Businesses of all shapes and sizes need to appeal to millennials. This generation has some serious purchasing power. A study found out that 17-year-olds to 34-year-olds will spend around $200 billion annually starting 2017. In terms of Tampa shopping, that’s over $10 trillion in their lifetime. This generation is spending more than any previous generations have done and they are using the internet to share information about products and services that appeal to them. You need to be part of that conversation.
Go mobile everywhere
Millennials are glued to their smartphones every waking moment of their lives. One out of every five millennials relies exclusively on their smartphones and tablets to go online. Yes, nobody uses the laptop anymore.
Your business website needs to be optimized for mobile viewing. A mobile-friendly version of your website is no longer a bonus, it’s essential. It is a vital component of your marketing strategy.
But going mobile does not only apply to your online presence. Your store needs to incorporate mobile payments, too. You need to use “contactless” payments like Apple Pay and Android Pay. A large portion of millennials is using contactless payments during their shopping transactions. You cannot isolate this group.
Invest in a social media strategy
A study recently found out that more than 50 percent of millennials rely heavily on social media for their shopping decisions.
This means they check social media platforms first before going to your store and making a purchase. They rely on social media for shopping news, discount information, promotions, and many more.
Business should also consider using influencers or bloggers to persuade customers to buy from their stores. Millennials depend a lot on these influencers when it comes to their purchasing decisions.
Provide a seamless shopping experience
Although many millennials shop online, that does not mean they don’t go to the brick-and-mortar stores anymore. Some studies have found out that millennials still like going to stores. They want to feel the texture of the cloth, fit the shoes, and try on the products before buying them.
But because they have checked the products before going to your store, they expect to see the same quality material they saw on their screens. They also expect the store to offer the same discounts and promos they saw online. Businesses need to make sure that the shopping experience is consistent whether the customers shopped online or in the physical stores.