The Stark Generalizations of the Life of Generation Y

Update 10/17/08! eMarketer Stats

Generation Yer's also know as Millennials, Echo Boomers, or Ipod Generation, are classified in varying decades depending on the source. For this analysis, generation Y includes those born between the early to mid 80's and early to mid 90's. There are factors which cross many levels such as of which impact and build off to reinforce many of the reasons of thinking.

Where it all began:
Generation Yer's are characterized as the children of the baby boomers. Baby boomers grew up in larger families. Some baby boomers hated not being able to have the attention they wanted growing up (because of larger families) so that's just what they're giving to their kids. So much love and attention they're told how special and given money to justify lost time. Generally smaller families these days, between 1-2 children per house hold and can be spoiled no matter what income level. Growing up, there have been many influential tools that make things automatic, skip important processes, and lack much depth beyond the surface. From an early age, Generation Yer's are cradled in a world concentrated in security and "protected" from all harm.

Early Childhood:
Generation Yer's have grown up in a society of over sensationalized media stories. Like many generations in the past, this pattern has brought a dramatic side to their stories into their own lives. Everything from fast food being readily available, to having everything in close proximity. During this period, Parents never wanted to be the bad guy. The media cried out against physical discipline and many grew scared of any disciplining period. Most children were raised in a reward based system. Cause and Effect. A child does something right, they should be rewarded. Someone does something wrong, it is often left to pass under a bridge decreasing the chance for accountability.

-Generation Yer's don't know how to manage difficult problems and trouble shoot multiple situations without asking for help.

-Media usage needs to be short, concise, and easy to use. The attention span of a generation Yer is very short, as is patience.

Teen Years:
The internet has played the most important role into the lives of Generation Y. Acting as the main communication medium, we have been struck with events such as 9/11 and the Iraq war to speed this process/shift into our daily lives. The teenage mentality of being invincible is prolonged and harder to grow out of since the environments in which generation Yers live in supports the ideals of individuality and competitiveness. Generation Yer's are selfish, self absorbed, and really need their "Me Time."

-Its quite contradicting since all Generation Yers want to be independent, yearn for freedom, yet rely on others heavily once there is the slightest bit of trouble.

-If something doesn't fit into their daily lives, it won't stick. Applications, Products, Services, all need to be easy to use, pick up and go. The minute someone needs to read instructions, they've already gone to the next idea.

How things are now:
-Generation Yers can vary between the ages of 24-14. Those who are older will be able to relate to other generations better than the younger. On the other hand, the younger Generation Yer's have an easier time communicating through online mediums and will set up networks at a younger age. These networks will be larger in number, but less concerned with relationship strength. Relationships turn into an ideal of a representational icon of what is perceived online.

-Generation Yer's have a short term work ethic. They are used to things given to them

-Generation Yers are less likely to take full responsibility. "Since it's all about me, it can't possibly be my fault"

-Generation Yer's are often less likely to take criticism positively. Instead, they are viewed as personal attacks. Up until this point, parents had always said everything was okay and mistakes were okay, and second chances will always be there along with a cookie. So in the back of each mind, there's a weaker sense of ownership and accountability.

-Generation Yer's feel its their right to be in a position of power. They see how their peers are successful at early ages through opportunities like YouTube, and want instant stardom for 15 minutes of fame.

The Future:
How does this impact business? Some of the best advertisements out there might not be coming from your marketing department, but rather a collective group which acts and thinks as a whole. So allow your users to talk, comment, and interact. Don't restrict or else someone will create something better.

-Parents aren't solely to blame since there are other major environmental influences, but they are a big part.

-Selling to generation Yer's is simple, yet not easy. Create a structure, make it easy, fashionable, and customizable.

-Generation Yers are much more likely to talk about negative things in their private lives and can spread poor attitudes quickly। "It's 5:02, I'm working way too hard. I should get a bonus for this!"

Other Resources:
Who Are Generation Y's?
Gen Y Too Demanding At Work
What Do Generation Yers Want
Why Gen Y are Broke
Generation Y for Dummies - From a Management Perspective
Positive Outcomes of Generation Y's Impact on the World

Disclaimer:
The definitions of each generation includes those in overlapping groups to some extent. Of course, even though every person born between two dates does not encompass the same characteristics, we can certainly note some obvious trends and tendencies. There are many exceptions to these assumptions.

NBC is a Slum Lord

NBC is like the slum lord you just can't get away from। By that I mean, we are bound to watching the Olympics on their network only. Slum lords bind you with a contract, take your money, and give you shit in return. NBC binds us. We cannot view replays and clips of our most beloved moments from unauthorized sources. Then they take our money. How much do you suppose each major advertiser paid NBC during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing? Then, NBC gives us shit. The coverage is terrible. I know this is America, but how about offering an option to watch other countries compete on the website? There are waaaay too many commercials. And the announcers seem like they were chosen randomly from a duck-duck-goose game. Advertisers ruined the Olympics.

(An NBC lawyer is going to be contacting me with threats if I don't remove their logo, but I can TAKE IT!)

Play Sports Locally!

