• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, December 26, 2017

According to recent research from Nielsen for marketers seeking to reach African-American women, integrated campaigns, inclusive of not only traditional platforms such as television and radio, but also digital and social, is paramount. With a combination of digital prowess, social savvy and voracious media consumption, Black women have very unique media habits and preferences.

80% of Black women own smartphones, a rate 8% higher than non-Hispanic White women. And 57% own a tablet, somewhat on par with non-Hispanic white women. Black women’s high ownership of mobile technology gives them access to a multitude of apps and sites, including social networks, and is a key driver of the way their time is spent consuming media. Facebook (72%) is the top social media networking site used by Black women. YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Google+ are also sites visited more frequently by Black women than their non-Hispanic White counterparts.  

When it comes to live television viewing and DVR/time-shifted TV, Black women spend nearly 15 more hours each week on these platforms (51 hours and 36 minutes) than total women in the U.S. (36 hours and 38 minutes). Also, black women spend more weekly time using apps and browsing the web on smartphones (19 hours and 27 minutes) than all women (17 hours and eight minutes). And, Black women of all ages have increased consumption of other digital platforms as well, including internet on a PC, video on a PC, multimedia devices and video on a smartphone.

In addition to the high weekly time spent on digital platforms and watching television, radio is an incredibly effective medium to reach Black women. 92% of Black women listen to radio weekly, while 90% watch television. Additionally, Black women spend more weekly (about 2 hours more) time listening to radio than non-Hispanic White women. Black Millennial women (18-34) are most likely to listen to the Urban Contemporary radio genre, reaching 58% of this demographic. Meanwhile, the Urban Adult Contemporary genre reaches 51% of Black women who are over 18.

Most importantly for advertisers, 38% of Black women agree that advertising on radio provides them with useful information about bargains (20% higher than non-Hispanic White women), and 38% also agree that radio provides them with information about new products and services (16% higher than non-Hispanic White women).

Black Millennial women (18-34) spend more weekly time than their older counterparts on multimedia devices and game consoles. Black women who are 65 and older, spend more weekly time watching television (nearly 80 hours) and less time using multimedia devices, the internet on PCs and game consoles than their younger counterparts. Understanding these media consumption differences and device preferences can prove essential in designing effective campaigns, concludes the report.

For more insights, download Nielsen’s African-American Women: Our Science, Her Magic report.