Marketing in the Blink of an Eye

It’s the two-second rule. In the first few seconds of looking at a billboard, web banner or magazine ad, most consumers have already formed an opinion. Malcolm Gladwell explores this phenomenon in his best-selling book Blink. He calls this the “decisive glance.” Cops do it, art dealers do it and so do you. Today, it seems, marketing is more like speed-dating than going steady. Consumers are moving at a breakneck speed. They are juggling smart phones, steering wheels and piping-hot cappuccinos. Our TV sets have remote controls and DVR. You have to be ready to grab the viewer in exactly an instant. At Agency Creative, we know how to make brands stand out. We make sure that your message is translated into a quick, powerful impression that customers can consume in a quick slurp or a full-throated gobble. It’s what we do. And we would like to do it for you. This second. Contact us at info@agencycreative.com.

Understand the Gen Y Audience

There is a buzzing “Buzz Word” in the workplace; Gen Y. Companies want to know who they are, what’s so special about them, and how they market to them?

Who is Gen Y?
Generation Y are also known as Millennial or Echo Boomers. Their birthdates range from late 70s to early 90s and there are over 75 million living in the US. Raised by Baby Boomers, they were brought up to believe they can do anything and be anything they want.

Everything about Gen Y has been shaped by opportunity and destruction. Technology has given them the greatest opportunity for advancement, while every year their lives are shaped by a worldly disaster. From the Gulf War, Columbine Shooting, 9-11, Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina to Desert Storm in Afghanistan, Gen Y has been affected. Yet, they are striving to be the most optimistic and creative generation.

What is so special about Gen Y?
Gen Y is the fastest growing segment in the workforce today. They have high expectations not only of themselves, but of their co-workers and boss. They are hard workers, but a generation of multi-taskers, who can be working on a project, talking on the phone, updating their Twitter, Blog and their Facebook all at the same time.

Gen Y lives by a work-life balance, which isn’t just a trend, but their mantra. They aren’t looking for just a JOB, they are looking for JOY. It’s important to them to have joy while on the job. More than half of Gen Y workers prefer a job with volunteer opportunities, according to the Deloitte Survey. A place of work that donates, has a significant cause, or has a volunteer program is more likely to have Gen Y happiness than no Gen Y at all.

How do I market to Gen Y?
The Gen Y community has grown up learning, “Don’t trust advertisers.” Less than half get their information and news from television or radio – both traditional media forms of advertising. Most of the Gen Y community gets their information and news from one another. They text, IM, watch YouTube of each other, Twitter and they Google everything. They speak to each other about their likes and dislikes then blog about it at the end of the day.

There are 6 major rules to consider when marketing to Gen Y.
1. Create a good quality product
2. Provide it at a good value
3. Have fast service
4. Allow them to have an “experience”
5. Make sure it’s hip
6. Most importantly, be authentic

Authenticity is the most important rule when marketing to the Gen Y community. To earn their respect and get them talking to their friends about your product or brand, you have to be authentic. They know real when they see it.

A couple of important things to remember when learning about Gen Y and how to market to them is: listen, hang out, experience their life on their terms and most importantly respect them. They are the most transparent generation to date and Social Networking is the key to successful marketing with Gen Y.

Facebook and Twitter are two of the most popular social networking sites to immediately get connected to the Gen Y audience. Check out Agency Creative’s Facebook and Twitter to begin your connection:

http://www.facebok.com/AgencyCreative
http://twitter.com/AgencyCreative

The Twittering/Facebooking of America

I'm paid to be clever. That's how I feed my family. So why squander my wit on Twitter? Why give up the groceries for free on Facebook? I do it to stay connected with old friends. So a guy I haven't seen in five years--who now lives in Ohio--can tell me I made him laugh. But the pressure is incredible. Artie Megibben is... what? I can't just say, "I'm ordering a coffee at Starbucks." After all, I'm a Creative Director. I have to say something cute. Right? And so I do. But I don't get a nickel for it--just friends who I make smile.

Of course, there are other reasons some one might send a tweet or update a Facebook wall. It can actually improve the organic rankings of your company's Web site. How awesome is that? I know! You see, we have special knowledge of cool stuff like that at Agency Creative. We are into Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Web 2.0. We know how to raise your rankings with Google and Yahoo. We know how to sneak hardworking keywords into your Web content and how to streamline your nav menu to make it more intuitive. It's sort of secret Ninja knowledge that we would love to share with you face-to-face. Or Facebook-to-Facebook. Whatever works for you. Now, excuse me while I think of something clever to tweet.