Want to sell to young people today? Let's talk about Gen Z – they have $360 billion to spend! These teens and young adults live on their phones. Most of them find things to buy on TikTok and Instagram.
Gen Z likes real people and real stories. They don't trust ads that feel fake. They also care about doing good in the world. When you talk to them, be honest and friendly. Show them who you really are.
They look up everything before they buy it. Make it easy for them to learn about your stuff both online and in stores. Talk to them like a friend would. Share fun posts they can click on and play with.
Most of all, be open about what you do. When you're real with Gen Z, they'll be real with you too.
Key Takeaways
Talk to Gen Z with quick, fun videos on TikTok and Instagram. They like short clips that get right to the point.
Be real with them. Show them you care about good things, like helping people and the earth. Gen Z can tell when you're not being honest.
Team up with people they trust online. Let happy customers share their stories. This helps Gen Z know they can trust you too.
Make it easy to shop both online and in stores. Your website should work well on phones, and let them help themselves.
Get to know them better. Make fun stuff they can click and play with. Stay the same friendly face no matter where they see you online.
Digital Communication Preferences
Gen Z loves to chat online in special ways. They want messages to be quick and full of pictures. They like to talk right away and do many things at once. Most young people watch YouTube videos. Many of them use TikTok too.
If you want to talk to Gen Z, keep things short and use lots of pictures. They don't like phone calls much. Instead, they send text messages to friends. They love apps that show real life, like BeReal. This app got very big last year.
Each app needs its own kind of posts. What works on Instagram mightn't work on Snapchat. To reach Gen Z, you must use the apps they like best.
Building Trust Through Authenticity
Let's talk about trust and being real.
Young people today can spot fake stuff right away. They like brands that do the right thing and help make the world better.
You need to talk to them like a friend would. Show them real people using your stuff. Listen to what they say and fix what needs fixing. Care about the earth and be kind to others.
Team up with people they trust – but pick ones who really believe in what you do. Most young folks can tell when someone is just doing it for money.
Being trustworthy takes time. You have to keep showing up and talking with people. Tell them your true story and be open about how you make things.
Remember: Be real. Be kind. Keep your word.
Social Media Shopping Behavior
Social media is changing how young people shop today. Kids and teens love to find new things to buy on apps like TikTok and Instagram. Almost all of them – a huge 97% – look at these apps to find cool stuff to buy.
When young shoppers want to buy something new, they often check TikTok and Instagram first. About half of them say these apps help them decide what to buy. YouTube helps too, with many kids watching videos about products there.
Young people trust online stars who show them products. One in three kids bought something because their favorite online star said it was good. More than half of them have bought things they first saw on TikTok.
But these young shoppers are smart. They read at least three reviews before buying anything. Most like to shop on their phones instead of computers.
Some are trying new ways to shop, like watching live shopping shows or using phone apps that let them see how clothes might look on them.
Balancing Online and In-Store Experiences
Young shoppers today love to mix online and in-store shopping. When they shop, they like to look at things both on their phones and in real stores.
Most of these young people do their homework first. They check reviews and prices before they buy. Many of them are always looking for fun new things to buy.
To make these shoppers happy, stores need to work well both online and in person. Young people want stores to be quick and easy, just like shopping on their phones. Many pick self-checkout to save time.
People who've more money to spend really like to shop both ways. They browse online, then go to the store. Or they see things in the store, then buy them online later.
Stores must make it simple to shop both ways. This helps keep young shoppers coming back for more.
Personalization Strategies That Work
Let's Talk About Making Things Just for You
When you want to grab Gen Z's attention, you need to make things feel special. Young people today grew up with phones and computers. They want brands to know them well. Two out of three young people want their apps and websites to work together smoothly.
Here's What Works Best:
| What We Do | How We Do It | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Tech | Changes as you browse | More clicks |
| Fun Pictures | Moving images & videos | People stay longer |
| Your Ideas | Spaces to share thoughts | Feels more real |
| Many Places | Same look everywhere | Easy to use |
| Quick Changes | Updates right away | Happy users |
Make sure to:
- Create things people can change
- Add fun stuff to click and play with
- Show why your brand matters
- Keep your look the same
- Ask people what they like
- Use what you learn to get better
The key is to be real. Young people can tell when you're not. Listen to them and change things to match what they want.
Conclusion
Gen Z young people have money to spend – about $143 billion! But they won't buy from brands that feel fake. These young shoppers grew up with phones and computers. They love to shop on social media, which is growing fast. They also want stores to make things just for them. It's not easy to win them over, but companies who learn how now will do well in the years ahead.
