Generation Y – How do you reach them?

The Generation Y has several names, such as Millenial Generation, Net Generation, Echo Boomers or just Millenials. Experts do disagree about when this generation was born, but the late 1980s is most agreed upon. In contrast to their parents, the baby boomers, they have exceptional tech skills and grew up with mobile phones, video games and Internet. They had a front seat to the digital revolution and were very much a big part of it. As a company or a brand, chances are that you are selling your product or service to this group, but how you reach them? What intrigues and engages Generation Y?

A stereotypical Generation Y is an early adapter, a techie, never reads manuals or instructions and prefers learning by doing, a multitasker, easily bored and may be known to be calm and less violent but also very liberal and social accepting. The birth of this generation made a lot of advertisement and marketing agencies scratch their head because the approaches used for the previous generations were now obsolete. It could seem like this generation had a different view on everything, which made it more difficult to point out exactly what type of things that intrigued them.

Where will you find them?

Generation Y is to be found everywhere, seated in Starbucks with their MacBooks, raging through the city on their vintage bicycles, demonstration against bus fare rises or shopping used items in East London. 10 years ago their jobs didn’t even exists, having titles like Digital Content Writer and Online Marketing.

Who are they influenced by?

Internet is the number one source of information for this generation. But this doesn’t mean they believe everything they read on the World Wide Web. On the contrary, they are highly sceptical to everything. But they do love sharing which means that they also have an interest in what their circle of friends and acquaintances are sharing. So the most powerful way of reaching this audience is to create content that is more likely to be shared between contacts.

Why reach this audience?

Every year Generation Y gets older, which means that they also acquire more knowledge and earn more money. They have jobs in flourishing businesses in industries, which are growing rapidly. They are influencers for younger generations and will act as caretakers for the older ones. This generation is becoming the most powerful group in our society because of their subconscious amount of power. They communicate with each other in second cross countries, religion and political beliefs. If a matter concerns or provokes them, they make it viral. Generation Y fights against poverty, animal cruelty and suppression through channels more powerful than any generation before them had. If you can appeal to this audience you can reach out to a powerful global market – which is something worth thinking about.

Ortegra is a team of passionate people who have an outstanding interest in online and social media marketing. We believe in having a real understanding of your business, creating effective marketing strategies. We excel at what we do because it matters to us!