickier than the average customer, but that shouldn’t put you off!
There are significant distinctions between Millennials and Gen Z, yet there are also some commonalities. Expand upon your knowledge of marketing to millennials.
Noteworthy Factors:
Let the members of Generation Z know that you share their passion for making the world a better place.
People use social networking for leisure, not shopping.
They are present on video-friendly site like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and even MMS texting, and they prefer watching videos over reading text.
The trends they’re into are always shifting, so it’s important to stay current.
With these guidelines in mind, you may confidently begin a social media marketing campaign aimed at members of Generation Z.