Looking for things to do in Vermont may be easy. But being such a small and low populated state, sometimes the hardest part is finding others who share the same interests. Sportsvite is a social networking site intended to link sports players together. Although the Vermont network includes only 18 people, it could surely grow with more talk.

Once you've created a profile, the site includes some pretty cool features to network people with similar interests. For example, I can choose from a list of sports and rate my skill level and other attributes for others to see. I'm really into soccer and am always looking for competitive matches. So the site allows you to rate skill level. I would rate myself differently for competitive sports than if I'm looking for someone to casually play wiffle ball with.

Sports range from the traditional like basketball, baseball, and field hockey to a broad range such as dodge ball, badminton, swimming, wall ball, and many more. Many of the sport listed aren't just team sports either. It could very easily give marathoners ways to communicate tips and stories as easy as it would for a weight lifter to find a lifting partner.

Sportsvite also allows users to create teams, and organize/view schedules. I'd be pretty psyched if this network took off and people could log on to find local pick up games and activities on any given day. So if you're looking to go for a quick run, get your competitive fill, or hit around a shuttlecock, join! Any maybe I'll see you on the field.

PhotoSynth

Some amazing stuff. I know they are also working on AI to make it easier for computers to dissect and categorize images. For now, we rely upon democracy.

What do I do with SEO?

Every day, Marketing and Advertising firms are trying to find ways to cross over to internet marketing sales to stay afloat। Problem is, many are finding it hard to really make that shift. If you're existing firm offers to extend its SEO/SEM services toward you, here are a few questions you may want to ask them to make sure they aren't just going to set you up with a tool you don't know how to use.

1. First of all, what is Search Engine Optimization all about? Why am I hearing this more and more?

SEO Firms will be quick to give you their sales pitch and allow you the opportunity to hear all about the benefits of a successful campaign. But unless you really understand how everything connects together, you're often left out in the dark. It's like giving a man a canoe and paddles. Nice gift. Then hacking off his arms and telling him the world is a limitless place and there are wonderful places to see. You've got the tools, but now you need to learn new ways of using them. Not quite as violent, education is probably one of the most time consuming things, yet most important.

Some business with SEO needs don't care about the education process and just want results. These types of campaigns tend to be more expensive and you really have to make sure your SEO provider is willing to learn the ins and outs of your industry.

2. What is the process and how much involvement do you plan on having?

To correctly market a website, there are a number of different roles that need to be established. The first thing is to know what YOUR role in the whole realm of things. There is often a large disconnect between the involvement of what a firm does, and what the firm leaves you to do. As mentioned above, some business need to concentrate on what they do best and leave the online marketing up to someone else. In this case, you need to make sure you're getting your monthly data reports explained (Not just emailed to your cluttered inbox).

The most common online marketing campaigns require the business user(s) to manage an AdWord Campaign and budget. Some even leave adjusting Keywords and Campaigns up to the business user(s) after the initial setup is complete.

Remember, a firm usually won't know your customers like you. Just as you shouldn't need to know everything about SEO. So someone needs to make the continual effort to cross that bridge to use the data-rich analytics reports to its full extent.

So make sure you know how much you will need to do before signing a contact to get the most out of your investment.

3. How much feedback will I really be getting about my site?

With so much analytical data, how often will you recieve updates on the site's performance in plain English? Anyone can spew off data they read from a report: "You have a 54.5% bounce rate, X-amount of visits and blah blah blah." That's not using data to backup a trend. Demand to know how your users are using each page. Make they can test everything from interfaces, content language and layout and graphics on a month to month basis.

4. Does your firm have the ability to make the changes determined in an SEO friendly way?

Search Engines are smart. They know what sites are working and which ones stink. The best way to make sure a search engine can find your site is up to the SEO firm to make the necessary changes in the correct HTML markup and site structure. Is everything coded and labeled properly? If your SEO provider can't tell you specifics of that, it doesn't matter how good your content is.

5. How is writing for SEO different than writing for my audience?

Most Marketing, Advertising, and design firms have professional copywriters or freelance writers and people who have been trained to write to keep people's attention. Although keeping people intrigued in your content is a main goal, keyword phrases and clusters of targeted content is what search engines really like।

The Experience of New Visitors

Breaking down the web experience of a new visitor may seem very simple, but there are many people who have it all backwards.

The Footsteps of a New Visitor

1. Text a Search Engine sees brings new visitor to a site.
Search Engines display a new site depending on the specific query. A new visitor arrives at the site.

Traditionally, creating content for people audiences has been the first step in captivating new visitors. Often times, companies think of writing good content as the first step in setting up the online experience.

2. Images, Layout, and Navigation Keeps a Visitor on the Site.

At first glance, the visitor has only a few seconds to decide whether to stay or go. Unorganized layout, walls of text, low quality images, conflicting color choices and poor navigation frustrates viewers thus increasing the chances of pressing the back button.

Make sure the site’s design layout and navigation are clear. Make sure there is consistency between pages. Color, size, shape, and position can all help a user figure out how to navigate without even reading.

