Generational Marketing: Know Your Era

When I recently attended the Loyalty Expo in Orlando, there was a presentation on marketing to millennials. I perked up. Until the speaker classified everyone from the age of 12 to 31. I am 31. And I do not identify myself as a millennial. I learned to type on a typewriter. Texting on a phone is hard from me. I digress.

So, I’m thinking, if this guy thinks I’m a millennial, and markets to me as if I were one, he’s in for trouble. Not to get into semantics, but I classify myself as Generation X (it’s funny; both generations identified teens as apathetic; it’s just that my generation grew out of it). Where Millennials prefer text message marketing and Facebook applications, Generation X reacts better to direct mail and coupons.

And then what about Boomers and seniors? They’re not as connected online, so strategies outside of internet marketing have to be included.

As you can see, every generation (not to mention every person) has its own preferred method of being marketed to. Don’t waste your time trying to lump everyone into one strategy to reach your own goals!