Internet Marketing:- Get ‘em while they’re young: New demographic info can help your campaigns What's hot with the kids these days? Two different studies have recently emerged that give us a bit of insight into America's increasingly powerful youth demographic. According to Virgin Mobile (a company that has captured an enviable slice of the 15-24 youth market in the past two years), most American youths have several common attributes that provide plenty of food for a marketer's thought. In addition, the Online Publisher's Association conducted a recent study in partnership with Comscore that tells us a lot about the increasing importance of e-marketing. Here's our compiled list of the top 10 things you should know about the new kids on the block: 1. Personalization rocks. Anything young people can control and customize, from cell phone rings to personal audio systems, holds great appeal. 2. They're getting online, and they're staying online. As of March, 72% of 18-34 year olds are online—the biggest slice of any population in the country. This key demographic, which has grown up with Internet technology, uses it more often and for more reasons than any other group. Their comfort with technology, and their perpetual need to stay connected, will only grow e-commerce and e-marketing in years to come. 3. Music, music, music. It's not just an art form, it's a way of life—and an amazing marketing tool. With so many genres and subgenres available for downloading and purchase today, music is the perfect way to connect, bond and express one's individuality. Savvy youth marketers know who's hot and who's not on MTV, BET and VH1. Blink and you'll miss it. As always, the hottest youth trends can cool off in a nanosecond. 4. To keep your campaigns on the cutting edge, get fresh content and even fresher ideas into your marketing campaigns as early and often as possible. 5. Entertainment on the Net. An amazing 30% of 18 to 34 year olds log on to an entertainment Web site every day. This generation listens to and downloads music, plays games, researches movies and TV, and watches videos online. Computers are fast becoming the one-stop entertainment shops for the new millennium. 6. They're in charge. More often than not, the younger members of any household have the best grip on technology—and push hardest to acquire the newest and coolest gear. 7. Take it to the bank. Even though this demographic controls less money than older Americans, they're far more likely to conduct personal business online. Personal banking, loan and credit applications, insurance purchases and credit card account management are all more commonplace for young people, and still growing fast. 8. Not all viruses are bad. Viral marketing is incredibly powerful, and youth markets can help a trend spread like wildfire just through word of mouth. Applications like Friendster that encourage "community" are the wave of the future. 9. They're smarter than you are. Kids today are some of the savviest consumers in the history of marketing. They know enough to be wary of overt, corny marketing pitches and have a discerning eye when it comes to campaigns. In short, the next generation of powerful American consumers will change the landscape of how business is done today. Pay attention to your youngest customers, and you won't be left behind. Previous      Next