Millennial Social Media Shopping Habits?

Millennials are a truly unique generation. Their lives are completely integrated into the tech world, making platforms like social media a prime opportunity for marketers to reach them. That said, they’re also very price conscious..

But does social media influence Millennials’ shopping decisions?

The short answer is yes. One report by Deloitte found that 47 per cent of Millennials say their purchase decisions are influenced by social media. For perspective, the figure is 19 per cent across all other age groups.

Related Article: Social Media Millennial Marketing?

At least more than other generations, Millennials pay close attention to social media when shopping. But it’s not likely they’re there to listen to the marketing messages of brands. Instead, Millennials use social media as a way to receive input from their peers about what products and services are best to use.

Still, this knowledge can really help brands leverage Millennials’ relationship with social media to drive sales.

The effect of social media influence over purchase decisions is a powerful one. Consumers who include social media as part of their shopping process are four times more likely to spend more money on purchases. They’re also 29 per cent more likely to make a purchase on the same day when using social media to make purchase decisions.

Make The Most of Social Media

As a brand, it would be a mistake to think that your normal marketing material will be enough to influence the way Millennials think about your brand and products.

Paul Donagher of Market Strategies had this to say about Millennials and social media: “Millennials are more engaged, more vocal and more visual. They’re not merely passive readers—they post, pin, view and blog. And, they’re willing to experiment and go onto the next innovation in social media.”

Brand engagement and peer discussions are the real keys to making your brand memorable on social media and keeping your products in the forefront of millennial minds.

One study by PricewaterhouseCoopers asked digital buyers about how they make purchase decisions online. Nearly half reported that reviews, comments and feedback on social media impacted their shopping choices.

Related Article: Social Media Reach Like Beyoncé?

For brands to succeed, they need to take a break from promotional messaging and instead focus on promoting user generated content. “Encourage current customers to leave reviews for your brand, says Gary Sumpter, CEO of Brokedick. “You can even create a special branded hashtag and launch a campaign to receive public feedback on Facebook and Twitter. The possibilities are endless.”

“Use your social profiles as a platform to deliver great customer service,” says Alex Silensky, CEO of OGScapital. “Millennials are watching. If you receive any public complaints on your social profile, do your best to resolve the issue so people can see your brand’s priority is to make customers happy.”

Know Your Niche

How much can social media impact millennial purchase decisions for your brand? That will really depend on your niche.

According to the Deloitte data, certain product categories work better than others to market on social media. Some 56 per cent of people buying baby products say social media influences their purchase decisions, compared to 40 per cent for home furnishings, 33 per cent for health and wellness and 32 per cent for automotive.

Take some time to explore how Millennials are discussing your industry on social media. Look for opportunities to promote your user generated content in Facebook groups, using industry-related Twitter hashtags, leveraging the power of custom coupons created specially for social media users, and more. This is often commonly seen in the web hosting niche.

Most businesses can make an impact on Millennial purchase decisions on social media, but some will have bigger opportunities than others.

Meeting Millennial Needs

There has been a lot of research over the years into the impact of social media on purchase decisions. And the numbers don’t lie. According to a 2014 study by Market Strategies International, Millennials are three times more likely than other generations to turn to social media to make purchase decisions. And it’s not just Facebook and Twitter that they focus on. Millennials are 19 per cent more likely to use Instagram and 14 per cent more likely to use Tumblr than other generations.

Related Article: Millennial Talent Recruitment Social Media?

So if you really want to cut through the noise and speak straight to Millennials, don’t neglect other platforms to promote your customer reviews, comments and feedback.

Here are some other major ways you can meet Millennials’ needs and impact purchase decisions on social media:

• Build genuine relationships with Millennials on social media – Gary Vaynerchuk is perhaps the best example of this
• Encourage public reviews on social media and other platforms
• Encourage Millennials’ conversations about your brand on social media
• Remember to address price-minded Millennials in your marketing messages – Toner Connect does this all the time
• Take a multi-platform approach to Millennial marketing
• Focus your social discussions on causes Millennials care about.

Guest Authored By Jimmy Rohampton. Jimmy is a freelance writer, business consultant and the creator of HowToCreateABlog, where he empowers people to gain digital skills. He's written and consulted for many companies including Cadbury, LEGO, BMW and Unbounce. He's a Hootsuite Certified Social Media Consultant and a Digital Marketer Social & Community Specialist, and he shows people how social media can be a key to personal and professional development. His work has appeared on Entrepreneur Magazine, The Huffington Post, Engadget, and more. Follow Jimmy on Twitter.

Related Article: 2017 Millennial Social Media Habits?

"Millennials are a dynamic, opinionated, price-conscious generation. But they pay a lot of attention to social media when it comes to making purchases.

Position your brand to address their needs and encourage positive social conversations about your products and services. In the end, this strategy can have a significant impact on your bottom line.."

• 

  Authored by:

  Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at GetMoreHere.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)

Follow Me Yonder..                     

YOUR Social Media Healthcare?

