Friends Sharing Something on a Smartphone

To connect with millennials, part of the solution is to be where they are at and be credible.  This means you need to get a branded business page on

See Sample Video Ad

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat.  I’m old enough to remember Yellow Page advertising.  A two-color quarter column ad in the phone book with a good picture that showed what you do, reinforced with a good message meant you would get phone calls throughout the month.  But, who uses the phone book anymore?  Most people don’t, often people use Google in lieu of the phone book, but millennials have demonstrated time and again they prefer social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat to get information.  There is nothing inherently special about these platforms, millennials just grew up with them.  So it begs the question if would like to do more business with millennials, what is holding you back?  After you have set-up your social media accounts, the next step is to create ads that are credible.  Below are some golden nuggets you can use to formulate a strategy with your team or marketing professional.

Less is more, Video is best, Make an Ad Informative and Entertaining

• Less is more: Your main message should be a “zinger,” say everything in 40 characters or less.  Without question, this isn’t easy.  But,
  

  Learn More on the “Google 10 Second Rule”

  whatever you are considering, it is a lot easier if you find a picture for your ad that “shows” what you are talking about.  This will take the pressure off trying to describe a complex idea in 40 characters or less.  The picture can show it for you.  In this sense the “zinger” text just reinforces it.   Millennials have been stereotyped they are lazy with the English language, using “chopped up” sentences.  But this is not true.  All social media platforms limit the number of characters you can use in an ad, so when text from an ad is re-used (shared on social media) out of the context of its accompanying picture or image, no wonder it looks “chopped up.”

• Video is best: Video trumps pictures. If you can create a video ad, keep it short (30 seconds or less, click here for sample).   If you can’t create a video ad for a variety of reasons, use royalty-free video clips.  There are a number of companies out there you can purchase a subscription with to find clips of almost anything you want to show.  Social Media MN uses https://www.videoblocks.com/.

• Make it Informative and Entertaining: As much as it is important to get your message across, i.e. “buy my x, y, z,” your ad should have some entertainment value.  When you have your draft ad completed, ask this question: it this worthy to be “Shared” or “Liked?”  If the answer is “yes,” you are probably ready to publish.

Connecting with millennials doesn’t have to be a great mystery.  You just need the motivation to be where they are at on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat and be credible.  Many small business owners don’t have the time to implement a social media strategy.  They are already wearing too many “hats.”  At Social Media MN, we get it.   We pride ourselves on partnering with small businesses to create and implement savvy social media marketing plans that are uncomplicated, results driven, and affordable.  If this sounds like you, don’t hesitate to contact us today for a hassle-free phone consultation at 763-244-4058, or email us at socialmediaminn@gmail.com.

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