The $175 billion market that teens bring to businesses is staggering. What's even more staggering is that that number is lower than it should be. No one can measure the amount of influence teens and young adults have on their parents' back pockets. Often they rely on Mom and Dad to buy the latest and greatest piece of technology out there. But they show financial independence as well; one in three high school seniors has a credit card and 63% of their income is self-generated.
They are the fastest growing market in this decade as their buying power increases more and more every year. The problem is that many marketing firms are at a loss when it comes to advertising to this demographic. These younger demographics are doing new things at incredible paces. They are demanding, connected, and very aware of sales attempts.
So where does a marketing agency begin? Well, advertising to this demographic is guesswork for many. But here are a few simple tips to help you get a basic grasp on the most successful methods teen marketing agencies are using today.
Tip #1 – Don't go traditional. Radio? No. Newspaper? No. Magazine and TV? Now you're getting warmer. You don't see kids at the bus stop reading the daily news or popping on headphones to tune to their favorite FM station. They're listening to satellite radio or watching reruns of their favorite TV series on iPods.
Utilize mediums that the younger demographics are actually in touch with. Internet ads, cell phone marketing, even tried and true television advertising works. If you advertise in traditional mediums and expect that you're reaching young demographics "enough," you're not spending your dollars wisely. Spend where it counts.
Tip #2 – Don't sell. Kids are very smart and they learn quickly. Sales attempts hardly work on them because they've grown up in an age of advertising. The average American sees anywhere from 600 to 3,000 advertising messages a day. Teens most likely see the upper end of this statistic and have learned to sniff out a sales attempt before it even happens. If you try to sell them, you'll lose them. Advertise your products without using double-speak, buzz words, or crazy advertising lingo.
Tip #3 – Parents are part of the equation. In reality, kids don't really have that much money. If they're a younger teenager, they most likely have an allowance that they'll part with very reluctantly. If they have a job, they'll know the value of money and they'll spend wisely.
So what do you do? Do what Virgin Mobile did with their cell phone campaign. They did a "Parent Enlightenment" campaign where they encouraged teens to educate their parents and also guilt them into buying them a cell phone. Mommy and Daddy will always buy for their kids. Target that age group where parent involvement is most excessive and use Virgin's method.
Tip #4 – Pop culture works. Teens relate to iconic figures in popular movies, magazines, and music. Is there any question why the top designer companies get Paris Hilton to wear their latest fashions for free? She wears an outfit on a Saturday night and by Monday the items sell like crazy.
Most ad budgets don't accommodate high caliber celebrities. But music works just as well. Whereas young teens like to conform to their friends' interests, older teens develop their own tastes and like to be individuals. Do research and find some music that would really hit home with your target. Songs can literally make or break ads. You know an advertisement is doing its job when you see people walking down the street singing the tune in it.
Tip #5 – Brand, brand, brand. Just as teens relate to celebrities and popular songs, they also relate to the brands they buy. Keep your brand in front of their face. For example, the fashion industry has created a cult following for clothing stores like American Eagle, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Hot Topic, Old Navy, and Express. They plaster their individual brands all over the clothing they sell. These kids are walking billboards and are proud to be walking billboards.
Produce this kind of brand loyalty in teens (which is easier than producing it in adults), and you'll have lifelong fans of your business.
Tip #6 – Utilize their network. Teens are constantly connected through email, instant messaging, cell phones, and other mobile devices. Combine their networking abilities with their passion for free things. Websites like BzzAgent.com use their agents to start wide scale word of mouth campaigns for companies. If you can set up this "agent-like" relationship with your teen customers, you can expect a great response.
Be wary of the negative effects word of mouth advertising can have. It's easier to bash a product than praise it. And a dissatisfied customer tells 3-4 times as many people about their experience than a satisfied one.
Tip #7 – Hire them. The best way to market to teens and the younger demographics is to get an insider's view of the market. Pay high school students and offer internships to college students to assist your company in marketing to their demographics. They'll have a really good time because they won't feel as if they're in over their head, and you'll be getting some very useful information.
If your budget is not that big, create some focus groups of teenagers and have them analyze advertisements on TV and in popular magazines. Learn from their responses and even have them come up with their own ways to market to their demographic. Who better to market to teens than teens themselves, right?


Business Groups - Market For Maximum Effectiveness
Business groups like the Chamber of Commerce provide many excellent marketing opportunities. The members of these types of business groups are all business owners and many of them will fit into your sweet-spot profile. What better way to get to know the decision makers in these businesses?
Maximize Your Exposure in Business Groups
Don't simply join a business group and remain a passive bystander. To get the most out of your business group experience you need to get involved. Here are some tips:
When you join one of these business groups immediately make yourself known to the Executive Director, the office staff and the officers, as well as the people on the board.
Volunteer for a committee. This is an excellent way to meet and really get to know some of the local small business owners.
Speak at the meetings and events.
Exhibit and take out a little table at the next expo or event held by the business group. These are usually inexpensive and are a low risk proposition.
Send a direct mail to the business group members on the master list introducing them to your company and your services.
Invite the whole business group membership to seminars or events you are holding.
Attend and network at the business group meetings regularly; 8 or 10 a year is a good number.
There are no sure things but the active members of a business group, the board, and the committee chairs tend to be loyal to the inner circle of their fellow business group supporters. It's almost like a fraternity or sorority.
The Bottom Line on Business Groups
The key to getting the most out of a business group is to be an active member. Keep your name in front of the membership. Remember to do your follow up. You want the business group members to know your name and think of you first when they have a computer issue. If you are patient and persistent your business group membership will pay off.
Copyright MMI-MMVI, Small Business Computer Consulting .com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

About The Author:
Joshua Feinberg helps small business computer consulting firms get more steady, high-paying clients. Learn how you can too. Sign-up now for your free access to a one-hour audio training program on Small Business Computer Consulting Tips.


Why Goal Setting Is Important if You Want to be a Success in Sales
Goal setting is important because:
-It directs and coordinates your activities
-Increases your ability and efficiency in prioritizing
-Creates Motivation
-Gives you Direction, shows you where to go
Just think about it, does it make sense to use your time efficiently if you are not sure of the direction you are heading? It also keeps you focused on what is important, and what is needed in order to move on to the next level of success.
Instead of wasting your day on trying to figure out what to do next you know exactly what are trying to accomplish, and what you need to be doing, goals will help you bring organization into this chaos.
It allows you to focus and prioritize all or your activities to the tasks that are the key to achieving and establishing your major goals.
Goal setting is very important because it gives you a sense of accomplishment, a bit of the old "feel good factor" and not only can you have something to measure your achievements against but you now actually have achievements. This gives you the ability to visualize exactly what success means to you, on your own personal terms.
Goal setting (and achieving) is the foundation of your success!
So set meaningful goals, be committed and continue to track your progress, this is the most powerful tool that you can use to have SUCCESS IN SALES!
To learn more about how to be successful in sales just click on to www.thehandsontrainingsystem.com right Now and get my FREE 5 part training course to help you get established.
Yours in Success
Leslie Johnston
The Hands on Trainer