Transparent Growth Measurement (NPS)

Top 5 Gen Z Marketing Strategies

Contributors: Amol Ghemud
Published: September 8, 2020

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You’ve probably heard the news: Gen Z (people born after 1995) can be a tough nut to crack: attention spans are shorter; their access to information is wider, they don’t check their email as often and they prefer doing most things entirely online.

But there’s no need to panic. Every generation, from Baby Boomers to Gen X to Millennials have posed their own unique set of marketing challenges, and marketers found a way to adapt and cater to their needs. So all you need to do is craft your marketing message keeping in mind the differentiators. Gen Z is tech-savvy, and the good news is, you have access to the same technologies as them, making it easier to reach out. Here are 5 strategies to help you get your Gen Z marketing right!

1. Visually Appealing, Interactive Content FTW

Thanks to being born in the era of smartphones, a changing customer persona can be seen in Gen-Z, where they have somewhat of an addiction to eye-popping imagery. Create images, slideshows (for Instagram), and videos to grab their attention. The meteoric rise of TikTok is proof that short-form video marketing is the way forward: with over 500 million users, a huge chunk of that being Gen Z, the platform represents a unique gateway into their minds (and pockets) for marketers. Instagram stories are a great way to showcase a little behind-the-scenes action from your brand with simple videos. And, since both TikTok and Instagram stories have the benefit of effects and overlays, it is a goldmine for influencers and brands.  

Gen Z-ers also crave interactive content – they want to be able to do something, take some sort of action, with the content before them. Anything from simple tagging and commenting to polls (on Instagram and Twitter) is a good way to pull them in; once they are engaged, you can gently nudge them towards taking another kind of action, namely, purchasing your product or service. 

2. Invest In Video

Invest in videos

TikTok and YouTube are proof that the future is all about video. Both these platforms should be used in millennials marketing and Gen Z marketing. In fact, YouTube is one of the most popular websites in the world, making it one of the most powerful marketing tools.

 A survey from Google has some impressive Gen Z stats: it indicates that YouTube is where this group turns when they are in need of entertainment or cheering up. The survey goes into more detail, highlighting how 70% of shoppers, especially Gen Z men, say online video has helped them learn more about an auto product they’ve had their eye on. 75% of shoppers polled admitted to using a Google product like Maps, Search, and YouTube to help with their shopping. Teenagers actively use the platform, with 80% using it to expand their knowledge, 68% to improve skills or gain new ones, and others say they use it to take a break – and that’s just some of the reasons why Gen Z is on YouTube. 

It can serve as an effective marketing tool if you package your videos the right way. Cosmetics brand Glossier, which targets Gen Z women, has 150k+ subscribers, and regularly uploads videos of celebrities and influencers sharing their makeup and skincare routines – along with plugging some of Glossier’s products. Energy drink Red Bull has a whopping 8 million subscribers and collaborates with vloggers to post lifestyle and adventure videos. So, the key takeaway is – if you’re going to invest in a marketing channel, make it video!

3. Don’t Take A Blanket Approach With Social Media

Social media is where Gen Z turns to for a variety of things, from social interaction to news to discovering new products and services and even tutorials, and if statistics are to be believed, they check their accounts on an hourly basis. 

As a marketer, social media is a tool you must use to your benefit – but in the right manner. Each social media offers something unique to the user, and you need to tailor your content and approach to fit it. Facebook is generally seen as a platform where one can get information. Instagram is image-centric and allows brands to showcase their aspirational selves, while Twitter is great for updates, polls, and chats. Create content that speaks to each channel and each type of user; there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to social media. So craft effective content marketing strategies and post them on the right platforms. 

Know More

Top 5 Successful Digital Marketing Campaigns

How to Create a Successful Digital Marketing Campaign

4. Choose The Right Influencers

Some of the biggest influencers of our time are the Kardashian-Jenners, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ariana Grande, and Selena Gomez. But getting them to post about your product isn’t exactly possible. Instead, try to tie up with micro-influencers – people with a following between 1k and 100k. Why? Not because it may be easy to get them on board, but because studies show that once the 100k mark is crossed, engagement levels tend to drop. Micro-influencers drive 60% more engagement, which means that by tying up with them, you are getting more eyeballs on your brand. 

