• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Get Started
Support
Call us
Email Us
BizzyWeb | Minneapolis Web Design & Digital Marketing

BizzyWeb | Minneapolis Web Design & Digital Marketing

The Best Choice for Digital Marketing in Minnesota

  • Services
    • Growth-Driven Web Design
    • Digital Marketing
    • Inbound Marketing
  • Portfolio
  • About
    • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our Team
    • Tools We Use
  • Events
  • BizzyNews
  • Contact
  • Get Started
  • Support
You are here: Home / News / 6 Dos and Don’ts of Marketing to Generation X
Call us
Find BizzyWeb

6 Dos and Don’ts of Marketing to Generation X

5 years ago

Reading Time: 3 minutes

6 Dos and Don'ts of Marketing to Generation X

Poor Generation X. Wedged between the Baby Boomers and Millennials, Generation X frequently gets swept to the side. Which is a shame, because Gen Xers are the managers and entrepreneurs. In other words? They’re the decision-makers.

These folks, aged 35-51, have a monumental influence on the market that isn’t being tapped into. Millennials are the trendy new market and Baby Boomers are the established audience, but Gen Xers are where the money is. Generation X may only be the third-largest generation, but they have the largest spending power at 31% of all income dollars. Especially if you’re a B2B business, you need to speak to Generation X – they’re the ones who decide whether or not to purchase. Marketing to Generation X is a bit tricky – most Xers grew up in the 80s/90s and are the line between the pre-and-post-digital world. What do you need to know to reach this powerful group?

DO: Provide lots of information and context

More so than any other generation, Gen Xers crave context. They lead the pack in terms of who writes and consumes reviews online. Before making a purchasing decision, they dig into every available resource they can find. Because Generation X straddles the line between digital and traditional media, Gen Xers look both online and offline to inform their purchasing decisions. Win them over with the information they need and they’ll be loyal customers. According to a study by eMarketer.com, almost 50% of Gen Xers are brand loyal. Bottom line? Give them plenty of information and you’ll likely get a repeat customer in return. 

DON’T: Beat around the bush 

Gen Xers grew up in the angst-filled 90s and have an excellent ability to sniff out BS. Plus, a majority of Gen Xers are managers or entrepreneurs and have the experience to call you to task. Give them the information they crave, but be authentic. Gen Xers understand value and they want to know what you can do for them.  They have the money to spend, but they won’t drop a cent unless they know it’s a good investment. Skip the sales speak and be frank with them – they’ll appreciate the honesty. 

DO: Keep it personal 

Most Gen Xers are now parents, and Generation X consumes media that reflects their values. Nielsen reports that both men and women of Generation X are drawn to TV Advertisements that showcase everyday life and real-world situations. Generation X women in particular enjoy sentimental ads that focus on family life. Appeal to Gen Xers by rooting conversations in real-world possibilities. How can your product/service improve their life, or the lives of their children? Don’t be afraid to sprinkle in some narrative selling – Gen Xers like to hear stories.

DON’T: Ignore social media

Millennials are often seen as the social-media obsessed generation, but Gen Xers are just as likely to engage with brands on social media. In fact, in some cases they are more likely to use social media. Gen Xers on average spend more time on their mobile devices using Facebook than Millennials or Baby Boomers. And when they use social media, they are 75% more likely to talk about tech news and products/apps than Millennials and Boomers. When marketing to Generation X, social media needs to be a part of your strategy. 

DO: Use video

It’s true: Gen Xers love video. They watch upwards of 32 hours of TV a week and 45.8 Million Gen Xers watch digital videos. Video is a fantastic way to showcase your products/services in a creative, personal way. Appeal to Generation X with a real-world narrative, and seal the deal by outlining clear values. (Pssst – not sure how to get started using digital videos? We have a webinar just for you.)

DON’T: Send them to a bad website

Now you know that Gen Xers demand information, like personal touches and are active web users. Point them to an outdated, clunky or incomplete website and they’ll turn right around and never look back. 73% of Gen Xers made at least one online purchase in 2015 and eMarketer.com estimates that 75% will make at least one online purchase in 2016. They are willing to shop online. Is your website ready for them?

* * *

If You Build It, They Will Come

BizzyWebBee-2014

We know Generation X. Heck – over 80% of our team belongs to this generation. We also know that the key to reaching this demographic is a website that keeps them coming back for more. Start reeling them in with a powerful new site. And once you’ve captured their attention, keep them satiated with emails, blogs and social media.

Author: Dave Meyer Filed Under: BizzyWeb, Facebook, Marketing, News, Social Media, Web Design Tagged: digital marketing, gen x, generation x, marketing, online marketing, target market, web design

Related News

How to Get More Traffic to Your Website

How to Get More Traffic to Your Website

1 year ago

Getting website traffic is a common goal for our clients, and there are a few simple steps you can take today to drastically increase your monthly traffic.

The Best Growth Hacks for 2020

The Best Growth Hacks for 2020

2 years ago

Hacking isn't all negative or relegated to cheesy '90s flicks - it can also be a tool for exponential growth using growth hacking.

How to Convince Your Boss to Choose GDD Over Traditional Web Design

How to Convince Your Boss to Choose GDD Over Traditional Web Design

2 years ago

For those considering a Growth-Driven Design program, here is how you can convince your boss it's a worthy investment. 

Footer

Services

  • Digital Marketing
  • Inbound Marketing
  • Growth-Driven Web Design
  • Email Marketing
  • Pay Per Click Advertising
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Social Media
  • Web Design
  • Brand Strategy
  • Website Hosting

Resources

  • Tutorials
  • Webinar Archive
  • Events
  • Client Area
  • Careers

Follow Us

Find Us

11190 Commerce Dr N
Minneapolis, MN 55316

612.424.9990

Keep In Touch

Subscribe to BizzyNews for the latest trends in Web Design, Inbound Marketing and Digital Marketing. Join over 5,000 people who receive our free monthly tips.

Partners

Copyright © 2021 · Minneapolis Web Design by BizzyWeb All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Log in