Generational Marketing

March 15, 2016

Who? What? Why?

You’ve heard time and time again how important it is to use targeted marketing strategies to connect with your audience, but how exactly do you go about doing that? Segmenting your audience into age cohorts is one way to divvy up your marketing efforts to pave the way for a more targeted approach. In other words, you’d be practicing generational marketing.

What is generational marketing?

Generational marketing is exactly what it sounds like: you market to a specific generation of people based on the preferences, attitudes and upbringings that distinguish them from other groups. It’s really about making the switch from sending mass marketing messages to tailoring and customizing messages for specific age groups. By speaking to each customer in the way they feel most comfortable you gain a competitive advantage because your customers see that you’re meeting and understanding their individual needs.

In the marketing world, the living generations have been divided up into the following 6 categories:

• GI Generation – born between 1901 and 1926
• Silent Generation – born between 1927 and 1945
• Baby Boomers – born between 1946 and 1964
• Generation X – born between 1965 and 1980
• Generation Y/Millennials – born between 1981 and 2000
• Generation Z – born after 2001

Over the next couple weeks, we’ll be sharing tips on how to effectively market to the more recent generations; we started with the Baby Boomers and we’re working our way down to Generation Z. That way, you’ll be prepared to reach whichever generation your business has its sights set on.

Do you need Generational Marketing?

You might. It honestly depends on you and your business.

Are You Marketing to a Generation Different from Your Own?

If you are of a different generation than your target market then yes, you probably need generational marketing. Sometimes it’s tough connecting with a generation different from your own. Getting to know what your target generation wants, what they have experienced and what they value can make all the difference in getting the reactions you need to succeed.

Is Your Market is Shifting to a New Demographic?

If your client demographic is shifting you may not be able to use the same marketing and sales tactics with the new demographic. Knowing how to reach your new client base, and what methods do and don’t work can save (and make) you a lot of time and money.  
Even if you are the same generation as your customer base, or not changing your demographics base, understanding the tendencies of each generation can help you determine what will work best to reach the people around you.

Check it out!

Every generation has it’s own quirks and styles, and learning the ins and outs of those marketing segments can really help you. We’ve already got Baby Boomers down for you, and we won’t leave you high and dry on the others.
Stay tuned for more information on Generational Marketing Segments. Sign up for our Email list too, so you can get the straight in your inbox!