The holiday season is literally right around the corner and there is a huge consumer segment that many businesses still can't wrap their head around -- Millennials.
They have already surpassed Baby Boomers as the nation's largest living generation, making them a segment you simply can't ignore. Here are four ways to connect with Millennials and attract them to your business this holiday season.
Get active on social media.
Millennials live on social media. They are connected via their mobile phones every waking minute of the day -- their entire life revolves around social media. Organic social media is great, but during the holiday season every brand is competing for the same attention. This is where sponsored posts can really help you drive sales, especially if you take full advantage of all the targeting options that are available.
The cost for paid social media promotion increases during the holidays because of supply vs. demand. If you are brand new to social media marketing, you really need to get familiar with the ins and outs now, before the holiday madness. It isn't the ideal time to attempt to master social media promotion when the cost and competition is at its peak.
Use social media influencers.
Social media influencers have something that brands crave -- a large audience that is extremely engaged. How effective are social influencers? The fact that many top influencers are earning millions of dollars annually should be a good indication of just how powerful this marketing channel can be. Jeremy Thompson, CEO of Premier Glow understands the power of social influencers.
"Having your product featured in a post with a relatable social media influencer can help drive more sales than any other form of traditional advertising. It's hands down the most effective form of Millennial marketing available today."
Provide a flawless and effortless user experience.
A website that delivers a pleasant user experience is a must in any situation, but this is amplified 10X when we are dealing with Millennials. They are the generation that is up to speed with the latest and greatest when it comes to technology.
You could have an effective marketing strategy that is driving large amounts of traffic to your website, but unless your conversion flow is effortless, that traffic will immediately leave and find another option.
Your website visitors need to be able to complete purchases on their mobile phones, in the least number of steps as possible. My company recently launched a consumer product and a website visitor can be checking out and entering his or her credit card details after just 2 clicks. Millennials want fast and easy -- it's in your best interest to give them what they want.
Allow them to be part of your brand.
Sometimes the smallest efforts can pay off big time.
Have you ever seen a website that has a section devoted to showcasing its product with its users? These are typically user generated images that are found on social media through a dedicated hashtag. By establishing a special hashtag and notifying your customers that you will be searching for images to post to your website you accomplish two things:
1.You get your customers to post images of your product on their social media, introducing your brand to a whole new audience for free.
2.You get them to return to your website, looking to see if their images made the gallery. Again, this is a way to attract repeat purchases for free.
Millennials like to feel like they are a part of something bigger. This is a way to make them feel like they are part of your brand.
Jonathan Long is the Founder of Market Domination Media®, an online marketing consulting agency. Jonathan also created EBOC (Entrepreneurs & Business Owners Community), a private business forum and founded consumer products Sexy Smile Kit, a teeth whitening kit and Sexy Slim Tea, a diet detox tea.