Meet the Millennials

No other generation has ever gone through such tough scrutiny as Millennials. You know who they are – that category of young people born between 1980 and 2000, primarily characterized by their propensity towards all things digital. They are also greatly hyped for their variable media consumption, work place capacity, advanced networking methods, and overall life aspirations. Having been subject to endless commentary with varying perspectives, this key market demographic has left majority of today’s marketers scratching their heads.

Millennials as Consumers

It is easy to typecast millennials as being lazy or entitled, as other generations have accused them to be. However, that kind of thinking may hinder companies from truly understanding what makes this demographic such an interesting and challenging target. Countless market surveys have been done to better appreciate the personal values that affect their buying process.

They prefer online and mobile, as those channels provide them with extensive knowledge about the products and services they are interested in. Many of them would much rather consult with the internet than a salesperson, with 93% of millennials having read online reviews prior to making a purchase. They have developed a habit of checking product ratings and retailer feedback to ensure they are getting the best value for their money.

Millennials also favour word-of-mouth over ad placements, with 89% trusting personal recommendations more than brand claims, and 68% asserting that they are unaffected by celebrity endorsements. Instead, they listen to the opinions of other people, majority of them reporting to have purchased something after hearing it from someone they know.

Moving the Millennial Market

While millennials are already a significant contributor to the global economy, they are projected to fully mature by the year 2020.

Their consumer habits are expected to have a major impact on several industries. With this generation’s peak spending years just around the corner, companies with good business foresight are already gearing up with the right marketing strategies.

An important thing to note is that it should not just be the multi-billion sectors that concern themselves with the commercial power of millennials. Industries that are based on the provision of services, like moving and relocation, need to put their best foot forward to win the business of this generation.

Update your marketing plan by remembering the top 5 elements of successful Millennial engagement:

REACH

Millennials are fast adopters, taking no time in discovering and mastering the latest technologies the world has to offer. In fact, 30% of them interact with four or more devices on a daily basis, viewing these newfound tools as an essential part of life and work.

Through these modern gadgets, they are constantly exposed to a variety of media. Millennials have been found to spend 17.8 hours of their everyday lives on simultaneous consumption of numerous media outlets. Theirs is the first generation to choose digital sources over traditional ones like television, print, and radio.

As such, it is crucial for your moving company to establish a strong presence online. Easy accessibility to your range of relocation services has to become the top priority, as millennials place utmost importance on convenience and efficiency when it comes to their transactions.

RELEVANCE

Gone are the days when experts, people with academic or professional qualifications, reigned supreme on influencing purchasing decisions. Millennials prefer to ask anybody – including family, acquaintances, and even strangers – who have had firsthand experience with the company in question. They do not view corporate entities as reliable sources of information, turning instead to independent reviews.

To earn the trust of this key demographic, moving and relocation companies need to make reviews about their solutions available online. You need to consider that service quality can only be judged by experience, unlike products that have specifications.

REPUTATION

A whopping 75% of millennials are convinced that companies are only concerned with pushing their agendas, rather than contributing to the betterment of life. As a generation raised with the belief that they can change the world, they make a conscious effort to support brands with social or environmental causes. They lean towards companies that reflect who they are and what they believe in.

Companies in the moving and relocations industry should strive to create positive buzz among these potential customers. You need to go beyond having an online presence and work towards sustainable customer relations.

RELATIONS

Many businesses view millennials as having erratic consumer patterns, translating to lack of brand loyalty. But the truth is that they can be fiercely loyal customers if they are treated well. They expect businesses to cultivate a meaningful connection with them by offering personalized solutions.

Millennials state that round-the-clock availability is the best thing a brand can do to maintain a relationship with them. The linear approach to marketing does not work well with millennials, as they want two-way communication with their chosen companies.

Relocation companies need to establish an ongoing conversation with customers, individually and in small groups. This market segment wants to help you define the way you do your business, and eventually contribute to its overall success. They want to feel that you do not see them as mere money-makers, but that you possess genuine care and concern for their needs.

REFERRAL

Millennials use the internet as a means of sharing their thoughts. They are highly invested in activities like rating products and services, as well as uploading content.

The wide coverage of online platforms has given them a stronger voice of judgement as consumers. A great number of millennials even claim that peers have sought out their knowledge on certain brands, and are willing to share what they can through social media.

They use digital technology to connect with several people at once, with more frequency and in real time. As such, the weight of their brand preferences and customer feedback has become amplified and accelerated.

Listening to what your customers are saying about your moving company is important to business development. Having an extensive collection of authentic reviews could be your competitive edge from other relocation services provider. You need an effective system that enables you to connect with past customers and collate their feedback.

Making the Most out of Millennials

Organizational structures and marketing strategies need to be transformed in accordance with the attitudes and values of the prevailing demographic. Consumer marketing has been set aside in favour of multimedia initiatives executed across digital channels.

Moving and relocation companies need to take this paradigm shift as an opportunity to further your business.

With MoveAide.com, we make it easy for you to extend your reach to millennials.

Build up your arsenal of reviews immediately; invite your customers to review your services on MoveAide.com. Designed especially for the moving and relocations industry, MoveAide will help you collect, showcase and manage your customer feedback. Start creating conversations over content and source influence from your happy customers.

MoveAide can help you maximize the potential of millennials as customers.

Interested to find out more about how you can win over the millennial customer? Reach out to us at info@moveaide.com