Television has been the cash cow for advertising budgets for over 50 years. However, for the first time ever, digital advertising usurped television advertising spends in 2016. Now, big brands are turning to social media and the digital world to market their products.

As a new medium becomes king, there becomes a new way that its followers consume the message. In the digital world, the majority of individuals, specifically those in the younger generations, consume their content via their smartphones. As content consumption shifts to social media and smartphones, brands must adapt and transfer their marketing budgets towards new applications and methods of distribution.

Deep Patel of Forbes says, “Marketers need to focus on building social media campaigns that are mobile, diverse and realistic.” Patel recommends that advertisers abide by five marketing mantras:

1. Invest in Interactive Technologies: Brands can develop their own collaborative applications that require interactivity with potential customers.
2. Feature Diverse and Gender-Neutral Subjects: Social media is the anti-Fox news. The younger generation is shifting away from traditional TV binaries and they want more liberal-focused content.
3. Analyze Brands Gen Zers Already Love: There are certain brands that are ahead in the content consumption race including YouTube, Revolve, and Nike. Study the social media content the experts are creating and what platforms they are utilizing.
4. Select Social Media Platforms Wisely: While Facebook is a major moneymaker for brands; Gen Z is shifting towards Instagram and Snapchat. Brands need to take inventory of their key demographic and create content on that specific demographics social platform.
5. Include Paid Elements to Accelerate Engagement: While organic content is important, brands need to pay to play in the world of social media. Digital advertisers need to keep in mind that Gen Z and the digital generation connect with “real people in real situations” instead of the cookie cutter image on traditional television.

Source

Patel, Deep. “5 Tips for Creating Social Media Campaigns for Gen Z.” Forbes. 12 Aug 2017. https://www.forbes.com/sites/deeppatel/2017/08/12/5-tips-for-creating-social-media-campaigns-for-gen-z/#7f6a36bf5901