5 Sales and Marketing Adjustments Manufacturers Must Make to Reach Millennials
- 39% of millennials interact with their smartphones more than humans, according to a Bank of America study.
- While it’s a smartphone, it’s not used as a phone. In fact, the actual phone functionality is used less than most of the other communication apps on a phone. Even if you do call, chances are you won’t get an answer (or a call back) if your number isn’t recognized.
- The average millennial owns 7.7 connected devices and uses on average 3.3 of those EVERY DAY!
- Your content, messaging, tone, and appearance should stand out. Spending all day in front of a screen means people are bombarded with websites, messages, ads, etc… You have to be memorable.
- Be remembered by providing value. This means education. This means content (blog articles, ebooks, webinars, etc.)
- Don’t afraid to be less formal.
- Millennials are on social media and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. According to Pew, 90% of millennials use social to interact with others and process information.
- If it’s not facebook, it’s something, and they’ll continue to adapt over time.
- Email is not dead. 69% of millennials prefer to engage with vendors during the sales process using email (IBM).
- A wall of text isn’t appealing.
- Use images.
- Use infographics.
- Use video. According to Animoto, 80% of millennials use some form of digital video when researching a product or service.
- In your marketing messages, don’t force the issue, but offer guidance.
- In sales, ask questions…a lot of them. Allow them to explain their actual problems and only after you have a true understanding, determine if you can help them or not.
- When making a B2B buying decision, priorities are different (IBM)…
- 35% make ease of doing business their number 1 priority
- 33% make willingness to work collaboratively as their 2nd priority
- 31% state their 3rd priority is industry and marketplace expertise