3. Intriguing, interesting, and informative content SELLS.

The last visual element the user takes part in is the content itself. Once a visitor is comfortable with staying on a site and has decided it’s a place to find the information they are seeking, they will begin reading bits of content at that point. After the visitor is at the site and comfortable, that’s when content brings about conversions.

Finally, create interesting content for your visitors. I realize this is a much larger task than I am giving time and explanation to. More to come on copywriting tips for content.

This is just a simple outline to keep in mind when designing a website for the best new visitor experience.

SEO is SO HOT!

Be careful when your marketing or design firm tells you they include SEO with their web packages. Search Engine Optimization is a growing term thrown around more and more without true understanding.

Does your Design firm claim they offer SEO and give monthly Google analytic reports without any testing process or interpretation of that material?

Do you know of any Marketing firms that offer Google AdWord Campaigns, but stop short at offering Web Development assistance or at the least a referral?

There are so many instances when I hear about companies offering SEO or higher organic search ranking but do not have a dedicated (in-house or outhouse) teams specifically assigned to the continual process known as Internet Marketing.

Legs!

As a graduating senior, searching for a job can be frustrating for some (especially after the last post). However, when I first saw this commercial it made me laugh and wish I had "Big Legs." Quite Clever.

Seam Marketing: Job Seekers Beware!

*2/27/09 - This page has been the most popular article on this miserably updated blog- Florida huh? Going to Miami next week- Maybe I'll give Sparta Marketing a visit. KEEP COMMENTING AND CONTRIBUTING YOUR EXPERIENCES!

The job searching process can be filled with incredibly frustrating ups and downs at any age. But like many college students, we are told our ambition and drive will set us apart. We are told environments that foster hard work and a "yes I can" approach are what job seekers love.

(Disclaimer: These claims are personal opinions and it is up to the reader to further investigate these to identify validity.)

But what if I told you there were organizations marketing themselves specifically to attract naive students fresh out of college. In order for this ploy to work the following things need to happen.

1. Strategically promising dream jobs to college students looking for a company to take them there.

2. Flooding the market with job postings to prevent any dispute or objection of that company to be found while organically searching.

3. Vague information. No actual positions are posted.

The following marketing firms seem to have PLASTERED the web with job postings. Not only do these companies appear to me to deceive college students, they also use the SAME CONTENT and positive job outlook on the sites of "different companies." I say this because each one of these links claim to be a different business in a different location on track for fast national growth.

Seam Marketing
Sparta Marketing Inc
Maxson Marketing
JMP Promo
JD Advertising Inc

These jobs are found throughout many job postings such as:

•Monster.com
•Careerbuilder.com
•Indeed.com
•And almost every major metropolitan job posting area.


Need proof of content copying? Check out the Testimonials:

Sparta Marketing Testimonials
JMP Promo Testimonials
JD Advertising Inc Testimonials
Seam Marketing and Maxon Marketing are flash sites and do not have direct links to their testimonial pages.


Other contradicting elements:

These five "Elite Marketing Firms" all claim to be a Fortune 500 company in their ads. At the same time, EVERY site is privately owned.

I feel there is NO written proof of each firm's "founders" other than the false websites.

In a Career Builder Forum posting, a college student writes about their experiences with Seam Marketing Interviews:

"This company completely misrepresents itself to recent college graduates."..."The first day they described a sports marketing position where I would make 38K per year and the second day they dragged us around for 8 hours! Also, there is no salary, it is entirely commission based. In no way would I rank this company as an 'Elite Employer'..."

There is also a negative posting on Rip Off Report about Seam Marketing.

Please repost or rewrite this article to pass on the information and warn other college students. Hopefully, if enough people write about this, link to this, or comment, organic search ratings of these companies will come higher!

Again, these are my insights and should not be viewed as fact. Please continue researching since at the very least, there is seems to be a high amount of misrepresentation.

What Came First? The Content or the Keywords?

Keeping in mind that correlations between Keywords and content in landing pages keeps bidding price down; when explaining AdWord campaigns to new users, they often have one of two reactions.:

1. Lets create campaigns that reflect the content.

The problem is most content on the majority of websites are not specifically written with the intention of driving clicks to the site. Instead, content is usually formulated to inform users by building on the organization's generalized idea of what users already knows. Despite some users may have a predefined idea and awareness of what the site has to offer, search engines can only see the text on the site.

2. Lets rewrite all our content and pummel the customer with multiple specific keyword groups for Ad campaigns that can potentially give us so many options we'll be set to never deal with content again.

This is called "Church Renovating." Some old churches push for their patrons to raise and donate a large bank of money so it can fix and restore all of the wrong-gones. As great as this sounds, major structural maintenance may never happen again in our lifetime. Many small businesses run their sites the way renovating churches do. (Yes, 5 years does seem like a lifetime in Web 2.0 terms.)

As much as writing content can be daunting, its extremely important to always reviewed and modified. The process is continual and measured using analytics and adwords tools hand in hand.

It's more practical to take smaller steps. Work on content page by page and create specific campaigns functional to those landing pages. After all, this is an unending process which will hopefully lead to a better understanding of the usage of your site.