I cannot remember the exact figure, but some Sandicor (MLS) mucky muck told me the average age of the San Diego Realtor® was somewhere between 55 and 65 years old. If that’s the case, then the average agent is probably addressing marketing and prospecting using many traditional methods such as direct mail.
Direct mail is a great form of advertising, but as the population grows and changes, the Internet and other forms of advertising should definitely be added to the mix.
Here are two trends common to Generation Y (aka echo boomers):
- Generation Y Doesn’t Leave (or Listen to) Voice Mail Messages. Since caller identification is part of everyone’s smartphone, you can see who is calling you when the phone rings. No need to listen to a message or to leave one. The individual on the receiving end saw who called and will respond accordingly.
- Generation Y Does Not Use U.S. Mail. All bills can be paid online. You can also opt to receive all bills online as well. All notes and messages are sent via text or email. Magazines and books are read electronically. So, there are very few items that actually come to Generation Y via U.S. Mail—except for a $25 check from Grandma on your birthday. And… nobody uses checks anymore.
With those two trends in mind, it is important to consider the best mechanisms for advertising. If the echo boomers prefer texts and emails, are they going to check their mailboxes? Are the going to read the direct mail postcard?
In order to effectively market to Generation Y, you need to consider what they like and how they like their material presented. Using Youtube, a tablet, and text messages may go a long way towards finding a new niche in 2012.
Just sayin’.
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