This time of year, there's huge hype surrounding
SXSW. Among new technology buzz, music showcases and film screenings, there is so much going on, which, in turn, means
there's a lot for marketers and advertisers to do in preparation for the event.
But why should marketers and advertisers stop at targeting this generation of professionals? How can we take the
momentum that marketers build around the event for professionals and translate it to teen markets, reaching the future attendees of SXSW?
If you're looking for tomorrow's conference attendees
today, here's where you'll find them:
1. High School Activity Clubs. Think student government, sports teams, and general interest clubs. Regardless of the actual
group, teens who participate in extracurricular activities could very likely be those that would be interested in attending trendy conferences in the future. Partnering with these clubs -- for
example, sponsoring a trip -- would allow you to market your conference or event in a non-intrusive, but direct way.
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2. Local Organizations. On a local level, marketers can
get involved with different events or performances. A great example of this is the "Kick It 3v3" tournament, where X brand sponsors the tournament, and in
return, gets its branding in front of the players. The events are covered with the branding, and the tournament takes place all over the country. Sponsors are guaranteed to reach a large teen
audience. The teens that participate in these events are most likely to be active in their respective circles. Also, keep in mind that these types of events typically have "villages" with sponsor
booths much like SXSW for teens to kill time between activities.
3. National Organizations. On a high level, relationships with national organizations -- the Boy Scouts and
Girl Scouts, for example -- can be forged. Reach out to adult supervisors to assist with outings, presentations and events. Hold a panel geared toward teens to get them introduced to this format at a
younger age, making them more comfortable with such things in the future.
Of course, there are a few important points to note. First, certain regulations -- like the COPA laws -- around marketing and outreach to teens prohibit activities that would similarly be used to market towards
professionals. Marketers can't always use the exact same tactics for teen audiences as they would for professional ones. In addition, professionals may attend events and conferences because they feel
it's important or helpful for their career. But teens, on the other hand, will respond best to outside-of-the-box thinking and aspects that are worthwhile. They'll care more about which conference or
event catches their attention and provides them with something fun and exciting.
Techniques used to target professionals and build momentum toward conferences and events can also be used
to target teens. Targeting teens in the mentioned categories will help lead them in the right direction to attend conferences in the future. In 10 years, the teens that are being exposed to marketing
and advertising efforts today are those that will be at events like SXSW, so why not make it easier for ourselves in the future and get to these teens as soon as possible!