There's no point in denying that millennials are influenced by opinions posted on social media. They frequently consult blogs, Facebook, and other social media sites before making decisions relating to education, career, finances, travel and purchases. But does the influence of social media expand to include health care decisions?

As it turns out, the answer is yes. Millennials rely strongly on social media as a source of education on healthcare issues. Further, social media has a huge impact on provider selection, general medical advice and lifestyle choices. Over 75% of Americans use social media to research their symptoms. Also, 90% of people aged 18 to 24 stated they trust medical info shared on their social feeds, according to PwC Health Research Institute.

Related Article: YOUR Social Media Bandwagon?

This survey makes it pretty clear that medical and health information isn't simply being shared to spur conversation, or because it's interesting. Millennials, or at the least the youngest segment of that generation see social media as a trustworthy source for medical information.

This could be problematic if they are using that info to make healthcare decisions without vetting the information, or foregoing medical advice, especially as, according to Epiphany Resources, one in five Americans admit to taking medicine either prescribed for someone else or misusing their own prescription for non-medical reasons.

Like other products and services, millennials read customer reviews on healthcare. As many as 42% of people hit up social media review sites before choosing a provider or making other healthcare decisions. Healthgrades, Consumer Reports, even GlassDoor.com have reviews that could impact the way that providers are perceived by millennials.

Also, more than 40% of people state that social media impacts provider selection. It's important to note that while their are many ways in which healthcare consumers impact one another's decisions on social media, healthcare providers also have much sway. Up to 41% of people indicated a provider's social media presence impacts their decision making.

Because of this, hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare professionals are increasingly seeing the value of social media participation and engagement.

Related Article: Becoming A Social Media Patient Influencer?

According to Cloud Dentistry, many hospitals now have social media strategies, and one is more likely to be able to connect with providers on social.

The CDC is Encouraging Leaders in Healtcare to use Social Media

According to the CDC's Millennial Health Leader's Summit, social media can be used in the following ways:

• Educating communities not being adequately reached
• Offering useful content where consumers are
• Facilitating real time conversation
• Improving credibility and thought leadership

Because of these and other reasons, the CDC is strongly encouraging members of the healthcare community to use social media as a tool. The summit provided a significant amount of information on methods and best practices healthcare professionals can use to reach out to audiences on social media.

Related Article: Your Social Media Pharmacist?

When what could arguably be considered one of the most influential health organizations in the world is encouraging providers to use social media, that's pretty significant. It should also be noted that the CDC itself is very active on social media. Their presence includes multiple apps, 18 Facebook profiles, a YouTube channel with millions of views, and 13 blogs among others.

The WHO also Endorses the Use of Social Media to Spread Information

According to his bulletin from the World Health Organization, the ability to access credible healthcare information quickly is very important in creating positive healthcare outcomes. Blogs and other forms of social media used to communicate healthcare information if said information is verifiably accurate.

Related Article: YOUR Social Media Conference Power?

While much of WHO's stance on this issue comes from recognizing that social media is a great tool for reaching under-served populations globally, it also represents a shift in thinking that very likely was influenced by the way that millennials approach health related information. Conversely, this shift in thinking is likely to influence millennials behavior as well.

Many Smartphone Owners Have Installed at Least One Health App

According to Pew Research 19% of people with smartphones have a health related app installed on their phone. These apps include fitness trackers such as MyFitnessPal, diet and recipe apps, calorie trackers, and weight loss apps.

In addition to this, a significant number of smartphone users are using their devices to access healthcare information. Considering that it's very well established that millennials are very connected to their smartphones, healthcare professionals and organizations may want to consider leveraging mobile. They could do this by creating apps, ensuring that their sites are mobile friendly, even offering self service options to mobile users.

In the past, the typical model of distributing healthcare information cast the provider as the source of information, and the patient as passive consumer of that information. In the future, conversations will become increasingly more engaging.

Clearly social media has as much influence over millennials with regard to healthcare as it does other the other decisions they face on a daily basis. Healthcare providers who are most successful at reaching this generation are going to be the ones who are willing to embrace social media and use it effectively."

Guest Authored By Jimmy Rohampton. Jimmy is a freelance writer, business consultant and the creator of HowToCreateABlog, where he empowers people to gain digital skills. He's written and consulted for many companies including Cadbury, LEGO, BMW and Unbounce. He's a Hootsuite Certified Social Media Consultant and a Digital Marketer Social and Community Specialist, and he shows people how social media can be a key to personal and professional development. His work has appeared on Entrepreneur Magazine, The Huffington Post, Engadget, and more. Follow Jimmy on Twitter.

Related Article: Social Media Millennial Marketing?

"Clearly social media has as much influence over millennials with regard to healthcare as it does other the other decisions they face on a daily basis. 

Healthcare providers who are most successful at reaching this generation are going to be the ones who are willing to embrace social media and use it effectively.."

• 

  Authored by:

  Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at GetMoreHere.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)

Follow Me Yonder..                     

Millennial Talent Recruiting Social Media?

