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The Hawleywood Insider

  • Writer's pictureHawley Penfold

How to Market to Gen Z in the Era of Digital Publicity

Updated: Mar 3, 2023

As technology continues to evolve, so do the marketing strategies of businesses. One of the most significant demographic groups that businesses have been targeting lately is Gen Z. Born between the years 1997 and 2012, this generation is made up of digital natives who have grown up in a world that is heavily influenced by technology. They are the first generation that has grown up with the internet, smartphones, and social media, which have shaped their behaviors, values, and preferences. Therefore, to effectively reach out to Gen Z, businesses need to adopt digital publicity strategies. Digital publicity refers to the use of online channels to promote a product, service, or brand. In today's digital age, digital publicity has become an essential component of any marketing strategy. This is because the internet is now the primary platform for most people to access information, interact with brands, and make purchases. In this blog post, we will explore some of the ways businesses can use digital publicity to target Gen Z, the benefits of digital publicity, the different types of digital publicity, and the key strategies that businesses can use to achieve success in this space.


One of the key aspects of marketing to Gen Z is authenticity. Gen Z is a generation that values transparency, honesty, and authenticity. They can easily spot when a brand is not genuine, and they tend to reject companies that they perceive as inauthentic. Therefore, it is important for brands to be honest, transparent, and authentic in their messaging, branding, and communication with Gen Z. This means avoiding overly polished or staged content and using a more candid and real approach.


Another critical aspect of marketing to Gen Z is the use of social media. Gen Z spends a significant amount of time on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Therefore, brands need to have a strong social media presence and create content that resonates with Gen Z. However, it is important to note that Gen Z is not just looking for promotional content; they want to engage with brands in a more authentic and meaningful way. This means that brands need to create content that is entertaining, informative, and relevant to Gen Z's interests.


5 Ways to Appeal to Gen Z

1. Leverage social media platforms

Gen Z spends a significant amount of time on social media platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. These platforms are where businesses can connect with their target audience by creating engaging content, building a strong brand image, and engaging with their followers. For example, businesses can create short videos, memes, and other forms of visually appealing content that are shareable and can go viral.


2. Partner with influencers

Influencer marketing is a powerful tool for businesses looking to connect with Gen Z. Influencers are individuals with a significant social media following who can influence their followers' purchasing decisions. Companies can partner with influencers who align with their brand values and create sponsored content that resonates with their followers.


3. Use user-generated content

Gen Z trusts user-generated content more than branded content. Therefore, businesses can encourage their followers to create and share content related to their brand. This can include running contests, creating hashtags, and other interactive campaigns that encourage engagement from the audience. Gen Z loves to create and share content, and they trust user-generated content more than traditional advertising. Check out my other post to find out why brands should encourage their audience to create and share content that promotes their brand. This could be in the form of contests, challenges, or user-generated campaigns that allow Gen Z to express themselves and engage with the brand.


4. Create purpose-driven content

Gen Z is a socially conscious generation that cares about the environment, social justice, and other causes. Therefore, businesses can create purpose-driven content that aligns with their values. This can include content that highlights the company's social responsibility initiatives, such as sustainability efforts, donations to charitable organizations, and other similar initiatives. It is important for brands to highlight their purpose and commitment to social and environmental causes. Brands that align with Gen Z's values and beliefs are more likely to resonate with this generation and build long-term loyalty. Visual content is another important element of marketing to Gen Z. Gen Z is a highly visual generation, and they prefer content that is visually appealing. This means that brands need to use high-quality images, videos, and graphics to capture Gen Z's attention. Furthermore, brands should use a variety of visual formats, including short-form videos, animated gifs, and 360-degree images, to keep Gen Z engaged and entertained.


5. Optimize for mobile

Gen Z is a mobile-first generation that primarily accesses the internet through their smartphones. Therefore, businesses need to ensure that their digital publicity efforts are optimized for mobile devices. This includes having a mobile-responsive website, creating content that is easy to read on smaller screens, and ensuring that any ads or promotions are designed with mobile devices in mind. It is essential for brands to be mobile-friendly when marketing to Gen Z. Gen Z is a mobile-first generation, and they expect brands to provide a seamless mobile experience. Brands need to ensure that their websites, apps, and content are optimized for mobile devices and provide a fast, user-friendly experience.



