Marketing by Email to Boomers & Seniors In a special BizNewsletter from
MarketingSherpa, Jean Van Ryzin, editor of Selling to Seniors says
that over 90% of US boomers use email, and studies show they love it. "But," she says, "they're generally considered to be more vocal and more demanding consumers, who will not be content with
standard offers that may have worked with older generations of the past."
Baby boomers can be generally described as anyone born between 1946 and 1964. "Leading-edge" or "first-wave" boomers are
those in their fifties. A typical leading-edge boomer:
expects a lifestyle at least as good as his parents is nervous about the economy, and expects to work into retirement
is part of the "sandwich generation," with kids in college and elderly parents who may need caretaking is healthier, more active, and has a longer expected lifespan than earlier generations
is more interested in financial issues than healthcare issues is comfortable with computer technology and uses email has unusually strong ties with their mothers Though
boomers are edging up on senior status, there are big distinctions in marketing to the two groups, says Bob Kesner, President of Evergreen Direct. Some major differences include:
Boomers
want financial independence; seniors want physical independence. Seniors trust the email process but not the Internet as a whole; boomers trust both. Boomers want endorsements and
industry ratings; seniors want testimonials. Boomers like options; seniors prefer things that are prepackaged. Kesner says you may end up marketing through boomers to reach seniors
because a common thread among baby boomers is the reality of taking care of elderly parents.
To walk the fine line between the needs of boomer caregivers and their senior parents, it's important
to use first person and be conversational but polite - not condescending. Let them know that you understand the issues they're facing, that you're on their team. Some of the leading considerations to
maximize email efforts to boomers boil down to:
1. Use wording that lets them maintain their idealistic dreams.
2. Focus on the financial and calm their potential fears.
3. Emphasize
convenience.
4. Avoid scare tactics.
5. Use statistics.
6. Give them options.
7. Use letter-like messages instead of HTML.
8. Use personal or cultural references.
Finally, Baby boomers are at the peak of their earning power, they're financially savvy, they're socially aware - and they're in love with email as a communications medium.
for more information,
contact: consumermarketingbiz@lists.marketingsherpa.com