5. Engagement Is Key

We spoke about engagement and how it helps drive more people to your brand. Well, one thing Gen Z expects in return is the same level of engagement from the brand itself – or else, you could face the wrath of bad reviews. Gen Z wants an interactive experience when they communicate, and they expect brands to respond and reply to comments, queries, and feedback. Here again, it should be more than just a smiley or thank you – if you have received positive feedback, reply with a genuine message that speaks to the user. And negative feedback simply CANNOT be ignored. Take the time to understand what the problem is and make followers understand that you are acknowledging the issue and doing what you can to resolve it. Giving Gen Z followers your undivided attention goes hand-in-hand with boosting brand loyalty. 

Now that you have an idea about what to focus on, you’ll be able to tailor your campaigns to suit the tastes and preferences of your Gen Z audience. What approach will you start with? Let us know in the comments below! 

FAQ:

1.What are the benefits of video marketing?

Video marketing benefits both the brand and the customer. The brand gets more eyeballs and engagement, and for the customer, it helps establish a greater level of trust with the brand. Here are some other benefits of video marketing.

  •     Video boosts conversion rates

  •     It boosts the open rates of your email marketing campaigns – studies indicate that subscribers are more likely to open emails with video in the headline

  •     It boosts your search engine rankings

  •     It encourages social shares, increasing your engagement levels on social media

  •     It builds trust and credibility among your audience

2. What are content marketing types?

Content marketing is defined as a type of marketing that involves the creation and sharing of online material (such as videos, blogs, and social media posts) that does not explicitly promote a brand, but is intended to stir interest in its products or services. Some of the most common content marketing types are:

  •     Blogs

  •     Videos

  •     Infographics

  •     Podcasts

  •     Email newsletters

  •     Ebooks 

  •     Visual content like posters and GIFs 

In addition, there are other long-form content pieces like case studies and whitepapers which delve a little deeper into a brand’s products, services and success studies. Social media posts also count as content marketing, especially given the different kinds of platforms there are – LinkedIn and Medium for writing and sharing thoughts, Instagram and TikTok for video, Facebook for a combination of all three.

3. What is content marketing?

It’s the buzzword for every brand out there, but when we get down to it, what is content marketing? To put it in simple terms, content marketing is defined as a type of marketing that involves the creation and sharing of online material (such as videos, blogs, and social media posts) that does not directly promote a brand, but is intended to pique interest in its products or services. 

It is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, informative and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.

4. What is social media in simple words?

By design, social media is internet-based and gives users quick electronic communication of content.” It consists of websites and apps that allow users to share content quickly, efficiently, and in real-time. This can range from text to images and GIFs to video and audio clips. It is a digital tool that allows users to share information and opinions with their followers and/or the general public.

5.What is social media in simple words?

 Well, according to Investopedia, “Social media is computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through the building of virtual networks and communities.

What makes it unique to traditional media is that it remains largely uncensored and is broad in terms of the topics, interests and content found on it.

6. What is social media used for?

So, what is social media used for? To put it across in one word – sharing. But there’s a LOT more to it than that. Social media is used to share opinions, inform, educate and communicate.

On a personal level, social media is used to keep in touch with friends and family. Some people will use various social media applications to network and scout out new career opportunities, some will use it to find people across the globe with similar interests, others may use it to share their thoughts, feelings, insight, and emotions. For brands, social media is a great way to market their products and services.

You can showcase your products and services, share videos and how-tos on how to use them, share blog posts and updates about the behind-the-scenes workings of your company, and engage with customers in real-time, take feedback, and solicit opinions.

About the Author

amol ghemud
Optimizer in Chief

Amol has helped catalyse business growth with his strategic & data-driven methodologies. With a decade of experience in the field of marketing, he has donned multiple hats, from channel optimization, data analytics and creative brand positioning to growth engineering and sales.

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