The Benefits of Digital Publicity:

One of the primary advantages of digital publicity is that it allows businesses to reach a larger audience. With billions of people online, businesses can use various digital platforms to target potential customers in different locations and demographics. This is in contrast to traditional forms of publicity, such as print or television, which are limited in their reach and scope. With the increase in internet penetration, digital publicity provides businesses with a way to target potential customers all over the world. Digital marketing allows businesses to create and distribute marketing campaigns across various digital channels, reaching potential customers wherever they are.


Another benefit of digital publicity is that it is highly measurable. With the use of digital analytics tools, businesses can track and analyze the effectiveness of their campaigns. They can monitor metrics such as website traffic, social media engagement, and conversion rates to determine what is working and what is not. This enables businesses to make data-driven decisions and adjust their campaigns accordingly based on key performance indicators, or KPIs.


Another advantage of digital marketing is its cost-effectiveness. Traditional marketing methods such as television, radio, and print advertising can be expensive and may not always be cost-effective. Digital marketing, on the other hand, offers a cost-effective way for businesses to reach their target audience. With digital publicity, businesses can use targeted advertising and analytics to track the performance of their campaigns and optimize them for better results.


Digital marketing also provides businesses with the ability to personalize their marketing messages to each customer. By collecting data from customers' online behavior, businesses can create targeted advertising campaigns that are relevant and timely to their customers' needs. Personalization can lead to increased engagement and conversions, as customers are more likely to respond positively to messages that are relevant to them.


Types of Digital Publicity:

There are several types of digital publicity that businesses can use to promote their brand or product. These include:

  • Social Media Marketing: This involves using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to promote a product or service.

  • Content Marketing: This involves creating and distributing high-quality content such as blog posts, videos, infographics, and e-books to attract and engage potential customers.

  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): This involves optimizing a website's content and structure to rank higher in search engine results pages, thereby increasing its visibility and traffic.

  • Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC): This involves paying for ads that are displayed on search engine results in pages or social media platforms. Businesses pay for each click or impression their ad receives.


Key Strategies for Digital Publicity:

To achieve success in digital publicity, businesses need to develop a clear strategy. Here are some key strategies that businesses can use:


  • Define your target audience: It's important to know who your target audience is so that you can tailor your campaigns to their interests and needs.

  • Develop a clear message: Your message should be simple, concise, and memorable. It should communicate the benefits of your product or service to your target audience.

  • Choose the right digital channels: Not all digital channels are created equal. Choose the channels that are most effective for reaching your target audience.

  • Monitor and measure your campaigns: Use digital analytics tools to monitor and measure the effectiveness of your campaigns. Use this data to adjust your strategy as needed.


Digital marketing also comes with its challenges. One of the main challenges is the competition for attention. With so many businesses using digital marketing channels to reach customers, it can be challenging to stand out and capture their attention. Businesses need to create engaging and informative content that is relevant to their audience to cut through the noise and connect with their target customers.


Another challenge is the constant evolution of digital marketing channels and technologies. With new digital channels and technologies emerging regularly, businesses need to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies to remain competitive. This requires a continuous learning process, which can be time-consuming and costly for businesses.


In conclusion, Gen Z is a unique demographic that requires a different approach when it comes to marketing. By leveraging social media platforms, partnering with influencers, using user-generated content, creating purpose-driven content, and optimizing for mobile devices, businesses can effectively reach out to this demographic and build brand loyalty. To effectively market to Gen Z, brands need to understand their characteristics, values, and preferences and tailor their marketing efforts to fit their needs. Digital publicity is a critical component of any marketing strategy in today's digital age. It offers several benefits, including the ability to reach a wider audience and the ability to measure campaign effectiveness. Businesses can use different types of digital publicity, including social media marketing, content marketing, SEO, and PPC advertising, to promote their brand or product. To achieve success, businesses need to develop a clear strategy that includes defining their target audience, developing a clear message, choosing the right digital channels, and monitoring and measuring their campaigns.


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