How do brands connect with young adults?

With a vast majority of young adults being on one form or another of social media it should be no real surprise that brands are using this as one of the most effective forms of advertising.

The millennial generation (also known as Generation Y) are the demographic cohort following Generation X. There are no precise dates for when this cohort starts or ends; demographers and researchers typically use the early 1980’s as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000s as ending birth years – so those born from 1980 till 2000 are often referred to as the Millennial generation.

The Millennial generation were born in unique times, reared by parents who struggled through the global financial crisis of the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. They’ve grown up in the age of the Internet and with the rise of social media, and of course they are the generation where their mobile phones are their best friends! They are possibly the most tech savvy amongst us.

Because of this, more and more brands have turned to social media to connect with young adults and to get in-front of their target audience.

Navigating the digital world is second nature to this age group, with young adults routinely going online, using apps and interacting via social media.

Brands therefore need to be active and visible in these spaces and present experiences if they are to connect with the millennial generation. How often have you searched a brands Facebook page to see what offers they have on currently or to see if their is an available discount? I certainly do this.

Promotional products retailer 4imprint has produced a compelling video outlining some useful statistics and information around millennials’ attitudes and behaviour online.
By understanding factors such as why they like certain brands on social media to which marketing platforms have the most sway over their brand perceptions, businesses could be better placed to target this demographic effectively with products or services.

How do you interact with brands online? I personally interact with then in a work manner via my blog social media channels, making myself known by chatting to them, answering questions and sharing relevant information.

You may have seen the social media competitions for products or even holidays etc. – this is a great way for brands to connect with their audience, to get their brand seen by more and to build their following. Done in the correct way it is very clever marketing.

I also am more likely to sign up to a companies mailing emails if they offer a discount to use on their products by doing so – does this make you sign up?

I also love it when brands banter online with their customers – did you see the Lidl and Aldi banter recently over on twitter? Those really do make me chuckle

How do you think brands could encourage interaction on social media?

**Collaborative post**