If you're a millennial business owner seeking to recruit other millennial talent, you're in luck. Social media is good way to go.

Eighty-six percent of working people who are in their first decade of employment will use social media to look for jobs and research employers.

That should be more than enough reasons for you to employ social media in your recruitment efforts.

However, making social media work as a means of recruiting isn't easy. It takes a deft touch to reach out to millennials in ways that will generate a positive reaction, and result in successful recruiting efforts.

Related Article: Millennials NOT Wasting Time on Social Media?

The following 12 tips shared by millennial business owners should serve as a guide for navigating this process.

1. Use social media to present your company culture in a favorable light

"You probably know that the whole of your social media presence should keep sales and customer relationships in mind. The same rule applies to recruiting. Every picture you share, every bit of content that you publish, and every social media status update all add up to create a mental image of your company's culture. Be sure that it is appealing to millennials." - Issa Asad, CEO of Qlink Wireless.

2. Actively use social media platforms that are popular among millennials

"If you are only active on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, you are missing out on opportunities to reach millennials where they are spending a significant amount of time. You can't get the right candidate from the wrong place. Start being active on millennial-favorite Instagram and Snapchat to push your company's name to the right crowd." - Marc Johnston, CEO of Johnston Law Firm.

3. Don't put on a persona that isn't representative of your company

"Millennials can sniff out phony from miles away, and they have no tolerance for it. Don't use hip phrases, or attempt to put on a false persona when reaching out to millennials. They will appreciate authenticity even more. Also, keep in mind that millennials don't think or act in lockstep. They are representative of a wide variety of values, interests, and communications styles. Be genuine in your branding, and you will attract great talent." - Robert Carter, CEO of Virtual Office.

Related Article: Small Business Social Media Selfies?

4. Don't wait until people start job hunting

The best time to get to know potential recruits and to start building relationships with them is before they start looking for jobs. Use LinkedIn and other networking groups to connect with millennials in your industry. This way, when they are ready to begin looking for jobs, you will already be on their radar." - Alex Hamilton, - HR Director of Opteck.

5. Get current employees to help in recruiting efforts

"If you already have millennials in your organization, they could be one of your most powerful recruiting tools. Encourage them to talk about your company on social media, and to share their positive work experiences. Finally, when you have an opening available, encourage staff members to recruit using their social media accounts." - David Abels, CEO of Daveabels.

6. Be aware of what millennials think of you

"More than previous generations, millennials do not want to be associated with businesses that have practices that they find to be morally questionable. They also don't want to be associated with brands that don't offer up great products and amazing customer service. Because of this, you can expect that they will research your business just as intently as you might research their backgrounds.

Related Article: Growing YOUR Social Media Influence?

The best way to deal with this is to know how you are viewed by this generation, and to take steps to clear up any negatives. Set up Google alerts for your company name in order to receive notifications when your name is mentioned. Then, check out Glassdoor, Amazon, Yelp and other sites where people are commenting on both your business and your products." - Eileen Geneva, CIO of Auto Loan.

7. Use targeted Facebook ads to reach millennials

"Many companies are leveraging their advertising dollars as part of their recruiting efforts. You can consider using super targeted ads option on Facebook to reach potential employees. You can also use "occupational targeting" to make sure your ads are being shown only to experienced users working in the same industry." - Rick Steele, Founder and CMO of SelectBlinds.

8. Be clear when creating job listings

"Don't forget that you can use social media to directly advertise jobs and to reach out to potential candidates. The clearer your ads are, and the more up front you are about your requirements, the better your responses will be. Be sure to make it easy for people to reach out to you on social media and be sure your profile has your contact information." - Hugh Odom, CEO of Cell Tower Lease Experts.

Related Article: Millennial Career Advancement Social Media?

9. Use visuals to make recruiting efforts more engaging

"Consider making your recruiting efforts even more interesting by making them visual. For example, you can create recruiting videos featuring your current staff, or show a behind the scenes look at daily life at your company. You can create and share infographics that tell the story of your products and services, and you can add images to your content to increase its impact and keep things interesting." - Mitchell Kim, CEO of Cosmos Clinic.

Guest Authored By Jimmy Rohampton. Jimmy is a freelance writer, business consultant and the creator of HowToCreateABlog, where he empowers people to gain digital skills. He's written and consulted for many companies including Cadbury, LEGO, BMW and Unbounce. He's a Hootsuite Certified Social Media Consultant and a Digital Marketer Social & Community Specialist, and he shows people how social media can be a key to personal and professional development. His work has appeared on Entrepreneur Magazine, The Huffington Post, Engadget, and more. Follow Jimmy on Twitter.

Related Article: Dynamic Social Media Recruitment Tips?

"Millennial business owners seeking to recruit other millennial talent, are in luck.

Social media is good way to go.

Eighty-six percent of working people who are in their first decade of employment will use social media to look for jobs and research employers.."

• 

  Authored by:

  Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at GetMoreHere.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Los Angeles, CA where I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)

Follow Me Yonder..