Is Marketing to Millennials a Waste of Time?

If you read any business news, blogs or magazines at all, you might think Millennials are the biggest thing since the invention of the wheel. The business press continually advises us on how to manage them, market to them, and cater to them. But is all the focus on Millennials giving us tunnel vision? A new report, Marketing to Millennials? Not So Fast, suggests so.

The report has plenty of useful insights that could change the way you approach this huge demographic. Here are some surprising findings about marketing to Millennials:

1. They earn-and spend-less than you think. While some marketers are rubbing their hands in glee at the vision of the Millennials as a replacement for the affluent Baby Boomer generation, this younger demographic does not yet have the disposable income Boomers do. The oldest Millennials are in their mid-30s, but the youngest are still in college or in their first, entry-level jobs. In fact, more than one-third aren't working at all, and almost half of those who do have jobs make less than $50K (the average Millennial income is about $34K). Add to that the staggering burden of college debt that many Millenials bear, and it's easy to see why the Millennials are still on a budget. The report predicts that the majority won't enter their peak spending years until 2020-2030.

Takeaway: Do Millennials care enough about what you sell to spend their limited income on it?

2. They're delaying major life-stage choices. Once upon a time, twentysomethings got married, bought homes, and started having children. Today, however, Millennials are postponing marriage, children, and home buying. In fact, are even postponing apartment rental in favor of living with their parents. That means they aren't making the primary purchasing decisions in their own households when it comes to things like home decor, maintenance, furnishings and repair, or even buying groceries.

Takeaway: You can't market to Millennials based upon yesterday's definitions of life stages.

3. They're complicated. Millennials have grown up in an era of technology, and the way they shop and spend is evolving along with that technology. For example, Millennials are more influenced by word-of-mouth than by traditional advertising, unlike older demographics. They also expect transparency and authenticity from businesses, along with 24/7 service and the ability to customize products and services.

Takeaway: How good are you at encouraging and cultivating positive word-of-mouth about your business on social media and online review sites?

4. They're more into sharing than owning. Millennials are comfortable with a world in which they rent, share, or borrow just about everything-from cloud storage space for their photos and music, to cars and clothing. They'd rather spend their limited disposable income on experiences such as travel or concerts rather than “things” such as luxury goods. No wonder services such as home-sharing service Airbnb and formalwear-rental company Rent the Runway are thriving.

Takeaway: Can you develop a sharing/rental aspect to your business, or heighten the experience involved to make it more appealing to Millennials?

5. They lack brand loyalty. According to the report, Millennials are more likely than their parents to purchase store brand products. Because their incomes are lower, they're price-sensitive rather than brand-loyal. In addition, recommendations from friends can easily sway them to switch brands. You may think that by targeting Millennials today, despite their lack of spending power, you'll be earning their loyalty into the future. While it's possible this could happen, it's not really probable-the report points out that all generations are becoming less brand-loyal (although Millennials lead the pack).

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