When a new generation enters the mix of society, they bring new habits, tastes and preferences. Brands need to learn about them and adapt in order to find long-term success. During their debut, Millennials brought about a new approach to the world, shaped by the rise of the dot-com bubble in the early 2000’s.
Next up is Generation Z. While many are quickly writing Gen Z off as Millennials on steroids, this is a rushed assumption that fails to understand how each generation came about. While Millennials were influenced by the good times of the 1990s and the ability to realize meteoric success through technology, Gen Z is influenced by the Great Recession and the overwhelming nature of technology.
In order to understand how to capture the attention of this new generation, brands are turning to them directly. Youth marketing strategists like Connor Blakley, who has previously worked with brands like Sprint, NPD Group and Modell’s Sporting Gouds, are helping them understand how the youth of today are programmed.
Entrepreneurship has changed so much since I was young. Blakley is one of several entrepreneurs I have connected with through Facebook, and I find it especially cool that kids are pursuing this path at such a young age. If you told large brands 20 years ago that they would be hiring 17-year old strategists in the future, they would have laughed. But, they are helping to bridge the gap between brand and Gen Zer.
For those wanting to better connect with Gen Z, you need to focus…
