Do you have a hard time relating to millennials? You aren’t alone, and it’s a growing problem for many businesses and marketers. This generation has grown up with technology. They crave the opinions of people they trust, and they don’t hold back in sharing their thoughts about your product with their social networks. So how do you ensure what they are sharing is positive and in line with your brand’s messaging? Here are a few tips to get you started.
- Be authentic. Know what your brand is, and more importantly, what your brand isn’t. Don’t try to make your brand something it isn’t, because millennials will see right through your messaging.
- Embrace user-generated content. If people are going to take photos/videos of your brand, why not embrace it? In addition to keeping your content fresh, you will gain lifelong brand ambassadors when you share their content with your audience.
- Speak to their passion. Millennials want to do business with companies that have a mission, especially if there’s a level of social impact. Show what your business stands for, not just the products you sell.
- Show, don’t tell. You’ve probably heard that “content is king,” and while it’s become cliché, it rings true, especially with the rise of video. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds are flooded with video, and it’s proving to be the most engaging content.
- Have a personality. Just like a person, a brand has a personality. It comes through in the way you speak with your audience, not at it. Make sure your brand’s tone of voice matches the message you want to convey.
Try integrating these tips into your communication and social media strategies to earn the attention—and business—of this key generation.
-Eric Schad is social media and digital marketing manager at Concordia University in Mequon.
